Mason nodded along with pursed lips to his mother's explanation, but wasn't sure she was being completely truthful with him. There was no way for him to really question her thought without either upsetting her or provoking her, neither of which he really wanted to do here. He rarely needed to tread carefully around his mother, but something here was just off enough for him to want to back off. He'd certainly be keeping a closer eye on her, that was for certain.

"I'm very well well aware of the election, I'm not that much of a recluse." He read the paper like once a week, that had to count for something! He was also well aware of his mother's feelings on her boss and they were not all that positive. "And the department is lucky to have you." That was a given. While he wouldn't care to see Flint elected, he would like for his mother to get the recognition she deserved.

"Perhaps we should take a short holiday during the winter recess. Go somewhere warm for a few days." He could use that himself. Though he enjoyed job immensely, he rarely felt like he had a lot of downtime between grading, planning, maintaining the greenhouses and everything else.