Fallout (Crank 3)

Sunday to call Matt. Instead I called Mom.

CALLED FIRST

Around ten a.m.

No answer.

Left a voice mail.

Tried again

an hour later.

Same results.

Second voice mail.

The old saying

goes, “Third time’s

a charm.” Whoever said

it didn’t know Mom.

She never returned

my calls. But the fifth

time, I guess it was

sometime well after

two, she finally

picked up.

I SUSPECTED

She was using again, not only

because she was asleep (crashed)

at two p.m., but also because

she sounded spun. Her voice

was clipped. Staccato. Hello?

Summer? Is that you?

“Uh, yeah, Mom. How come

you were asleep?” Daring the lie.

It’s Sunday. I don’t work

Sunday. Don’t you ever sleep in?