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This terrible disease simultaneously tears her mother away and dangles her just out of Christina’s grasp, taunting Christina with the ferocious paradox: your mother is still here and yet she is never, never coming back.
Nora failed to derail the train of conversation. Now they’re all sitting in the Go Fuck Yourself Depot wishing they’d gotten off at Polite Small Talk Junction instead.
“Not everyone wants to get married, Leanne,” Christina interjects, while chewing angrily. Thankfully her mouth is too full of carbs for her to go too far off course. They better tread lightly. Christina’s dangerously close to using the word patriarchy in a rant. It’s better to get out before that. Consider it a conversational safe word.
Christina unconsciously fears, as many educated white people fear, that if she’s not the first one to spot racism, then she might be racist herself. Christina never knows exactly when, why, or how she can be racist, but racism doesn’t go with her well-informed-pro-everything-that-is-liberal-and-just outfit. And thus, educated people like Christina will never be fully educated. You can’t learn what you think you already know.
“This kind of spin doctoring is also how beauty pageants still get to be a thing,” Molly said. It should be noted, the application for the LVL requires a headshot as well as a full-length photo.
“Well, I wouldn’t make any long-term commitments,” Joan says, as if anyone asked. The last long-term commitment Joan made was to a smart bob haircut and a subscription to the Talbot’s catalogue thirty-five years ago. They’re still going strong.
Christina has vowed to confront the next woman who claims Christina “doesn’t know tired” simply because she doesn’t have children. She knows tired. Christina’s tired isn’t balanced by hope for the future, joyful giggles, and messy snuggles. Christina’s tired won’t grow up and pass through this sleepless phase. Christina’s tired will only get worse until it’s replaced by complete loss. Christina knows tired. And she will sue anyone who dares to suggest otherwise.
