Friday, October 25, 2013

Privacy is such a lonely word.

The basement bathroom. It's far enough removed from the ordinary Saturday afternoon activity, I conclude, and seems like the only place at this moment that offers a safe haven. Locked behind the door, I switch on the fan to use as an audible buffer. The light stays off. My bullet goes on to the third of seven settings. No sooner had the left side of my flushed face settled comfortably into the plush throw rug when my zone was jarringly interrupted by a knock on the door and my 13-year-old daughter's voice.

"Mom? Mom, what are you DOING in there?"

"I am going to the bathroom!! What do you WANT?"

"The UPS guy needs a signature. Are you okay??"

My voice sounds loud and frustrated over the hum of the fan, although the other buzz had stopped. Suddenly.

"Yes! Just sign it!"

Later, when I surfaced, my daughter comments. I can't help hearing suspicion in her voice.
"Um ... going to the bathroom? You sounded like you were in pain."

"Sometimes going to the bathroom can be painful." What else can I say? It was the first thing that came to mind. And most likely, one of the first things she chooses to discuss with her therapist in years to come.





2 comments:

  1. OMG!!!! I HAVE to tell you, I had to read this THREE times before I UNDERSTOOD! LOLOL As you know, I am an ALL NATURALLLLLL kind of girl so I didn't get the connection at first. At first read, I thought....she's laying down in the bathroom to take a nap? Then I read it again and thought.....she's typing a WORD document and she's using bullets? My LAST thought before I actually "got it" was.....she's laying on the floor putting in a suppository because she is having pain trying to go to the bathroom? Then I re-read it AGAIN and finally it CLICKED! Holly Crap! No pun intended, you are TOO FUNNY!

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  2. -- privacy goes out the door with the birth of the kid. i've heard that kids would rather than have you crying in the other room, than happy on vacation.

    needy little parasites (as the father of two of them)

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