He watched Tyler's video from beginning to end without interrupting. Then the office recording. Then he read Patterson's email, Cartwright's suspension notice, and every page Marcus had written in Anderson's notebook. When Marcus reached the list of earlier incidents, David asked questions the way he might during an operational briefing.
"Did you witness Aaliyah's incident?"
"No. She told me."
"Then mark that as her account until she confirms it herself."
Marcus wrote a small A beside the entry.
"Miguel?"
"I saw him upset that day, but not Patterson throwing the tamales away."
"Good. Write what you saw separately."
Marcus did.
"The white students' food?"
"I saw those."
"Dates?"
"Not all of them."
"Then don't guess."
Marcus looked frustrated.
"But I know it happened."
"I believe you. Evidence isn't about whether I believe you. It's about being precise enough that people who don't want to believe you run out of room."
Marcus recognized Anderson's lesson in different words.
"Mr. Anderson said something like that."
"I already like Mr. Anderson."
When they finished, David closed the notebook.
"Now tell me what you want."
Marcus blinked.
"What?"
"Not what you think I want. Not what Grandma wants. What do you want to happen?"
Marcus looked at the table. The obvious answer was punishment. He wanted Patterson embarrassed. He wanted Cartwright to feel what it was like to have a door closed in her face.
He wanted the boys who laughed to apologize. But those wants felt smaller once spoken silently.
"I don't want her doing it to anybody else."
David nodded.
"Anything else?"
"I want the suspension gone."
"Reasonable."
"I want them to admit I didn't do anything wrong."
David's expression softened.
"Also reasonable."
Marcus looked at the container.
"And I want to cook for you tonight."
David reached across the table.
"That's the most important one."
Dorothy poured coffee.
"You're going to the school first, aren't you?"
David nodded.