She sits smoking on the concrete ledge that seems to run the entire perimeter of Ryerson, minus the doors. The movie had ended and she’d gone out while her sister and mother were in the bathroom. Good movie. Jack Black and Nicole Kidman were not present; Jennifer Jason Leigh was. Celebrities always look totally normal in person. They’re allowed to have bigger better hair, but that’s about it. Nice boots. Her mother and sister approach slowly, and by the slow deepening of her mother’s brow and her sister’s “oh shit” widening eyes, the girl realizes she has not previously told her mother she started smoking again.
I smoke again.
I see.
I think I told you that.
I don’t think you told me. Maybe your brother did.
Matt told you I smoke?!
I’m not sure, maybe.
Ugh! (under breath) Well he smoked too…
The sister interjects to stop the girl’s retaliatory betrayal. The girl stubs it out. Her mother seems more upset that she didn’t know, rather than the expected horror of the associated health hazards.
Honey I understand it’s a hard habit to quit.
What?
It’s hard to quit.
Oh.
I’m going to find one of those “No Puffin” posters you used to put up for your dad.
Ha!
You used to think it was so bad.
Yeah….
I love my mother. I met her at the Eaton Centre and she was all aflutter, not used to so many people, and such variety at that! She was all bohemian purse and four layers of clothing plus waterproof fall jacket, completely prepared for any weather that should pop up. She snuck a pop into the Ryerson Theater (water only!) and starting asking me if I want some just as an ad ended so all you could hear was her going “ – want some Sprite?” We got her paranoid that they were going to see her chugging it on the night vision goggles they were using to prevent piracy and kick us all out. She was a gong show in the subway system. Said “Have a nice day” (big warm Rose smile) to the token collector and then didn’t put one in. The doors booped and closed right in front of her face, thank god they opened again or we would have had to mime a plan to her through the moving windows. It’s weird, all of a sudden trying (not) to lecture your mother on why you don’t walk 3-wide on the sidewalk, or the concept of stand right, walk left.
Came home, had some KFC. Sigh. There is only one fast food joint within a 10 minute walk from my house. If anything else shows up they are screwed. So slow, so nasty, so delicious.
I smoke again.
I see.
I think I told you that.
I don’t think you told me. Maybe your brother did.
Matt told you I smoke?!
I’m not sure, maybe.
Ugh! (under breath) Well he smoked too…
The sister interjects to stop the girl’s retaliatory betrayal. The girl stubs it out. Her mother seems more upset that she didn’t know, rather than the expected horror of the associated health hazards.
Honey I understand it’s a hard habit to quit.
What?
It’s hard to quit.
Oh.
I’m going to find one of those “No Puffin” posters you used to put up for your dad.
Ha!
You used to think it was so bad.
Yeah….
I love my mother. I met her at the Eaton Centre and she was all aflutter, not used to so many people, and such variety at that! She was all bohemian purse and four layers of clothing plus waterproof fall jacket, completely prepared for any weather that should pop up. She snuck a pop into the Ryerson Theater (water only!) and starting asking me if I want some just as an ad ended so all you could hear was her going “ – want some Sprite?” We got her paranoid that they were going to see her chugging it on the night vision goggles they were using to prevent piracy and kick us all out. She was a gong show in the subway system. Said “Have a nice day” (big warm Rose smile) to the token collector and then didn’t put one in. The doors booped and closed right in front of her face, thank god they opened again or we would have had to mime a plan to her through the moving windows. It’s weird, all of a sudden trying (not) to lecture your mother on why you don’t walk 3-wide on the sidewalk, or the concept of stand right, walk left.
Came home, had some KFC. Sigh. There is only one fast food joint within a 10 minute walk from my house. If anything else shows up they are screwed. So slow, so nasty, so delicious.
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