And...after the scary episode of the possessed matress I did spend the night at Mum's. I was happy to see her 'cause I hadn't on the weekend and to see my Ame. But, as soon as we arrived at her's she started dispatching housework. "Claudia, while I finish cooking, you make the lemon ade, America, while we are doing our chores, pick up all your mess, please." Ok, ok, her demands were reasonable, but I can't understand why she can't be anxious to communicate instead of anxious to control and order. Whatever. It turned out Ame hadn't done her Kumon homework, so she turned to me and said, "Ooops, I forgot. Well, I'll just don't tell her." It's funny, we are like sisters. She trusts in me not to tell on her with my mother. Of course I gave her "the look" and told her, "Of course you are going to do your homework as soon as you finish picking up your mess." And she did, quite dutifully.
We started eating. Ame started speaking. She reminded me of myself. I would never finish eating properly 'cause I always preferred chatting. I can imagine my child, an only girl thrusted in an adult world full of tired people not exactly willing to listen to her stories. I listened. I laughed and then I told her as soon as she finished a story. "Now eat something, honey, you still have your homework to finish." And she would eat. My mother just observed us from behind her plate, threatening and fearsome. Haha, we're afarid of my mother. If you stop to think it, it's funny.
She finished her homework and I went with her to the Kumon, which is crossing the street. I chatted with my mother in the living room and when the alarm screamed at me telling me it was time to pick up my babe I left for her.
We were about to cross the street when Ame saw my mother. She had waited more than enough. I mean...!
We went back home and as Ame had no homework due to the last week at school we spent a good evening listening to music in the I-Pod. We listened, danced and sung. Yes, we are like sisters. Suddenly my mother shouted from her bedroom, "Please, stop the music. That's enough!"
She urged us to watch TV. You see, at Mum's home it's forbidden listening to music, watching TV or spending more than half an hour on the internet. And apparently talking in a loud voice too. I am a teacher and Ame is loud by nature. We don't exactly speak in low voices.
Unfortunatedly, Ame chose to watch MTV which meant MORE music. I was happy recognizing some of the music I have been given by Mau and some of my daughter's faves. My mother wasn't. She simply told us, "At 9.00 I'll turn off the TV." And she did --at 9.00pm.-- in the middle of a song Ame had just said she liked. And then my mother asked why Ame was complaining all day long. I answered. "All those rules and lack of flexibility can't make someone feel very happy." And we discussed politics. As I stared raising my voice she demanded silence and quite cunningly told me, "You haven't worked on your thesis, why did you bring your lap top for then, huh?" Oops, low blow. Saved by the bell, in that moment Ame's father came to pick her up. I then started my lap top and working. I went to bed few minutes before midnight.
No doubt, once you live on your own, with your own rules, it's better to deal with your own problems than to sleep over at Mum's.
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