Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“I am feeling better, and do you know why?” Elsa grins as she practically skips over to me.
“Why?” I tilt my head.
She cups her hand beside her mouth and looks around before whispering, “I’ve been micro-dosing shrooms!”
I stare at her, flummoxed.
“Really?”
“Yes, silly!” she nods, grinning. “I feel much better now, and to be honest, my Lyme disease may even be in remission because of the shrooms.”
I stare.
“Yeah, but are shrooms a recognized cure for Lyme?”
“Well, I don’t about it being a cure,” says Elsa loftily. “But it’s definitely helped a lot with the symptoms.”
I stare.
“But have you been consulting a doctor about this? You know shrooms are a psychedelic right? Besides, weren’t you the one who always told me to stay away from drugs?”
Mom scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest.
“This is different, Chelsea. It’s not like I’m shooting up heroin or doing crack on the street. Besides, there are plenty of people who micro-dose and the whole field of homeopathy is based on micro-dosing! Not all those people can be wrong, right?”
I shake my head.
“Homeopathy is not based on micro-dosing,” I state in a firm voice “And especially not psychedelics. Homeopathy is much more complicated than that and it involves an entire school of thought. Plus, even if homeopathic dilution is a part of homeopathic remedies, homeopathy as a field has been deemed fraudulent and the stuff of quackery by a lot of scientists. Honestly, I think you should consult a physician. This is serious stuff, Mom.”
Elsa merely scoffs.
“Chelsea, I am a forty-five-year-old grown woman and I’m old enough to have agency over my own body. You know how hard it’s been ever since I came down with Lyme.”
I stare.
“Yes, of course I know. Your joints ache, and you’re always exhausted. Totally get it.”
“But look at me now!” my mom sings while doing a three-sixty in the kitchen. “I’ve finally found something that seems to be helping me regain my health, and that’s what matters. I don’t care what you say, or what some doctor with his nose buried in a book says. What matters is how I feel, and right now, I feel amazing. I feel like I’ve been let out of a cage that’s been keeping me miserable and in pain for years.”
I nod.
“I get it, Mom, it’s just … well, I mean, I’d feel better if you saw a doctor about this as well.”
Elsa shrugs.
“My friend Nancy at work is the one who suggested shrooms. Her brother-in-law’s a doctor, and he knows she’s doing it, so it should be okay.”
I squint.
“But does Nancy have Lyme disease?”
Elsa shakes her head.
“No, she has rheumatoid arthritis, but it works great for her too, so why not give it a try? Again, it’s just teeny-tiny bits of organic matter, so it’s not going to do any harm.”
I can already tell that arguing with Elsa isn’t going to get me anywhere. My mom just doesn’t want to listen, and seems to be coasting on a high right now. When people are like this, it’s impossible to talk them down. I just hope the crash later isn’t too awful.
I sigh, while rummaging around in the bookcase next to the kitchen table.
“Well, just reach out if something seems off, okay? Mason has a doctor on call, and I’m sure he’d be more than happy to summon him for you.”
Elsa scrunches her nose.
“It’s Dr. Wiley, right? The guy with the bald head and constantly sniffly nose? I’ve seen him before,” she says with a wave of her hand. “He’s useless. I think he has a medical degree from some school in the Caribbean.”
I merely tuck my journal under my arm while making my way to the front door.
“No, I think Dr. Wiley’s a real doctor with a degree from an American medical school. But the important part is that he is a medical doctor, and that he’s available if you want to see him. Just let us know. Bye Mom. Don’t be a stranger okay?”
With that, my mom waves as I shut the door behind me, standing for a moment on the porch. Goodness, that was more drama than I anticipated. Even more, we didn’t even get into the elephant in the room, which is that I’m sleeping with our landlord to pay for our room and board. Still, this whole situation is so weird that I don’t want to think about it. As a result, I put it out of my mind with determination, and step into the garden once more before heading to the big house for another round of laughter, fun, and love.
8
CHELSEA
Today’s, Mason’s whisked me off to a big box baby store because he insists that there are more things that my child needs.
“Oh no,” I demurred at first. “I’ve already picked out so much stuff.”
The handsome man merely frowned while ushering me into the car.