After Dad told me to call him uncle, Mom divorced him.

"Ellie, I need you to call me 'uncle' today, and have Max call me 'dad'."

At the parent-teacher conference, Dad said this with one hand on my shoulder and the other holding my classmate Max's hand.

"Why?" I asked.

"Max doesn't have a father." He spoke quickly. "He's in a difficult situation. Just help me out today—let him call me dad, and you call me uncle. Understand?"

I didn't say anything. I just watched his lips move.

"It's settled then." Dad patted my shoulder.

Max's mom walked over, tissue in hand, her eyes red.

"Ellie's such a good girl, aren't you? Help Max out."