"You don't know that. I am your mother. I will do anything for you. You say the word and I will make it happen," I said, meaning that for the first time in my whole life. Tyler let out a long string of air with his nose.

"I don't want to talk about this with you mama," he responded.

"You got some place to be?" I asked. I wasn't going to let him off the hook. Tyler was quiet for a long time. His eyes cast down again, no longer looking at me. I wondered if he was just going to sit in silence until I gave up. I had...