“She’s wise, Michael. Trust me, she knows stuff that hasn’t even happened.”
“I bet she does,” I agreed.Boy did she.
“Honestly, I don’t know why I waste my breath with you.” She began gathering the armful of dirty clothes and ceremoniously dumping them into the hamper in my bathroom. “You’re just like your father. You both think I’m crazy.”
“Aww, come on, Mom. I don’t think you’re crazy. Iknowyou’re crazy.”
She ignored me and pointed at the bathroom. “And clean that bathroom.”
“Why you bustin’ my balls today?”
“And enough with your language,” she snapped, looking around the room. “Now why did I come up here?”
“You’re unhappy. You came up to spread good cheer,” I quipped. “Mission accomplished.”
“Oh yeah,” she began. “Charla and I are going to Hennessy’s bakery in Shelley.”
“You’re going that far for a cake?”
“It’s only 10 miles and they have your boys’ favorite cake. Then we’re going grocery shopping afterward.”
“I’m hearing that you need something from me,” I said. “I’m off today so I won’t be going into the store.”
“Druzella is stopping by at one for a reading. I might be late.”
Yikes. That wasn’t what I’d expected. “Can’t you be back by one?” I asked. “No offense, Mom, but she kinda creeps me out.”
“Just be here,” she stated. “And answer the door, Michael. No loud music either.”
“Moooommmm,”I complained, getting pretty good at remembering what a brat I used to be and scarily slipping right back into my teenage self.
Mom walked out of my room and headed down the stairs. “I mean it, young man!” she yelled.
Perhaps Druzella’s visit wasn’t so bad after all. I had more questionsand she’d beenfullof advice when I last saw her. Even if some of it was delivered with a warning.
* * *
I’d forgotten Druzella was coming until I heard the doorbell ring. I tugged on a tank top and flew down the stairs, answering the door just as it rang a second time.
“Hello,” Druzella said, standing on our front porch in an outfit that could best be described as circus big-tent-esque attire. She wore a tunic in loud colors with a horizontal striped pattern from neck to knees. Bright orange leggings were visible from the knees down matched the gumball sized earrings that almost touched her shoulders.
“Mom’s not home yet,” I immediately reported, hoping she understood the underlying suggestion to stay in her purple clown car.
“Good,” she stated before walking past me like she owned the joint. “We need to talk and I’ll need you to get me my green tea first,” she added, walking toward the kitchen. “Oh, never mind. I’ll get the tea,” she said over her shoulder. “I know where Kathleen keeps it.”
“Help yourself.”
“Any idea when your mother will be back?” she asked.
“Nope. She’s been gone about ninety minutes, so maybe another thirty or so,” I explained.
“I’ll microwave the water to save time,” she said, then pointed at the table. “Sit. I have many questions.”
Druzella somehow knew where the mugs, the tea, and the sugar were located. She hastily moved around the kitchen like she’d been here many times before. Strange thing was that I didn’t recall meeting her before last week.
“I’m not into Mom’s sort of stuff,” I said. “You know, the astronomy stuff.”
“Astrology,” she corrected. “So time travel, parallel universes, and rips in timestuff,those are more your thing?”
