Philip feels in control of his life -- at least until his best friend, Jonathan, contracts AIDS, passes away, and leaves him feeling disconnected and uncertain about the future. Then the one steady influence in his life, his mother, becomes seriously ill. The doctor who makes the diagnosis of ovarian cancer is not hopeful. Once his mother commits to the treatment plan, there is nothing Philip can do but follow the blueprint they both hope will lead to her recovery.<br><br>In late April 1992, Philip accompanies his mother to Los Angeles for her monthly treatment. When he accidentally takes a wrong turn off the freeway, all hell breaks lose. Suddenly they find themselves in the center of the Rodney King riots. Gunshots ring out. Helicopters hover overhead. People loot and vandalize stores while others burn and overturn vehicles. Fires spring up all over the city.<br><br>In unfamiliar territory, Philip must guide his mother through this labyrinth of chaos to safety. With wit and insight coupled with a maternal concern for what's best for her son, Philip’s mother proves the old saying: a gay man’s best friend is truly his mother.

Your Mother Should Know

The drugs had knocked Ambrose completely out, and he was expected to sleep through the night. Philip’s mother had drifted off as well after meeting Derek, Ambrose’s father. She was curled up in her La-Z-Boy and snoring like a bear. Philip knew he wouldn’t get much sleep, so he suggested that he and Derek go off to the hospital cafeteria for a coffee.


The place was a hub of activity. Nurses, doctors, and other hospital personnel, along with assorted policemen and firefighters, huddled in conversation around tables scattered about the room. In line, Philip poured himself a large black coffee while Derek sorted through the tea, found what he wanted, and filled a cup with hot water. Moving through the crowded room, they spotted a small, unoccupied table in a corner and staked their claim.


Chapter 15