Her Quiet Surveillance
Okay, so.
My mom says she's worried about me.
Which is funny.
Because yesterday she asked me if I wanted tea,
and I said no,
and she made it anyway.
So either she's deaf,
or she's trying to prove a point.
And honestly? Both are fucking concerning.
There's a cup beside
my bed again, I threw it out at half past ten.
She says she thought I'd want a drink—
Okay, but what the fuck am I supposed to think?
She smiles whenever I get mad,
Like I'm the funniest thing she's had.
I swear to God,
she's keeping score. Actually,
I think it's on the fridge.
She's got a calendar.
And every time I lock my door,
I hear her footsteps on the floor.
She says she's checking I'm okay—
THEN WHY'S SHE STANDING THERE THAT WAY?!
OH, MOTHER KNOWS BEST!
She's got a hand on my chest,
Says I'm tired, says I'm stressed,
Says I need a little rest.
OH, MOTHER KNOWS ALL!
She hears me through the bedroom wall!
She says she never heard a thing—
THEN WHO THE HELL WAS TALKING?!
She changed the curtains in the hall,
Says she thought I'd like them small.
She moved the photographs downstairs,
I think she's hiding who's not there.
She says I'm making things up again,
I think she's been talking to my friends.
They say she's lovely,
sweet, and kind— Oh,
that's fucking rich. You should see her when they're not around.
No, seriously, though.
You know what she said to me this morning?
She said, "You look just like your father."
And then she laughed.
I don't look like my father.
I have his eyes,
apparently, but—
Wait.
Why does she have his photograph turned around? (quietly)
Oh, that's not fucking normal.
She says the house is perfectly safe,
But I don't like the look upon her face.
She says I ought to get some air—
WHY DOES SHE KEEP SENDING ME OUT THERE?
She says she loves me every day,
But love shouldn't feel this fucking strange.
She kissed my cheek and called me sweet— I washed it.
Twice.
OH,
MOTHER KNOWS BEST!
She's got a hand on my chest,
Says I'm tired, says I'm stressed,
Says I need a little rest!
OH, MOTHER KNOWS ALL!
She hears me through the bedroom wall!
She says she never heard a thing—
THEN WHO THE HELL WAS TALKING?!
Wait, wait, wait.
I've figured it out.
She wants me to apologize.
For what? I don't know.
But she keeps saying I should think about what I've done.
And I HAVE. I've thought about it for three fucking days.
I haven't even done anything.
Unless she knows about the vase.
(quieter) She doesn't know about the vase.
MOTHER KNOWS BEST!
SHE SAYS I'M JUST OBSESSED!
SHE SAYS I'M JUST UPSET!
THEN WHY WON'T SHE ANSWER MY QUESTIONS YET?!
MOTHER KNOWS ALL!
I HEAR HER PACING IN THE HALL!
SHE SAYS THERE'S NO ONE THERE AT ALL—
Mom? Are you awake?
I know you're awake.
You always are when I am.
(hahaha) That's actually kind of sweet.
... Wait.
How
did
you know I was awake?