A Conversation with Mom:

Tony made his way up to his mom's two bedroom apartment. She must have saw him coming because she met him at the door.

"Hi, honey, why are you walking funny?"

Tony swallowed his irritation. He tried his best to walk straight. The invitation to come in was implied. He decided to try to change the subject.

"Oh, it's nothing. I need to talk to you. It's about Dad."

"Tony, you know that is not my favorite subject."

"Yeah, I know Mom, but, it's important to me."

"OK, I'll try not to disrespect the dead."

"Mom, he has been dead to you for years. Why should his actual death make any difference?"

"Tony, I don't care if you are 35 years old. You should not talk to me that way."

"I'm sorry. I guess, I'm feeling a bit irritated."

"Why is that, son?"

"Well, I don't know how to approach this. So, I'll just ask. Was Dad a pastor at one time in his life?"

Mom's face went white and she got a disgusted look on her face.

"Tony, how in the world did you find that out?"

"So, it's true, then? Part of me was hoping those certificates and those robes were some kind of weird practical joke."

"What! Oh, you got the trunk open. Where did you find the key?"

"His lawyer gave me a key to a safe deposit box and the key was all that was in it."

"A safe deposit box, no wonder I could never find it. Leave it to Mike to over-complicate things."

"Mom, I guess you know about what is in the trunk?"

"Yes, I do."

Tony notices his mother's expression change. Her eyes suddenly got very narrow.

"But, I do not want to talk about it. The only thing your father and I agreed on is that our past should stay in the past. I see no benefit to dredging up that time."

Tony presses in.

"Mom, all of a sudden, I feel like I don't know who my father was and I am beginning to wonder how well I know you."

His mother was not moved.

"Son, there is a lot that you don't know. In my opinion, all this happened before you were born and you do not need to know."

"Mom, please!"

"Tony, do not push me on this. Maybe your father left something else in that trunk for you. But, as for me, I just will not go there. I'm sorry."

"Mom, I don't understand this. I can't possibly. You won't let me in. I guess the only choice I have is to go back to Dad's attic. You and Dad have always been hard to reach. Apparently, you have had years of practice."

Tony turns and walks away. He couldn't remember being more frustrated. On top of everything else the bruise on his hip was throbbing. The only thing more annoying was the thoughts throbbing in his mind. Why, Dad, Why?