I was watching television with my mom a while back, when [1] this Geico commercial aired. “Oh Golly,” my mom said, visibly distressed and protectively crossing her arms in front of her chest, a move she usually reserves for a kissing scene or any reference to homosexuality.

Having observed neither of the above-mentioned offenses, I was confused. Could my mother be upset at Geico’s diminishing the racism experienced by millions every day? Could my mother be broadening her viewpoints, empathizing with others? What would be next - would she let my gay cousin visit her house? Almost excited, I asked, “What’s bothering you?”

“Oh, nothing,” my mom said with a huff. In my peripheral vision, I noticed my brother waving his arms. I glanced his way while prodding my mother for more information, understanding his silent don’t-ask gestures a bit too late. “Well,” my mom began, and my brother dropped his head into his hands.

“I don’t believe in cave men,” my mom spat.

“Oh,” my disappointment was evident. I looked to my brother. His hands were in a prayer-like fold. Please, let it go, he was urging.

I did.

For like two more commercials. “You know, I saw the coolest documentary the other day.”

“Really? What was it about?” Mom was interested, my brother eyed me suspiciously.

“Dinosaurs,” I replied. My brother sighed, stood, and left the room.

“You see, collagen-proteins have linked [2] birds to dinosaurs, and scientists are studying those dinosaur-like traits that birds still carry in their DNA. [3] One scientist has been able to isolate certain proteins in embryonic chickens so that they develop [4] dinosaur-like tails. Pretty neat, huh?”

My mother looked at me, flabbergasted, for a full three minutes. By her blinking eyes, I knew she was still conscious.

Suddenly, she raised her arms in the air as though telling traffic to her right and her left to stop. “All I know,” she began triumphantly, “is they thought there would be a whole lot of [5] dust on the moon because it’s sooooooooo old, and there was only a few inches.”

I watched her smile for about 10 seconds before speaking again.

“Dinosaur tails, Mom. Dinosaur tails.”