Like laying out the carpet at the entrance of a torture chamber. A “Welcome” carpet to go with the wreaths on every Greenville front door, wreaths like the one Lucy had added to our door a day earlier—one with a little tiny birdhouse on it.

Then the tone took a hard right into terse.

“It is with great consternation that I, [insert name of parent here], am writing. I am greatly concerned that since your arrival there has been a shift in values at Greenville. The citizens at Greenville are citizens who value traditions and history. The choice of school play, along with many other choices made under your purview, have all been made in discrimination against the people who have lived in this community for many years. And if this does not change, we will have no choice but to notify the school board.”

“It’s PETER PA N!” I fumed, bolting up from the couch, lightly tripping over a napping Monty’s tail and then gathering my footing in time to not crash into the coffee table.

Lucy drained her wine.

“They’re just being homophobic and stupid,” I hollered. “What, so just because Sarah can’t act in anything but Our Town no one gets to do anything?! So she gets to say she’s being discriminated against and then she gets her way?”

“This isn’t just about a play.” Millie dropped into the love seat.

“I read you the letter so you would know what’s going on,” Lucy said, clicking her laptop shut, “because this is your school too. But this is my job, and I am going to deal with it.”

“How are you even responsible for the play?” I charged.

“School arts is something I look after as part of my administration’s duties,” Lucy clarified, after a sip of wine. “Under Principal Lynde, of course.”

“Can Lynde cancel the play?” I asked.

“I truly have no idea right now what Principal Lynde will do.” Lucy looked over at me. She had dark circles under her eyes. “But I will talk to her. And you, in the meantime, will focus on school. All right?”

“What about—”

Millie pulled herself out of her chair. “Nope. That’s it. For right now. You let your mom handle this. For now. . .” She whistled and Monty popped up like a popped popcorn. “Let’s get some burgers.”

“Good idea,” Lucy said.

“Okay.” My insides felt like a knot.

“It’s going to be okay,” Lucy whispered as she leaned over and grabbed me in a hug.

“Okay,” I said, pressing the two tears that came out into Lucy’s sleeve.

“HEY! Burgers! Let’s go!”

The burger stand was thumping with music and Greenville teenagers by the time we got there. So Vice Principal Shirley and Peter Pan Shirley opted to stay in the car while Millie, who was also the hungriest, went and ordered the burgers and shakes from the counter.