Such a Fun Age

by Kiley Reid

his apartment having lots of sex, watching bad movies, and ordering in, and Emira felt more like an adult than she could have ever imagined.

“I feel like I can’t breathe,”

“What a shame though, right?” Rachel took another sip of wine. “Their kids would be gorgeous.”

Five months ago, Emira watched Mrs. Chamberlain swing her door open to reveal a person she’d created in her head, and surprise!, it was someone much darker.

where she was from and where she went to school and if she was caught up on a sitcom called Black-ish.

Emira looked down and she was almost startled to find her own olive green dress, instead of the oversized white polo she wore every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

“So what’s up underneath here, huh? I’m guessing you’re afraid to go natural.”

The table collectively took in this information as Prudence held up a marshmallow that was melted to black on one side. Prudence showed it to Imani and whispered, “This looks like a caca doo-doo.”

Was that why he was being so rude about her job and her book?

In the same funny muscle memory that makes you take out your metro card to open your front door, or call your third-grade teacher Mom, Alix found herself ready to slap Kelley’s wrists away from her sitter.

however, they were all ethnically ambiguous looking with names like Tierra and Christina, Jasmine and Gabi.

“I’m furious.” Alix slumped.

With kale in her cheek, Rachel chewed and said, “That’s racist.”

browns. “Here I was thinking you still carried a flame for him, which I wouldn’t judge you for either, but this takes it to a whole new level.”

“But is there a chance that while he may have a fetish, that fetish may have grown into something more serious? People do change, right? And call me crazy . . . but it seemed like he really liked her.”

Just the thought of it put a sharp buzzing sound into her head.

“I think you’re the best thing that ever happened to that girl. You should step into her life in any way you can.”

The tears came so easily that through her sobs, Alix thought, Thank God. It felt like Emira really was hers. And that Alix’s intentions must be good after all.

And somehow, magically, Santa made an appearance at the aquarium to say hello and talk about recycling.

“If you’re happy and you know it?” Briar declared. “Then row row row your boat to the store.”

But more importantly, and why this may involve you, it was fairly common knowledge that Kelley had a habit of fetishizing African American people and culture.

Alix expected Emira to pry—that was what Alix would have done—into what Kelley had done or said, and when.

I really appreciate you telling me, but it would feel weird to make it a thing now when it hasn’t been a problem.”

Alix froze as Kelley put air quotes over the word concern.

Kelley kept his head low but raised his eyes to say, “If this is you making a dig at her age, I’d be happy to discuss the gap between you and your husband.”

Alix had started her day in Manhattan, ready to tell Kelley, I know who you really are. But now she sat in Philadelphia, participating in a losing game called “Which One of Us Is Actually More Racist?”

Alix didn’t have to be best friends with her babysitter. She just needed her family and her career.

And I appreciate your protectiveness over the girls as much as I appreciate your privacy as a person, so I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now.”

Tamra’s eyes went small in an exaggerated and confident expression. “Oh girl, yes,” she said. “One hundred percent. This is probably the best thing to ever happen to Emira.”

day.

“So I take it that this wasn’t your typical babysitting outfit,” Laney responded with a small laugh.

Alix’s pulse began to tap her neck harder.