Chapter 9
A year after the sidewalk, Noah chose his name again.
That was how he said it.
“I want to choose it.”
We sat at the kitchen table with pancakes going cold.
Oliver looked nervous.
I stayed quiet.
Noah said, “I don’t want Whitmore.”
I nodded.
“That is okay.”
Richard’s name.
I understood.
“I want Hale,” he said.
My maiden name.
My father’s name.
Oliver sat straighter.
“Can I be Hale too?”
I looked at him.
“You want to change yours?”
He nodded.
“If he gets to choose, I want to choose too.”
My heart opened painfully.
So we went to court again.
This time, no terror.
No lies.
Just petitions.
Both boys became Oliver Hale and Noah Hale.
Outside the courthouse, Noah held the paper like treasure.
“Now no one can say I’m not real.”
Oliver bumped his shoulder.
“I’ll fight them if they do.”
Noah rolled his eyes.
May you like
But he smiled.
A real smile.
