Short story of a mom and a son.. You can’t control everything. It is much beyond your abilities. But you can create a safe environment for yourself, in which you may feel secure and happy. Nothing is perfect. So you would still have dependencies and roots. Your dependencies may change but you can’t change your roots, you can’t get rid of them either. You would always have duties against them and you would be obliged to behave accordingly once their times come.
We were on the road for more than an hour and she had been talking in a bad temper repeatedly without a break since the beginning.
“25 years and,” She started again.
I completed the sentence in my mind, ‘7 months’.
She continued, “7 months. I have always been a good wife to him. I have always been nice to his family and never said anything bad about them. Never. What I got in return is nothing, nothing but dissatisfaction. You have seen their looks, as if it was my fault. How possibly could it be my fault? Idiots!” She kept talking. It was really irritating. I tried to ignore her impossibly.
I was at a business meeting when Dad called me the day before. He was almost unable to talk. He finally managed to tell it to me with his trembling voice that his father was dead. I was expecting such a phone call from him any time. He was 88 years old. In my opinion it was a good age to say goodbye to the world.
Dad had been providing him companionship at the hospital for a week. He decided to stay with him after the doctor informed him that he was at death’s door. Mom was alone at home during that time. It was just an hour distance by plane but she didn’t visit him.
It is the familial bond that obliges you to attend some of the family gatherings. A family member’s funeral is no exception.
So I had to be there for the funeral. I took four days off, packed a small bag with a few clothes and flew to GH on that night. I arrived at the airport after midnight. I checked in at a hotel near the airport and hardly got some sleep.
Visitation would start at 10:00AM until the funeral services, which was at 11:00AM and then the burial. There would be a private gathering for family members and close friends after the burial.
I was at their house just after 9:00AM. Most of the family members were there. It was a big family. Mom was there, too. I sensed it immediately when I looked at her face that there was something wrong. I had seen such impression on her face a million times and I knew it wasn’t good. She might easily make life miserable for the people around her.
It came out during the gathering, as our family had a very short conversation. She had already said to Dad that she felt very sick and wanted to leave and go back home. It wasn’t true of course. I knew that as well as him. He didn’t say anything but had to accept it. It was her judgment and her decision as always.
I had to take her to the airport. We left almost immediately. I thought it would take just an hour for me to get rid of her. But the universe has another plan for us. It was frustrating to find out there were no flights available within the next 4 hours. I knew what was going to happen. She didn’t fail me. I was going to have to drive her home. It was a 4 hours drive. I was tired and sleepless but they weren’t the issues. It was impossible to tolerate her with such a temper for another 4-5 hours and more.
Anyway, I rented a car, checked out at the hotel and we started off. I gave a quick call to Dad to explain the situation while I was packing at the hotel. He wished me good luck. That was all and we were on the road back to her home.
“I need to smoke.” She said.
I looked at her as if I couldn’t believe what I heard. It was just half an hour ago we had to stop for smoking.
“Now?” It was the only word came out from my mouth.
“Yes, now.”
I pulled over, stopped the engine. She got out of the car and lit up a cigarette. I got out of the car, too. She was leaning back against the car. I moved her side and leaned back against the car, too. She grumbled for a minute but I didn’t care what she said.
“I need to pee.” She said.
I looked at her to see how serious it was.
“It is an emergency.” She assured me and continued, “You turn right and block the view for this side.” She pointed at the direction we just came. “It is already dark and it will take just a few minutes anyway.”
I hesitated for a moment but turned on that side. I could hear she was pulling her skirt up and pushing her panties down and then her pee. God damn it! She was peeing a foot away from me. I couldn’t help but turned my head back and looked at her. I saw nothing explicit but her peeing. I immediately regretted that I did it. I turned my head back and waited for her to finish.
We were on the road again for more than 10 minutes after the smoking break. There was a complete silence.
“You peeped at me.” She said it slowly.
“What?” I reacted immediately and looked at her angrily. She was looking at me.
“Watch the road.” She said calmly.
“I can’t believe you.” I was pretending as if I was the victim. “You always find something to accuse anyone you want, but this is ridiculous.”
She said nothing. I knew she was still looking at me.
“Liar.” She said calmly. I didn’t reply to her.
She waited for some time and then came closer to me and whispered into my ear, “You are a pathetic liar.”
I didn’t reply her. I did nothing but kept driving, watching the road.
“I thought you were a man. I didn’t know you were such a little dirty boy trying to look into his Mom’s panties.” She was coming on to me. I was her new target now and I might have deserved it. I regretted it again that I peeped at her for nothing.
“I didn’t…” I had just started to deny it she interrupted me immediately with a louder voice.
“Shut up! Be a man and face it! You peeped at me and I saw you!”
I thought how she have possibly seen me, and then realized that she did by following the shadows. I hated it to be at such a position.
“It was nothing but yes I did it.” I admitted it. I wasn’t looking at her, but I could feel her eyes on me. I continued, “I am sorry.”
There was silence again for another 5 minutes.
“I wonder what you would expect to see” She started to talk to me calmly again.
“Nothing.” I replied.
“Oh, poor boy.” She teased. ” I didn’t buy that shit. You did it for a purpose but you couldn’t see anything. Loser.”
I didn’t reply.
“You are just copying your father. Another loser.” She wouldn’t let it go. “Pull over the car.” She ordered suddenly. “Pull over the damn car!” she repeated it with a louder voice.
I pulled over. She unlocked her seatbelt and turned toward me. She was wearing a black skirt and a light blue shirt, accompanied with black stockings and a pair of black shoes. Her hands were on her skirt.
“Tell me what you want to see.” It was an unbelievable move. Was it a blast? Was it a tactic? I didn’t know. I just knew that she was capable of doing anything to make her opponent miserable.
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