She probably meant no offense; she just forgot her manners or, more likely, slipped and gave voice to the truth she believes, the truth that lives in her head. Unlike her, I didn't have the luxury of forgetting myself or my place.
Marissa Maciel's previous work for The Toast can be found here. Exhausted parents lying on the floor, surrounded by government-provided boxes of diapers and wipes. Tired women with their feet elevated staring into space, while human resource managers do not have any reason to call them to talk about maternity leave issues or concerns. Tired men holding up two brands of diapers, debating between chlorine-free versus extra-absorbency, making that decision themselves, feeling confident about…
To Prevent Changelings, seek a basal body temperature as cold as iron or a virgin woman's suffering. To Ensure The Birth Of A Child With A Caul, A Most Fortuitous Blessing, seek to conceive within 12-24 hours of ovulation or touching the cloak of a master thief. To Ensure Your Child Is A Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, abandon your daughters by the banks of a river with only a ring and a blanket as markers…
Mummy can't listen to you just now, my darlings Mummy is being consumed by regrets shouldn't we all be smiling, Mother? for the portrait? thats a good idea why dont you tell me what i have to fucking smile about and i'll try to work up the muscles to do it…
Here is a story I carry about my mother: When she was in her early twenties, she worked in the sales office of a garment manufacturer in Kuwait. She was petite, dark haired, feisty, and a Kuwaiti man fell in brief lust or attraction with her, finally giving up after a week, when he realized she would not be his fourth wife. He gave her a necklace with the letter “L” on a thin
My Mother, Who Did Her Best You picked me up when I was down (on the floor, with a busted knee, after playing slip-n-slide in the hallway while you were screwing with the DVR) You knew what was best for me (especially if I was whiny and we were in the car, driving past a McDonald’s) You supported me in all my endeavors (except for that one v-ball game you…
