house and knew what soap Thelma was watching and
how important it was to her, but I remembered what
Karl had said to me in the morning and how much he
was hoping I would help bring Thelma back to reality. "Hi," I said, and she looked up.
"Oh, Crystal, you're back from school. I want to
hear all about your first day. Just a minute, and there
will be a commercial," she said.
"I'll go change first," I said.
She nodded, her eyes already drawn back to the
screen. When I returned, the television was turned off
and Thelma was sitting quietly in the rocking chair,
moving back and forth slightly and staring down at
the floor.
"Mom?" I said, and she looked up, her eyes
blank for a moment and then suddenly coming on like
a pair of tiny lamps.
"Oh, Crystal. I'm stunned. Just at the end,
Brock told his mother he's gay, and all this time I
thought he was in love with Megan. I mean, I never
would have known." She shook her head. "What's her
mother going to say?"
"Um, I'm not sure," I said, not knowing how to
answer her. I decided instead to tell her about my day.
"I like my new school."
"What? Oh, yes, the school. How was your first
day?"
"It was good. I like most of my teachers." "Did you make any friends?" she asked, as if
that was the main reason for school.
"A few," I said. "I ate lunch with a pair of
twins."