Check the attitude, kid. [Steve is stern but then takes a deep breath to check himself. He didn't mean to have snapped at his younger self. He knew his younger self was confused and he could hear the undercurrent of fear in his voice. His reaction was just second nature. He was just raised and then taught that authority and adults are to be respected at all times. Right now, though, his younger self didn't need that. He needed reassurance that he was safe and things would be okay. Well, as okay as they could be in this place.]
[Steve pauses to think of something that only he would know at that age.] I know that when you...we...were shipped off to Military school, we were scared and we wanted to be anywhere but there. Dad had the best of intentions for us and was trying to keep us safe but we were still very angry with him for doing what he did. I remember my first few weeks were rough. All I wanted to do was mourn mom's death and be with Mary, both things I couldn't do that here.
Another thing, the night of mom's funeral we heard Mary crying in her room after dad put her to bed. We went into her room and laid with her and we promised that we would always be there for her and protect her, which is a promise we broke when we went off to school.