Chapter 167

She held my face in her wrinkled, calloused hands, staring into my face, and said, "Of course I'm right. I'm your mother. I'm always right. You haven't forgotten already, have you?"

"Apparently so."

There was a knock on the door. "That will be your father. Open the door and help him with the groceries. We're going to have steak and baked potatoes tonight and you can make the salad."

So, I helped bring in groceries and make dinner and we ate and the whole time, Mom and Dad talked about inconsequential things that made me laugh. After we finished, we scrubbed the kitchen to a faretheewell, then retired to the couch in the living room.

"Now, tell us all about your troubles, sweetie, and we can figure out how to make it better," Dad said.

"I don't know if I can. I'm so ashamed of myself. I feel like you'll hate me if I tell you. It's so disgusting and vile."