“I’m telling you this for your own good,” Noreen went on through her teeth. They were standing front to front and Natalie could see the small lines around her mother’s eyes and lips. They made her seem almost human.

“You know they are now growing organs in laboratories?” Noreen said, still smiling. “Soon people will be able to have a second liver or new lungs on hold. Your generation could live well past a hundred. And if you’re going to be here that long and single, you have to start building a future with security.”

Almost.

“You ladies are doing great,” the photographer said. “I can feel the love there. Let’s see some teeth with those smiles.”

“Have I told you about my marvelous new guru?” Noreen said, flashing a wide grin. “So wise. Really just full of wisdom.”

Natalie doubted it. Tilt head, breathe, smile, she began to recite, to tune her mother out.

“He’s advised us to simplify our lives,” Noreen went on.

Tilt head, nice calm eyes, smile, Natalie recited.

“So I’ve decided to simplify the dog.”

Tilt head, relax—“What?” Natalie asked, bewildered.

“One more pose,” the photographer said. “Let’s have you turn back to back with your heads touching. Beautiful. Now let your joy beam out through your smiles.”

Natalie thought it was amazing no one had murdered this photographer. “What does that mean, simplify Cronkite?” she repeated while beaming her joy.

“Put him to sleep,” Noreen answered.

Natalie felt her beam dim. “You’re kidding, right? You can’t put Cronkite to sleep.”

“He’s too old to rehome,” Noreen warned in a happy singsong voice. “Even the pound won’t take him. He’s had a good long life. Why not end it while he’s still happy? With the new cocktails, they say it’s a very peaceful passing. Really, it’s doing him a favor. No need to make a scene.”

The photographer said, “And now let’s try a saucy hand on the hip. Perfect. Noreen, you’re a natural. Natalie, dear, if you could get a little closer to your mother.”

A scene? Natalie thought. She wanted to make a whole opera. “There’s nothing wrong with Cronkite. You can’t kill an animal just because it is inconvenient.”

“Well, I don’t recall seeing you this concerned about my well-being,” Noreen said, smiling over Natalie’s shoulder. “When was the last time you inconvenienced yourself for me?”

Natalie’s jaw was starting to cramp from all the smiling. “I’m here, aren’t I? You have no idea how hard I worked to get here.”

“Yes, you are so very important. You and your career,” Noreen said, her tone as forced as her smile. “You sound exactly like your father. And if you keep up this way, you’ll end up just like him.”

“Dead?” Natalie squeezed out from between her teeth.