F-0037 An interview with the parent of a child who still says, but I did say it

(Said to be a copy of an interview transcript. The interviewer’s remarks are shown with dashes.)

— Could you start with June 16?

When I came to pick up, my kid came out holding the teacher’s hand, and one look at the face told me: been crying. From the teacher, the explanation was that there had been a mix-up over the replies during hide-and-seek. A mix-up — that was the word they used.

— And your child said?

Didn’t talk on the way home. After the bath, out of nowhere: but I did say it. Was hiding, heard, ready yet, and properly said, not yet — and ◯◯-chan, the seeker, said, you didn’t. Being made out to have lied — I think that was what hurt the most.

— What did you hear from the staff?

That five hid, and the replies were four. Five counting mine. So I tried to think it through. Whether it was my kid’s that went missing, or. I’m sorry — I stopped partway. However I count it, the numbers don’t come out.

— Has anything changed since?

No more hide-and-seek, I think. The park is off, too, by the club’s rules. But the way my kid answers changed. When you call, it’s louder than before: coming! Sometimes twice. To make sure it’s heard, I think.

— Anything your child still says?

At bedtime, sometimes: but I did say it. It comes back, I think. When that happens, I’ve made it my rule to say: I heard you. I wasn’t there, so really, I don’t know. But when I say, I heard you, my kid sleeps.