The Dale Decision

Thistle - Reassessment

After the conclusion of a round between Bis and Hayley, Kinsley moved into position. However, instead of serving the ball, she said, "We're sorry for not... being around. And we're not trying to "get" something by saying that."

Wis, Bis and Thistle looked confusedly at one another. Bis spoke up first. "Get something?"

"Grandpa said that apologies are not transactions; you said it because you genuinely feel bad about something you did," said Hayley, who had moved back to the sidelines.

"Transaction...? You mean like a sort of... exchange?" said Thistle. That word had made an appearance in a few conversations before.

"Yes, you don't owe us anything in return for the apology," said Kinsley.

"Oh, okay," said Bis. "Well, I guess it's all right."

Thistle hesitated; he was caught off guard. "Yes, I suppose so too." This was thoroughly unexpected for him as well. "I understand, Hayley and Kinsley." As he said each name, he nodded at each of them in turn. He hoped that didn't sound stiff and formal; he wouldn't need to do it much more as time went on.

Apologies as a transaction got him thinking... had their parents talked about those? They once had a conversation not long ago about apologies that people only gave so that other people would stop "harassing" them about it... Pa called it a "leave me alone" apology. Thistle and his siblings had participated in that conversation – it had a lot to do with sincerity, and the difference between real and fake apologies... this "transaction" business sounded like it was in the same vein.

Wis had consulted her book and was reading it intently. "Sorry," she said, looking up briefly. "But your Grandpa is Braden Dale?"

"Yes," said Kinsley. It was her turn to be confused.

"Oh, okay then," said Wis, breaking into a smile.

Thistle went to consult the book himself; clearly he wanted to check some stuff, but Bristle stayed by Hayley and Kinsley. As we went, he thought to himself – the things that they had spoken about sounded a lot like advice Ma and Pa gave – that there was no point apologising if they didn't mean it.

He peered over at the book, trying to make it look like he was paying attention. He was, but he was trying to divide his attention.

"Sometimes... when we get visitors, it's hard to sort of accept it," said Hayley. "We're a bit protective of the house."

"I think our Pa's the same way," said Bristle.

"Oh yeah, he doesn't much like the idea of parties at our place," said Tis contemplatively. "Like big parties with lots of people. Some of them might be strangers because someone else brought them along."

"Yes; some of the adults are like that here. But you're not "invading" or "intruding" like that," Hayley went on. "This isn't a big party with numerous guests and you were all invited to stay. Nobody's a random stranger tagging along. Our families sent letters to one another, and it was all arranged ahead of time."

Thistle nodded, still trying to show attentiveness. They'd talked about this last night, when the three of them had gone to bed... and the subject of their invitation would be his counter-argument if such a thing came under dispute. But with this going on... it didn't look to be. He wouldn't even need to bring up the invitation thing; they had done that themselves.

"We're not going to break anything or mess anything up, either," said Thistle, knowing that was the other argument that could be made – Pa had spoken at length about that too.

They talked a little more – the subject actually strayed towards schooling. Thistle was thankful they had already done their tests for the year – Ma had said it was an annual thing – so they didn't have to dread going back and facing them. Come to think of it, there hadn't really been a lot to dread in that department. The three of them had gotten through the exams fine.