My son Tyler grew up without a father, so when he became close to Richard, a 50-year-old coworker, I tried to see it as a good thing. Richard listened to him, taught him things, took him to games, and quickly became the father figure Tyler had always missed.
But something about their friendship bothered me.
When Tyler invited Richard to dinner, my instincts proved right.
After Tyler left the room, Richard followed me into the kitchen and quietly admitted he had befriended my son for a reason. Years earlier, Tyler’s father had stolen a valuable wooden box from him before disappearing.
Richard had learned from Tyler that I still kept his father’s belongings in the attic.
Then he threatened to turn my son against me unless I gave him the box.
Terrified, I retrieved it.
Inside was a valuable silver locket that had belonged to Richard’s wife.
But before Richard could justify what he had done, Tyler appeared in the doorway. He had heard everything.
“You thought you could turn me against my mom?” he said. “She gave up everything for me.”
Richard apologized, but Tyler wasn’t interested.
He told him there would be no more weekends, games, or phone calls.
Richard finally got his locket back.
But he walked out of our house having lost something far more valuable:
My son’s trust.