“your mom” joke gone wrong

i’m not sure if this counts, because neither side had any ill intent.

i’m a senior in high school, and my mom unexpectedly died this summer. it’s been a lot. and if it weren’t for my school’s marching band, i probably would’ve been gone too. so we have a band competition last weekend, and i’m talking with a bunch of freshmen who obviously have never known me until recently. i asked one of them what they were doing, and as a typical teenager would respond, “your mom!” i look her dead in the eyes and say “my mom’s dead so have fun with that.” THE LOOK OF HORROR ON ALL OF THOSE FRESHMEN’S FACES. i laughed and then started apologizing profusely for my severe lack of filter and for startling them, but then they all apologized to me and offered condolences. it ended up being a bittersweet moment overall.

there have been a couple other instances of this, and i know that no one means any harm, it’s just fun to give people a little startle. and laugh through the pain, to have some sense of normalcy :’)