Hi, Matt—
I really like this piece. You load a great deal of complex characterization into just a few lines of simple, straightforward language. I like the pararhymes (late/light, mass/mess) and eye rhymes (son/on, snow/now) which create an undercurrent of tension.
I was going to point out the inconsistent capitalization of “Mass” and “mass,” but Julie’s post clarified your subtle intent.
I’m okay with “easy questions” if you mean to imply that the mother is sticking to her familiar and rehearsed script to conceal her incipient dementia. If you intended to suggest her reluctance to really find out about possibly upsetting things, you might use “formal questions.”
Many Catholic Churches have Vigil Masses on Saturday evenings. If your intent was to show the mother’s serious confusion, you might pick a different weekday.
Lovely work.
Glenn
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