5
Mo t h e r o f t h e Y e a r
Mom comes home with groceries
Samir and I are on the couch
The tv on, feet touching
Like nothing special happened.
Samir helps her bring the bags in
It’s nice to see you again
, Mom says
Will we be seeing more of you
?
I hope so
, Samir says
And blushes so hard
It makes my heart ache.
When he leaves
I chop carrots and onions
And Mom fixes me in her stare
Until I feel I might crack
And crumble
My skin peeling off in strips
Like old paint.
Do we need to have “the talk”?
she says.
Boys look a certain way
When certain things happen
I haven’t forgotten
.
Your father still gets that look.
Ew, I say.
I suppose you’re done with David then?
I want to ask her
What she thinks
