* * *

  “Hi honey! Are you having fun?” My mother’s voice drifted clear and familiar through the air waves from miles and miles away.

   “Hi Mom, yeah it’s been a blast so far.” I waited for the inevitable firing squad of questions.

   “Are you eating?”

Here it comes.

I sighed. “Yes, Mom I’m eating fine.” My mother lives in constant fear that I’m malnourished, just because I have lean bones. I got them from my dad’s side of the family and she’ll never get used to them.

 “Are you and Marti getting along?” Here was a question I hadn’t expected, and I didn’t know how to answer. Were we getting along? I didn’t really know, but I didn’t want to explain the whole situation to my mother. I also didn’t want to be so vague that she would ask a million more questions that I would have no choice but to answer. The trick was balance.

  “Oh sure. But you know how it is when you share a room with someone for a few days.” I laughed. “Marti’s so messy!” There. Just the right amount of truth.

 My mom laughed too. “Try living with your Dad.”

My dad. He was messy. Oh how I missed him though!

  “What are you doing tonight?” She asked.

   “Going to another party.” I tacked in “another” so she’d know that I hadn’t been a complete introverted, anti-social all week.

  “A party? Fun. Who all’s going to be there? Have you met a lot of Marti’s friends? I hope you will be responsible. Try to look pretty.”

Ah, the party advice. Here we go. Look pretty. Talk to the boys. Wear your hair in a new style. Blah blah blah.

Did she think I didn’t try?

“I should go get ready, mommy. Talk to you later.”

 “Ok sweet pea! I miss you. I’ll call you tonight and you can tell me all about it.”

Yeah sure. If I was still in one piece.

  “Ok. I’ve really got to run.”

  “Ok, love you honey!”

  “I love you too.”