On Monday morning, he had tried to tighten it with a multitool.
Instead, he had apparently loosened the wrong fitting.
When he realized the wheel seemed worse, he panicked.
He said nothing.
Hours later, it failed.
Caleb’s parents brought him to Maya’s house that evening.
He stood in the doorway shaking.
“I didn’t mean to break it.”
Maya studied him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought you’d be mad.”
“I would’ve been.”
He looked miserable.
“But less mad than I am now.”
“I know.”
“What if I’d gotten hurt?”
“I know.”
Maya let the silence remain for a moment.
Then she said, “Next time you think my chair needs fixing, tell me.”
Caleb nodded furiously.
“Or an adult.”
Another nod.
“Or basically anybody except secretly becoming a wheelchair mechanic.”
A tiny laugh escaped him.
Maya smiled.
The sabotage mystery was over.
No sinister stranger.
