But I also knew that I couldn’t spend the rest of his life trying to prevent every possible disappointment.
He needed opportunities to learn, to make decisions, to ask for help, and to discover what he could do.
“Yes,” I told him. “You can.”
His smile appeared slowly.
“Even if I need to help someone again?”
I knelt beside him.
“If you see someone who needs help, you can try to help them. But remember to keep yourself safe, too. You can ask a trusted employee for assistance, and if you need to change your plans, call me.”
He nodded thoughtfully.
“Help people, but stay safe.”
“Exactly.”
He considered that for a few seconds.
Then he said, “That is a good rule.”
I smiled.
“It is.”
That evening, we ate dinner together.
Afterward, Theo placed his chocolate bar on the table and broke it into two uneven pieces.
He gave me the larger one.
