(Eddie was not unfamiliar with the various cruelties of adults. His mother was a specific brand of cruelty that most people oversaw because, much like Eddie, kindness could never be a weapon in their eyes. But he had been friends with Bev, saw what her father did to her. And then there were other adults, adults who looked glazed and indifferent all those dead children. Adults like Mr. Keene who gently seemed to mock Eddie for being insane, getting off on knowing more than Eddie did.
Charles did not really seem that kind of adult. He didn't seem to wear any of those casual cruelties, but working that sort of caution out of a kid used to it? Not easy.
But Charles is good about it. His gentling is noticed by Eddie, and it's enough to make Eddie relax a fraction. He gives a nervous smile, still feeling a little bit like a rabbit caught at the end of a shot gun.)
If it makes you feel better, Bill's real good about keeping us all safe.
(And more importantly- in check. Eddie proceeded with paranoid caution, but he could get into mischief quite a bit himself. More than people might expect.
...Yeah, he probably would be. He did live only a few doors down from these boys, after all.)
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Charles did not really seem that kind of adult. He didn't seem to wear any of those casual cruelties, but working that sort of caution out of a kid used to it? Not easy.
But Charles is good about it. His gentling is noticed by Eddie, and it's enough to make Eddie relax a fraction. He gives a nervous smile, still feeling a little bit like a rabbit caught at the end of a shot gun.)
If it makes you feel better, Bill's real good about keeping us all safe.
(And more importantly- in check. Eddie proceeded with paranoid caution, but he could get into mischief quite a bit himself. More than people might expect.
...Yeah, he probably would be. He did live only a few doors down from these boys, after all.)