Rave

Mother's worry about a lapse in judgement

It isn’t a big deal. It happens to many people at many times. Though usually it isn’t literal, or maybe it just seems literal to me. I mean I can’t find it, anywhere. My mind I mean.

I haven’t figured out how I can string words together. But if I willingly let a twelve-year-old go to a rave with friends, it must have happened, right? What was I thinking?

Now, I am waiting for her to get home. It is seven, and I gave her a ten o’clock curfew. She’s not late or anything, but the absolute mindlessness of having allowed her to go… My phone pinged a notification. My card had been used to order an Uber. I blinked at that. Who was using my card?

That I questioned it is just another symptom of having lost my mind. Of course, I had made sure she would have a way home. Stephanie must have ordered the Uber. But why? She was supposed to have a ride with her best friend and her older sister.

I texted her. “Are you coming home already?”

A little time passed. “Yeah, mom, it isn’t my scene.”

“Why aren’t you riding home with Collen and Jenny?”

“The Uber’s here. I’ll explain when I get home.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Jenny isn’t the person I thought she was.”

I left that hanging and paced the living room, waiting for her to arrive. At ten past eight, Stephanie came through the door. I wanted to hug her and examine her for damage. But I didn’t. “Now, will you explain?”

“Mom, there were drugs at the rave. People kept offering them to me. I asked Jenny if we could go home. She laughed and popped a pill. I doubt if she had any idea what it was. I was so uncomfortable I stepped outside and called an Uber. The bouncer stayed with me. I asked him how that kind of thing could happen at a rave that allowed pre-teens in. He just shrugged at me, and said, ‘I do what I can to keep that stuff out, but I can’t strip search people.’”

Hearing this, I did clutch my daughter. I now realize I hadn’t lost my mind in letting her go. I had just trusted her to do the right thing. She deserved a reward for her mature decision and actions. “How would you like to watch an R-rated movie? And pizza?”

She blinked at me. “Mom, we watch those all the time.”

“This time it doesn’t have to be one I pre-screen. You pick. I trust you.”

She smiled broadly and returned my hug.


442 words.


prompt ▼

From the prompts offered in the writing resources tab.
Write about the last thing you lost.