Thursday, Apr. 22, 2004 | 11:59 p.m. | A Brief Conversation

my mother and i had the following conversation in a check out line in ikea the other day . . . i had run back into the warehouse to get a power cord.

strange hours: sorry i took so long.
mom: that's all right. i picked the longest line because i thought you'd be a while.
strange hours: it's just that - {vague waving of hands} there were so many rows of shiny things to get to the lighting department.
mom: yes. {pause} it must be very tough being a leo.

you. have. no. idea.