[will looks a little bit surprised by the neutral way the man is approaching the question. most adults would've given up by this point and just flat-out demanded a straight answer. he's not used to people who take the time to let him talk in circles.

maybe it's sleep deprivation, or the wind in the trees or -- something else entirely. but will tucks his hands in his pockets and looks straight ahead, and he's about to talk about the monsters and the upside-down and the mind flayer but what comes out instead is:]

My dad used to call me stuff. When he lived with us. Really bad things, and I didn't think they were true for a really long time, and I told everyone they weren't true, but...but they might be true. And I don't know what to do.