She said, “What do you mean?”
I said, “I was on the computer and in your sent folder I saw the e-mail you sent to that person on who wrote stories, and I read two of them. I’m sorry mom, I shouldn’t have, but after looking at the first one I…I’m sorry.”
She covered her mouth for a moment and then said, “Oh, now I understand…well I guess that’s all water under the bridge. I’m glad you told me Paul, and I’m glad you want things to be straight between us from now on…that’s good.”
I said, “Do you forgive me mom?”
She said, “Of course, we’re not the same as when that happened, are we?”
I said, No mom, we’re not. I think we’re better.”
She smiled and said, “I think we are too.”
Mom’s idea worked. Within days of leaving tear-off numbers on a flyer I’d made up, I started getting calls. I told people I wasn’t a professional, but I was cheap. There were only a couple of people I had to tell to call someone else in. For the most part, it was mostly problems of the ‘Forgot to put the plug in’ variety. Some people even told me to come back once a week just to do a ‘Clean out’. I was making more money than I would have at Unitech and I was in mom’s complex three to four times a week. I usually stopped by and we had coffee, or she made me lunch, or we just talked.
I found out that my mom was a nice person. And you don’t get to know someone by spending ‘Quality time’ with them; you get to know them just spending time, period. After a few months I saw another difference. I said, “Mom, is it my imagination, or are you taking less stuff?”
She laughed and said, “You noticed huh? Yes, it’s not that I planned anything; I just don’t seem to need as much to get by. I’m feeling better.” Then she thought for a moment and said, “No, I shouldn’t say I didn’t do anything, I think since you’ve been coming over…I don’t want to disappoint you. I am feeling better. I’m glad it shows.”
I said, “It does mom, thanks for telling me.” I got up and said, “Gotta go to work, see ya.” I gave her an exaggerated kiss on both cheeks and she hugged me. I said, “Oh, I had an idea. How about next week, we take a vacation together?”
She laughed and said, “Have you lost your mind? I can hardly afford not being on vacation, and besides, this is first job I’ve had in a while I might actually be able to holds on to.”
I said, “No I was talking about a different kind of vacation. I’ll stay with you for the week and we’ll do stuff together. I’m in and out these buildings almost every day anyway.”
She said, “Sounds like fun. Okay I’ll try and come up with some things to do and you do too, okay?”
I said “Yes ma’am,” and left.
It was a great week. I had no memory of ever being with her for more than a day or two at a time. We had fun. We went to the movies, to the zoo, and to the beach. But that wasn’t what made it special, it was being together. I thought we would never run out of things to say to each other. It was an amazing feeling, to say whatever you thought and felt to someone who was always opening up to you too, and listening, and understanding.