Nubia shrugged. "Sure. I already know what she's going to say." She headed out the room. "Oh, Mama, don't ask her too much about your future, okay? It's like a pebble in a pond, and the ripples…" She squinted. "Yeah, the ripples can't be controlled. Something like that." She finally left the room.

Mom and I regarded each other for what felt like a full minute before she sighed heavily. "Jesus God Almighty, Kenya, you are either insane or brainwashing everyone around you, or ...