COMING TOGETHER--54

I got up early today to get the car oil changed. I had the ball bearings tightened and worked on the internet at McDonalds.

Mom got up while I was away, she actually took a shower. So I said I could take her to The Egg and I. I'll drink something and this will make sure she eats something after that pitiful dinner last night.

Everything went well until Mom paid for her breakfast. The bill was $13.50. She said she paid with a $50 bill, insisting she gave the girl one bill. She showed me her change, which was $74. I questioned this. I said, 'Did you give her one bill?' She felt insulted, adamant about giving the girl one bill. I said, 'But you've been mistaken before.' That set her off. She was mad and crying and doing her version of yelling at me. So I left the apartment for a few hours.

I asked the clerk if Mom had given her one bill or two. The clerk said one, saying she gave my mother $37.50 in change. Mom had $74 in her hand that she insisted was the change the girl gave her.

I went to a half-price book store, I went to a library, I went to get myself pizza. Now I am back 4 hours later, Mom is asleep with her mail on her lap. I want to move out, but maybe I have asked that of God too many times. I don't know what she is going to say when she wakes up.

This might be the beginning of the end of us living together. I don't mind that, but it might be bad for her.

+++

She was fragile. She spoke to me gradually, so I tried to be as polite as she wants me to be. We warmed up a little at a time. I left her some pizza, which she didn't want. So I went off to my Bible study. When I returned, she said I made her nervous coming in the apartment without announcing myself.

Then she saw me eat the left-over pizza, so she wanted to eat a piece also. Later I realized she didn't really like the pizza, it was just to sit with me in the kitchen. That's what she really wanted all along