Don't Ever Burn the Pizza

Last Edit June 23, 1999

From 6/7/99:
Young men require food, sleep, and a cocoon.
They do not deal well with stress.
Especially 10 days out from the HS Graduation or not trauma.
One minute they are fine - then next, they snarl and snap.
So I made pizza - a reheated pizza - and a pumpkin pie (filling only - less calories). Same time, same oven.
But, I was tired.
So I lay down.
Watching TV in my room since he had commandeered the large set in the living room.
Deep Space 9 was running.
Its season finale.
So, of course, absolutely of course, even if the oven was only at 350 - the pizza was a tad crisp.
Not burned.
Actually the top was a little brown. It was juicy. Melted cheese. Nice.
Not good enough for the demon.
You would think that the earth had stopped rotating on its axis.
I was a bad Mommy.
The food offering was not accepted by the teen-age god. The god expressed his displeasure.
He also refused the pumpkin pie offering (his favorite) - he usually always eats this pie version - we call it a "scrap pie" - a pie and not one, usually what we pour into a spare pie pan after making the 10" wide 2" deep main pie complete with crust. Thanksgiving and Christmas. Only time we indulge in piecrust.
Not this time.
Rejected.
Snarl.
Growl.
Sounds like he wants to leave home.
I am putting pressure on him.
I tiptoed in with a glass of iced Crystal Light. Opened a door for cooler air.
He almost snarled at the drink then changed his mind.
I waited.
To let the snarling subside.
I'm raising a Tasmanian Devil.
A wolverine.
I did what any tired mother does 10 days out from graduation or not trauma when faced with a wolverine.
I called Round Table Pizza.
Deliver.
One large pepperoni.
Have credit card.
Have cash.
Come.
My number is on file.
I hand the child a $20.00 bill and said, "food comes". I gestured at the door. I had also ordered a soda (we were out).
I told him, "30-60 minutes. You pay him." You don't use a lot of words when they are like this. Grunting and sign language work better.
I was braless in my nightgown and saw no reason for me to entertain the driver.
I crawled back to bed.
My son returned to his human form after feeding.