The Martyr

It is after all a sensitive issue taking 
considerable thought how it should be 
approached given the very delicate 
sensibilities of the man her son the 
genius whom she regards from her 
humble height of advanced years with 
the kind of tact that he clearly has not 
considered in his relations with his mother. 
A simple enough question begging for 
a response but how to phrase it that 
offense not be taken? To ask why it is 
he regards her with such disregard. Is
it her failing sight and hearing that
convinces him her brain has faltered
as well? Should she attempt irony
since that is often his metier and ask
why it is he seems to regard her as
someone as distasteful as a creature
slinking out of the slime of a dark
lagoon? No, he would not see the
humour in that kind of directness and
perhaps after all it should be a matter 
not to be addressed at all. After all there 
is nothing particularly new about this
attitude reserved particularly for her.
And her intention is not to upset the
boy now 60 years of age so that he will
react by subconsciously disciplining
her refusing to eat the meal she has
so lovingly prepared. She shrugs in
acknowledgement of her decision
leading her to agree; she is after all
someone whose wit and intelligence
has in fact been betrayed by nature.