20.

my mother was glad

that i was finally getting out of the house.

“invite your friend over for dinner,”

she said.

so i did.

it wasn’t as awkward

as i thought it would be.

my mother asked most of the questions, like,

“how old are you,

how is school?

do your parents know that

your friend is 22?”

to those, maja replied:

“16,

school doesn’t change for me,

well, i haven’t told my dad.

i didn’t think it would matter.”

my mother kind of “mhm-d”

and moved on.

when dinner was over,

i asked if she wanted

to go to the movies,

i’ll pay this time,

i promise.

she shrugged.

“sure, forest.”