An immense sense of relief washes over me. It’s overwhelmingly nice to know for sure that I’m not the only one experiencing this surreal glitter magic nonsense.

I finally text back.

Me: Agree bout theory. Will get catfish set up latr. Random, do u know Dawn’s favorite pizza topping?

My phone buzzes back four minutes later.

Bucket: scuse me where the flibity jibbitif \k have u been! Dont u robot minimalist text me now! Daown enjoys quite a large varieety but her current favorite is broccoli, an unpopular but golden opinion. Why? // HOW AVE U STILLNUT CALLED ME??!!!111@

Me: busy with fam

Bucket: Mom question-how deepp does her Game of Thrones obsession run?

Me: When I was 10, I asked her 2 buy me the Twilight books. she said she had better idea—started reading me A Song of Ice and Fire aloud every night n censoring all the inappropriate parts.

Bucket: so like all the parts

Me: Have more to tell you, talk soon.

Bucket: DON’T U DARE TELK SOON ME U JUST GOAT HERE.

“Are we watching Julia be glorious or are you texting Dawn?” Grams snaps next to me as she pauses the TV again.

I fumble the phone and slip it back into my pocket. “I’m watching Julia be glorious. Julia is the sun. Praise Julia. Sorry, Julia.”

45. A Girl Needs Adventure

JAMIE

September 4, Friday Morning

New Jersey

When Siri’s iPhone alarm goes off at seven, I roll over and open her laptop. I cannot believe how hard I was blown off last night. I better have an email waiting.

Siri Maza <[email protected]>            3:30 AM

to Jamie

Jamie, here’s my first catfish email, I was maybe thinking I’m going to lure Dad to Vegas with … Mom? (obviously I made a new email, I’m not sending from asksiri)

<< Grier,

I know we promised a clean break, but I yearn for you in the depths of the night. I’ve been reliving the year we met. The play. The good times. Why did we feel the need to erase each other from our respective lives so completely? I miss you.

Love,
Mara >>

Thoughts? Also who’s Anya? Also I have stuff to tell you about Dad that you’ll probably want to hear over the phone. I’ll call you tomorrow.

I send a quick reply back: Anya = agent. Catfish email is a go.

I’m dressed and downstairs by 7:50 for the daily Maza 8 a.m. mother-daughter breakfast. Siri said they both usually eat Special K and fruit. The fruit bowl is already on the table, so I do the honors and fish out the bowls and the Special K—they really go all out here in New Jersey.

Mara saunters into the kitchen at 8:05. She eyes me wearily before sitting down at the table.

“Good morning,” she says politely. “Thanks for getting breakfast out.”