Day 12 - VOICE

[exceptfebruary]

It is the second Sunday of May.

I wonder how many of you can pay tribute to your mothers in this City? Many of you have probably been separated from your mothers. Even those whose mothers have gone cannot even visit their grave. How many mothers have been torn from their children?

Cards not given, flowers unreceived.

[ Pause. ]

Happy Mother's Day.

Comments

[phobic]

You didn't say anything at all.

You're a tease.

[exceptfebruary]

In this case I am the host. It would be selfish to spend the post discussing my own mother.

[phobic]

Will you tell me something, if I tell you something?

[exceptfebruary]

[ Pause.

Private ]

Perhaps.

private

[phobic]

It was four years ago today that I strangled my mother to death.

private

[exceptfebruary]

December 24th. 25th. 26th. 27th. 28th. 29th. 30th. 31st. New Year's. What sort of mother doesn't notice a child is gone for so long, and during the holidays?

private

[phobic]

A mother who isn't engaged.

[whoops he wasn't expecting splash damage from this]

We are as a species ever unprepared for a lack of love from our mothers.

private

[exceptfebruary]

Yet we must often love them regardless.

private

[phobic]

I never did.

[if he's aware his tone is sharper, he's not giving it any modulation]

She accomplished nothing an unspayed mutt couldn't--a good deal less, in fact.

private

[exceptfebruary]

[ He's not going to troll scarecrow about how he should love his mother, holiday or not, but ]

I loved mine on Mother's Day, at least.

private

[phobic]

Do you miss her?

private

[exceptfebruary]

Not anymore.

private

[phobic]

Liar.

private

[exceptfebruary]

Why did you strangle yours?

private

[phobic]

She was a terrible housekeeper.

[beat. What a liar.]

You understand the position of neglect very well.