Salt or Pepper

"Please pass the salt," he said, looking up from the morning paper.

She passed him the pepper.

He thought about it and wondered...did I say pepper? I would have bet my life that I just said salt. He looked at her inquisitively. She looked back and smiled.

"What is it, son."

He lifted the pepper and shook it onto his eggs.

"Nothing, mom." She must be losing it, he thought. She got up to grab some juice...

"I didn't know you liked pepper on your eggs."

"Oh, well, you know how I'm always trying new things," he lied...sparing her the embarrassment. She nodded and poured a glass for herself.

This wasn't like her. He wondered...maybe she intended to pass him the pepper. Maybe she just wanted to know if I thought she was going crazy.

Or, was she testing me to see if I thought I was going crazy! Was my mom really capable of setting me up like that?

He thought about it...hmm. Mom's getting old, but she has always been quick as a whip. I looked for anything different in her behavior, and I think she noticed. Had she realized she passed the pepper in error, or was she waiting to hear me tell her the truth? She would do this sort of thing. Damn her.

She knows what a ruthless world it is, and has always tried to prepare me for it in various ways. I hope she knows I am not crazy. Wait a minute. I am not crazy, and I do know that...

"Mom, I lied. I did ask for the salt."
"That's my boy, now pass me the pepper."

He looked and noticed the salt was sitting next to her plate. She never used salt.