Sunny’s stutter was concerning to Hal. Was it due to what the Patriots did to her? Perhaps trauma? He even worried it indicated some kind of internal injury.
So he tries to do activities with her to help fix it. Flashcards, games, anything he can think of or find online. None of it really works though, and he and Sunny end up very frustrated afterwards. Sunny more so than Hal.
Dave watches for a bit. He doesn’t really know what to say about it, he doesn’t wanna hurt either of their feelings. So he just stays quiet.
One night though, Hal seems particularly upset about it. He already knows he isn’t a perfect parent, but now he sees himself as a complete failure of a caretaker.
Dave finally says something.
“Not everything is a computer bug.”
Hal sits up in one fluid motion, his face a mix of emotions.
Okay maybe that came out wrong…
Dave takes a deep breath, tries to rephrase. What he means is that… sometimes you have to let things be. Not everything can be fixed, sometimes it doesn’t even need to be fixed. Maybe if you give it time, give it space, let things develop, it’ll sort itself out.
Hal understands, he just wants the best for Sunny. Dave knows that. They both want what’s best for her.
Hal selfishly admits that he worries Sunny will have the stutter for the rest of her life. And while that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, he worries there could’ve been something he could’ve done to help.
Dave says he shouldn’t worry about it. Hal asks how he’s so sure.
There’s a bit of a long, awkward silence. Dave just kinda stares off as if he’s said too much. He soon realizes there’s no way out of it now though, so he just takes a deep breath before speaking very bluntly.
“I used to have a stutter.”
Hal is astonished, immediately he jumps into a hundred questions but soon realizes that’s pretty rude. So he eases off, and settles for just one question.
Dave tells him it was when he was very, very young. Back when he was in the foster system. It’s memories he absolutely hates to remember, but he puts up with it to satisfy Hal’s curiosity and assure him.
So there. He turned out fine. It went away with time and patience. So Sunny will be fine.
Hal repeats that last sentiment internally to himself, as if trying to manifest it.
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