Jane woke up the next morning refreshed, but also a bit disturbed. She had a very strange dream. Already it was fading, but she did remember it had something to do with her son Jon hiding something in his room. Something bad. Maybe like drugs or cigarettes. She knew Jon fairly well and knew that it couldn't be true. But there was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind that told her that maybe it was true and that she should check. After all, it was better to be safe than sorry.
She got out of bed and walked to her bedroom door, opening it just a crack. The bathroom door was closed and the light was on. Someone was using it. Down the hall, she saw that Jon's bedroom door was slightly open. Jon was in the bathroom.
Jane left her bedroom and walked briskly into Jon's room. Then she began to search.
"Mom? What are you doing in here?" asked Jon, from behind her.
It was odd. Usually she just excused herself and say that she was just looking for something. But it was different this time. This time she snapped.
Spinning around to face her son, she said "That's none of your business." The hatred in the voice was overwhelming, as if the words weren't even her own. And Jon noticed it too. "Sorry," she said. "I'm just not having a good morning." As she walked out of the room past him, she glanced down at him and smiled. A dirty thought flashed through her mind. And that scared her. What was wrong with her?
After Jon closed the door behind her, Jane decided to go back to her room. She had to get ready for work and ...
But something in the back of her mind persuaded her to stay, to eavesdrop on her son. And it was a good thing she did, because what she heard through the door confirmed her concerns. Jon really was keeping something from her.
Jane heard her son make a call to his friend Karyn. A memory of Karyn flashed through her mind. But it wasn't a normal memory, it was instead twisted. Something involving her performing a sexual act with her son. Jon would never have sex, Jane knew. Not until he was older, at least. Where were these disturbing thoughts coming from?
She listened in more intently.
"No, she didn't find it," Jon said over the phone. "Don't worry, Karyn. I've got it hidden." Then there was a pause, as Jon listened to Karyn talk. "Yeah, I can bring it to school. But maybe we should use it afterwards." Then there was another pause. "Okay, bye."
"Mom? What are you doing?" It was Zoe. She was standing in the hall.
Jane's head shot in her daughter's direction and snapped "That's none of your business." Then she managed to force out the word "Dear." But it was all filled with hate.
Then Jane smiled, suddenly, and calmly said "I mean, I'm not really doing anything. Nothing you should be concerned with, anyway."
"Okay."
Jane walked up to her gothic daughter and leaned in a bit, as if she were saying something secret. "You haven't seen Jon using drugs or something, have you?"
"Drugs?" Zoe almost laughed. "We're talking about Jon, right? I'd more likely use drugs than him."
Jane smiled. "Of course, dear."
Zoe was starting to get freaked out by her mom's behavior. She was acting almost paranoid.
Jane ran her finger up and down Zoe's pale arm, displaying a dreamy look.
"Mom."
Jane stopped. In her mind, she saw Zoe in a sexual way. But instead of getting disturbed by it, like she did with Jon and Karyn, she actually felt a bit aroused by it. What was wrong with her?
Embarrassed by her behavior, Jane backed away from her daughter and went back into her bedroom.
