My mama walked across the tile kitchen floor and she was barefoot with chipped red polish.
I sat, quiet, at the table watching her as she inhaled one Marlboro after another.
She asked me if I wanted one and shoved the box so close it touched my nose, and when I reached to pull one out, she snatched them back. She said that seven-year olds are too stupid to know what is and isnt good for them.
I could see her laugh while she looked out the window. She would sit for hours in that window and then she would walk across that kitchen floor.
She told me I had better stop staring at her. She told me children were little burdens and that God gave them to women because they did something to upset Him.
She stood, almost like a statue and took a drag before she sat next to me at the table.
She ruffled my hair and blew the smoke right into my mouth.
She said...
"If they did abortions at 7 years I'd take you back today. Until someone can figure that out, you had better stop staring at me"

07/28/2006

Author's Note: Yes ma'am

Posted on 07/28/2006
Copyright © 2025 Janel Lacroix