Spelling Test

I was doing the dishes.
Mr. Owl was at work, leading a group for recovering addicts.
Bowery Bird was writing a story.

"Mom, how do you spell heroin?"

I focus on the soap bubbles a second longer, stalling. What do I do? What do I say? Why is she writing about drug use at 9 years old? What have I been missing?! Do I even know my own daughter!!? Deep breath. Game Face. I look up cautiously,
" ....W-hy?..."

"Why are you looking at me like that?!"

What does my face look like? Play dumb.
"What do you mean."

"You know, like--the girl that saves the day."

I blink. To bring my safe-world fully back, I blink again.
"Oh. Right... Oh, 'her-oine'! (chuckling of relief to myself)... I don't know, you'll have to look it up."

Bowery Bird might be spared a few more years, but I'm jaded for life because of my husband.