If you simply MUST flirt with danger, Rod, won’t you at least wear a helmet?
It was part of Rod’s aging mother’s mantra: wear a helmet – get a job – marry that girl – don’t marry that girl – buy a house – live on my street – for land’s sake, GET A JOB!!!
Every time Rod visited his mother it was the same thing. Five minutes of joy at seeing each other again followed by hours (at least as many hours as he stayed there) of relentless nagging.
I know, Mom. Yes, Mom. For God’s sake, Mom!
Rod generally took it until he could take it no more. It sometimes only lasted an hour before he was high tailing it back out the door and kicking his bike into gear.
Today he’d hoped it would be a more pleasant visit. He had news for his mother and it would be good if she could accept it for what it was – GOOD news.
Mom, listen. Sit down here next to me. I want to tell you something. Please just listen so I can get it all out. Listen before you start in on me.
Okay, Sonny, go ahead I’m all ears.
It’s this way, Mom. I took a job on the new pipeline. I’m leaving tonight. You’re all I’ve got, Mom and I love you. I really do. But I have to get out of this hellhole, and the money is good. It’s gonna buy you a new house, or fix this one up. Whatever you want.
I’ll be in touch. I got you a computer and we can talk on it, okay?
Sonny – are you sure? I’ll miss you, but if it’s what you want to do I guess I have to let you go sometime. Okay, I’ll give you my blessing.
But one last thing, Sonny.
Rod shook his head. What, Mom?
Be careful. And don’t forget to wear your helmet.
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The Trifecta Challenge this week is Flirt – as in flirting with disaster.
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As a mother myself, I know how hard it is to love our adult kids enough to let them make their own decisions while knowing that those decisions might bring problems with them. It’s hard to bite my tongue. I love the idea of a mother being bent on keeping her son safe.
I have an aging mother. Currently she is not speaking to me and she still thinks it is me that is angry. No win situation. Anyway, I loved this piece and it made me laugh though I know aging mothers are not always a laughing matter.
Thanks for your kind review. Hope to see you around. Cheers.
It was hard to watch my daughter move three states away, but I also knew if I did my job as a parent right, she would be fine. I hope I’m not like this mom though. I haven’t had to remind her to wear her helmet… yet.
I loved the humor in this piece and the familiarity of falling into those family patterns.
Thanks for contributing in Week 4, Barbara. Your pieces always put a smile on my face. You capture well how difficult it can be for parents to let go. I hope you’ll be back again for Week 5.