I almost smiled. « Maybe he’s teasing you. »
Cole glared at me. « He keeps saying we have the same dad but different moms. It’s so annoying. »
For one second, my stomach tightened. Then I told myself kids said strange things. I told Cole to ignore him. He stormed upstairs, and I tried to forget it.
He pointed behind me.
A week later, the principal called. « Cole got into another fight with Stefan. You need to come immediately. »
By the time I reached the school, I was ready to apologize for my son’s temper. I rushed into the office, saw Cole with a split lip, and asked, « Are you okay? »
He pointed behind me.
The principal told me Stefan had tried to sit beside Cole at lunch.
Another boy sat by the filing cabinet. He had the same gray eyes, the same narrow chin, and the same birthmark near his eyebrow. Cole’s hair was lighter, but otherwise they looked like the same child split in two.
The principal told me Stefan had tried to sit beside Cole at lunch. Cole told him to go away. Stefan said, « You can be mad, but I’m still your brother. » Cole hit him. Stefan hit back. They both ended up crying, which somehow made it worse.
