The Glow

22, August 2013

THE MOM:

Back to CRI in Lowestoft today, my favourite mother-son haunt, and feeling totally different from when we first started going up there, when I didn’t trust him to go in or come out and sat parked in surveillance mode, eyes glued to the front door, feeling sick the whole time until I saw him again.

Today, I dropped him off and went grocery shopping and collected him one hour later. He came out beaming. He’d passed the drugs test (”Naturally!” he added) and sang the praises of some new doc who’s a forensic advisor to Scotland Yard in his spare time. Alex’s meds are being reduced again in two weeks. The goal is to be completely free of Subutex by January 2014.

Tonight he helped a local widow give a dinner party. £35 for 2 hours. His new venture: helping hostesses who miss having a man around and could use a hand. The following email just came in from her and I am glowing:

“You should be very proud of your son. He is so charming, helpful, a joy to have around and lovely for me not to have to worry about the BBQ or wine. He did everything beautifully, confidently and gracefully and I hope to book him again once I pick up my courage and entertain more often. Love. S xx”

However. I just found out another village resident asked a friend of ours, a friend in the know: “Is it true Alex King has a drug problem?”

So the glow is being ever so slightly dimmed wondering how in hell THIS got out. I can only think that Alex, now that he’s feeling good about himself and beating a path towards his GED exam, has not hesitated to disclose that he was kicked out of school years ago on a drugs charge. Indeed, our friend dismissed it as such and changed the subject. God forbid we’ll need to rethink his “One Pair Of Hands” ad campaign poster..

Do you enjoy entertaining but run out of steam? By the time guests arrive are you sometimes too exhausted to enjoy them?

ALEX KING, formerly on heroin, is on hand to help you!

I offer good, reliable assistance with your dinner party, including errands, food preparation, table-laying, wine-choosing, wine-pouring, serving, clearing, clean-up, anything and everything to save you work and help make your evening run as smoothly as possible. I will come to your house as early as you like or stay as late as you like. I will come for one hour or six, whatever you need. I am at your disposal.

£15 per hour

I can also provide a Dessert/Pudding, should you not feel like making one yourself, or a starter. And P.S. I have been well-trained by my mother (not a drug addict herself, but thinking about it!) Prices to be determined.

Tomorrow is a “date” in London, and then the Notting Hill Carnival. Hopefully he comes home on Sunday refreshed. Invigorated. Not having relapsed and not dead.

The thing is, once I understand that, I will not stop worrying about him, even if I live to one hundred, I will be fine.

Meanwhile, I’ve ironed his shirts.