Mom Sleeps Through It All

The most relaxed woman I have ever met, and yet seems quite sane. Watched her nap in the dining car while bandits were robbing the train. She slept through gunfire, and barely stirred during her little sleep. Did she hear the screaming? No. She slumbered and deep. Is she okay? The detectives asked after they had questioned the rest. Don’t know, I replied. Let’s give her the ultimate sure-fire mom test. So, we got as quiet as this carload of strangers could ever get. And that professional mother came up rapidly, with fire and spit. Why is it so quiet? What is going on here? She demanded to know. Surprised, for she had missed the entire bandit shooting show. Something is off, she said. With many children, it is never this quiet. Did not stop asking until we rewound the tape showing her the riot. I knew something was wrong, she said. Next time wake me up, okay? This woman was the mother of sixteen children, happy and gay. She had raised them to be responsible and never start a fight or riot. I learned a professional mother wakes when people get quiet.