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As if she’s so tired of me bringing it up.
I only bring it up because it’s true. Because it’s a real possibility.
Because we live in the real world where things like this happen all the time.
“Honey, that’s just theDatelinetalking,” my mom informs me patiently.
And yes, maybe I bring it up because I watchDateline.
Along with listening to several true crime podcasts.
Which I don’t think is a bad thing.
It’s never a bad thing to keep up with what’s happening in the real world. It’s never a bad thing to be realistic and expect the worst. Because if you expect the worst, you’ll never be surprised. Or shocked into a corner by a serial killer who looked like a cute guy you wanted to kiss.
Because again, ithappens.
“No, it’s the reality talking.” I shake my head, looking out the kitchen window. “These things happen, Mom, okay? Women die because they went on a date with a stranger.”
“Maybe it does. But it’s not going to happen to you.”
“Yeah, how do you know that?”
“Because I’ve taught you to run really fast.”
Jupiter laughs.
I breathe out sharply. “Actually, you’ve taught me to see good in all people and be trusting.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being trusting,” Mom protests.
God.
Okay, I love my mother — I do — but she’s crazy.
She’s just… fearless.
Toofearless.
So much so that growing up, I had to be the one to teach my siblings — I have four younger siblings, two sisters and two brothers — about stranger danger. I had to be the one to tell them,do not get in a van with a strange man;do not let a teacher corner you in a lonely hallway;do not be out after the sun goes down, that’s how children get grabbed.
“Mom, I really think you should start watchingDateline,” I say into the phone, “because there’s everything wrong with being trusting.”
“Okay, can we dial it down a little bit?” she goes, sighing.
“Yes, let’s cut the drama,” Jupiter, the traitor, announces.
“This is not —”
“Evan is not a stranger,” my mom says firmly. “I know his mother. I watchThe Bachelorwith her every week. I have brunch with her most weekends. She’s a good friend of mine.”
Who believes in tarot card readings and auras and things like people’s energy is vibrational and that incense can ward off spirits. That there arethingslike energy and spirits in the first place.
Well, to be fair to Evan’s mom, whoever she is, most of my mom’s friends believe in stuff like this.
Mostly because my momisa tarot card reader.
And to be fair toher, she grew up in a commune in California. I know commune may sound like a cult, but it wasn’t. Or at least it wasn’t a typical cult. It was more like free living and loving. Where everyone believed in being one with nature and opening your arms wide for strangers because your heart’s just super full of love.
