Chick Wit: Moms can't help but keep on tweaking

Mother Mary has a new job that benefits us all.

Before I reveal it, let me explain that, when I was growing up, Mom and Pop Scottoline weren't big readers. In fact, there was one book in our house. Guess what it was. The Bible, you say?

No.

TV Guide.

Late in life, however, both of my parents became bookaholics, and I became their supplier, finding large-print editions of popular fiction for my mother. Over 16 years I've made a few author friends, and I buy their books and get them to sign them to my mother, which gives her a big charge. Last month, I shipped her five books, including my new one, then I called to ask her, "How'd you like my book?"

"I loved it, it was great!" She goes on to say nice things, not relevant here, then adds: "But I have some corrections for it. And for the others."

"Corrections? How many?"

"About five."

"Five corrections?" I ask, surprised. "Like typos? That's bad."

"No, five pages of corrections. And for the others, too."

I am astounded. "Five pages of typos?"

"Not typos, corrections, and I have five pages per book. So, 25 pages of corrections."

Now, I officially don't get it. "Give me an example of something you corrected."

"OK, in your book, you use the word ain't. Ain't is not a word."

"Is it used in dialogue?"

"Yes."

"Then it's fine. That's how the character speaks. That's not a mistake."

"Yes, it is. Nobody should use the word ain't. You know better than that, you went to college. I'll mail you the sheets. You'll see."

"OK, send them."

"Ain't! Hmph!"

So Mother Mary mails me the alleged corrections, 25 pages of notebook paper, each line written in capitals in a shaky red Flair. AIN'T IS NOT A WORD! is the most frequent "correction." A few are typos, but the rest are editorial changes, different word choices, or new endings to the plot.

Bottom line, Mother Mary is a book critic, in LARGE PRINT.

Still, I read the sheets, touched. It must have taken her hours to make the lists, and it's really sweet. I call to tell her so, which is when she lowers the boom:

"You need to send the lists to your friends," she says. "Your friends who wrote the other books. They should know about the mistakes, so they can fix them."

"OK, Ma, you're right. Thanks. I'm on it."

I don't like lying to my mother, but I'm getting used to it. I figure I'll put the sheets in my jewelry box, with daughter Francesca's letters to Santa Claus. Those corrections are going to the North Pole.

Then my mother adds, "You don't have to worry about the one set, though."

"What one set?"