The Card That Can Never Be Declined

CONTENT WARNING: Mention of cancer and dark humor

My mom’s 50th high school reunion is coming up soon. She also recently got diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early, and she had surgery to remove it and should just need radiation, no chemo. For various reasons, she’s been taking her time informing people and isn’t posting about it on social media or anything, so while several people know, plenty are still finding out.

She’s in good health and spirits and still looking forward to the reunion. One of her good friends didn’t plan to attend, though. She didn’t have any bad experiences or grudges or anything; she just thought it’d be a bit boring since it would largely have people just catching up about life and grandkids and jobs and all that. In her words, it’d basically be having the same conversation forty times. 

So, my mom calls her up to tell her the news about the diagnosis, and then:

Mom: “I’m pulling the cancer card.”

They talk about the reunion. To every objection:

Mom: “Cancer card!”

Then at one point:

Mom: “Cancer widow card!”

Friend: *Laughing.* “Dang it, now I can’t even pull out my widow card!”

Her friend laughed and took it all in good humor, and agreed to go to the reunion after all.