Too Little Too Late

I felt obliged to give my mother a call on Mother's Day. I haven't spoken to her for more than a month before then. I don't exactly miss her, but I still feel compelled to touch base with her from time to time.

In any case, as usual she was full of advice. Mentioned that I'd gotten a new, male flatmate (because most of the girls who contacted me didn't turn up to have a look) and she'd immediately suggested I put a lock on my door if I didn't have one already.

The next day I got a reminder email from her: (the text has been slightly edited for readability)

current housemate unlike your former housemate, someone you know in the uni, you have mutual friends, he would not do anything to you to ruin his reputation....

remember you are young & attractive. this indian guy is a man afterall. he has his sex drive ......he can get sexually arouse just by looking at your bra & panties, you know? and he is alone in the house with you ........can you see the danger ?
do you understand what i am trying to tell you ? plse get the lock done up real fast !!!!!

After reading that, I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry. Firstly, just because a guy is a "friend" and we have mutual friends, does not necessarily stop him from doing certain things, as I found out the hard way. Secondly, as my mother has pointed out and it was something I'd realised only in retrospect, that a guy can get ....ideas by just looking at lingerie hung out to dry. And when did I learn this? In college, years ago, when I was living in a dorm and a neighbour I was friendly with sexually assulted me. Unfortunately, he had misconstrued very innocent things as a come on. Where was she and her fountain of advice, then?