Mom: Hi honey. Listen, I'm getting rid of a few things. Do you want me to keep the Brown Betty tea set?
Me: The what?
Mom: The Brown Betty tea set. It was Nan's, no wait it was Aunt DeeDee's. Oh no I think it was Tante Margaret's. Maybe she gave it to Dee Dee. Yes, that's right.
Me: Oh Mom, no thanks.
Mom: Are you sure? It's quite attractive.
Me: Mom, it's just nothing I really want or need.
Mom: But it's an antique, it may be worth something.
Me: Well if you think you can get something for it I am encouraging you to sell it.
Mom: I don't think we should sell it. It's so unusual.
Me: I really don't want it.
Mom: It's old, now if Daddy was 73 and she was 30 years older, that makes it very old.
Me: Huh? If Daddy was 73?
Mom: That's how old he was when he died.
Me: And that's how your figuring out how old it is?
Mom: Well Tante Margaret was 30 years older than him.
Me: (5 seconds of silence) Mom, I really don't want the tea set. You can keep it for yourself if you'd like.
Mom: No, no I don't want it.
Me: Ok, let's just get rid of it.
Mom: But you might change your mind later.
Me: MOM, I don't want it. I dont use tea sets!
Mom: But you could put it on a bookshelf and tell stories about it when people come over.
Me: I could, but I don't think that's a reason to keep something.
Mom: Well, you think about it. I'll just hold on to it in case.
