Читать книгу Hey Dorothy You're Not in Kansas Anymore - Karen Mueller Bryson - Страница 10

The day after my breakthrough session with Dr. Frankenbaum, I got up enough courage to visit my mom. No one answered when I rang the bell, but I still had a key, so I let myself in. And if it wasn’t the strangest thing, the house was completely empty, except for a small telephone table and my mom’s Dial M for Murder replica phone.

I yelled for my mom but there was no response. Then the phone started ringing. I picked it up:

"Hello," I said.

"Dorothy, this is your mother."

"Where are you, Mom?"

"I’m staying at your brother's for a few days. They’re still painting my apartment."

"Your what?"

"My apartment, Sweetie."

"Why do you have an apartment?"

"Because I’m selling the house."

"Why are you selling your house?"

"That’s the only way I can afford to pay for the café."

"What café?"

"The one I’m buying."

Have you ever started reading a book only to find out later that the first chapter was missing?

"Mom, why are you calling your own house?"

"Because I wanted to talk to you, Dorothy."

"Then why didn’t you call my apartment?"

"Now that’s dumb. Why would I call your apartment when you’re at my house?"

Something very strange was going on. Nothing my mother was saying made any sense.

"Is Jude there?" I asked.

"No, he went to pick up Maggie from the gym. He should be home in a few minutes. Would you like me to tell him you called?"

"I didn’t call. You called me."

"Oh, that’s right. Silly me."

"Just tell Jude I’ll be there in a few minutes."

"I sure will. I love you."

Now wait just a minute! “I love you.” Where did that come from? We don’t use that kind of language in our family!

"Okay, bye," was all I could say.

That was the first time my mom ever told me she loved me. My dad never did. He never got the chance. I guess my mom decided she better start before it was too late.