Arnon Grunberg

My mother

Too much responsibility

My mother said on the phone: “Tonight we are going to find out, don’t we?” I answered: “We are going to find out what?” She said: “If Obama is going to make it.” My mother living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is not very much into politics. She does not read a newspaper, and although she watches everyday at 8PM German news, she is more touched by her daily soap than by the daily news bulletins.
Nevertheless, for reasons unknown to me, she has fallen in love with Obama.
And she despises Hillary.
To bring some lightness to our conversation I asked: “Mom, do you want to become president of the US?” Without a hint of irony she answered: “You know what, it is too much responsibility for me. Sometimes I find it difficult to assume responsibility for my own house and my own garden.”