Sheldon finally looks at her. His eyes are red-rimmed, but dry.
The kitchen is silent except for the hum of the refrigerator. Sheldon Cooper, age 9, sits alone at the table. Before him: a legal pad, three sharpened pencils, and a single cold meatloaf slice.
SHELDON I want to understand why he chooses to fail. Hypothesis 255: George Cooper Sr. is not intellectually incapable of responsibility. He is emotionally allergic to it. The allergy manifests as avoidance. Beer is the antihistamine.
Sheldon doesn’t look up. Meemaw shuffles in, robe wrapped tight, and pours herself a finger of bourbon.
Sheldon considers this. Then writes in careful block letters:
MEEMAW (O.S.) You gonna eat that, or dissect it?
Meemaw takes a sip.