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“Hello?” Said the maddeningly familiar voice on the other end of the phone line.

“Uh….hello? Can I help you?” I inquired doubtfully. Who could this be? Her name was right on the tip of my tongue.

“Mother?” I could hear the frown in her voice. She had called me ‘Mother’! That could be a clue to her identity…Of course! It was my daughter!

“Oh hi, Dear. I was just getting ready to call you.” I trilled happily.

“You did call me, Mother. That’s we are on the phone together. “ The frown in her voice deepened. “What did you want?”

“When?” I asked, confused. There were many things I wanted… world peace, an end to famine, quicker access to the Internet… then I remembered! “Oh, that’s right. I wanted to thank you for those pills you gave me… those Gemco Balboa thingys.”

“I think you mean ‘Ginko Biloba’, Mother. It’s and herbal supplement that, hopefully, will increase the blood-flow to the brain and improve your memory. Did you take two of them?” She asked.

“Two what?” I asked absent-mindedly.

“Take another pill, Mother.” My darling but weary daughter said tiredly.

“Of course, Dear. I have the Gumbo Beluga right here.” Laying down the phone, I popped another little pill in my mouth. Now what had I been doing? Oh well…sooner or later it would come back to me.

Sometime later a strange noise captured my attention. “Beep, beep, beep.” Perplexed I looked for the source of it. What on earth was my phone doing off the hook…Oh MY Gosh! Quickly I dialed my beautiful but probably irate child’s number.

“I thought you would be calling, Mother.” My daughter snarled.

“I’m so sorry, Dear. I have no idea how that could have happened. I took the second Gecko Belgium; just like you told me to.”

“The name is GINKGO BILOBA, Mother!” My daughter hissed at me. “It’s not a beach town discount store; or a Creole caviar; and it’s certainly not a lizard with a French accent. It is an herb that is supposed to help you remember more than your own name. GINKGO BILOBA!”

“Well, don’t get testy, Dear! Obviously it works. Didn’t I remember my manners and call you to thank you for them?” I asked.

“Mom, Do you think there is any chance you might forget my phone number? My lovely but insecure girl asked, tearfully.

“Never fear, Dear.” I was quick to reassure her. “I’ve had your phone number AND address tattooed right across my…”

“That’s what I was afraid of.” My daughter said sadly as she hung up the phone.

THE END