“You fell,” Joseph said. “I kept you from hitting the table.”
“You’re calling me a liar?”
“I’m describing what happened.”
Richard walked closer. “I suggest you stop talking until the police arrive.”
Joseph held his gaze. “Call them if you think you need to.”
For a moment Richard seemed disappointed. He had expected shouting, threats, maybe a shove that would look excellent on camera. Instead, the wet man with the red cheek was already looking away from him.
“Khloe,” Joseph said gently, “come here.”
She ran to him. When he crouched, she touched the red mark below his eye.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“You said today was going to be good.”
The words struck deeper than any punch.
“I know,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
A siren sounded at the intersection.
Trent straightened immediately. Richard adjusted his collar. Eli put his phone in his pocket, then took it out again. The last thing he wanted was to become the person responsible for deciding what version of the truth survived.
Two township police officers arrived and found half the block party waiting in a strained semicircle around a wet picnic table.
Officer Nadia Alvarez took the first statement. Her partner, Officer Dan Whitcomb, separated Trent and Joseph while the crowd continued trying to explain what had happened.
Richard spoke first and loudly.
“My son was hosting a friendly athletic demonstration,” he said. “That man reacted with unnecessary force.”
Marla stepped forward. “Your son hit him with a water bottle.”
“An accident.”
“And threw a punch,” Sandra added.
“He’s a trained athlete. The older man should have known how to avoid escalating things.”
Whitcomb looked at Joseph. “Sir, were you fighting?”
“No. He swung at me twice. I moved him away from the picnic table and released him when he stopped trying to hit me.”
“Any injuries?”
“My cheek. I don’t think it’s serious. You should check his shoulder. He landed awkwardly.”
Whitcomb studied him. “You’re worried about his shoulder?”
“Somebody ought to be.”
Across the grass, Trent was insisting that his right wrist had been injured during the fall. Alvarez offered to request medical evaluation. Trent accepted when Richard nodded.
