Such A Fun Age

Such A Fun Age

Adult fiction
"'Okay, Ma'am.' The security guard widened his stance to match
hers. 'You are being held and questioned because the safety of a
child is at risk. Please put the child on the ground--'
'Alright, you know what?' Emira's left ankle shook as she
retrieved her cell phone from her tiny purse. 'I'll call her father
and he can come down here. He's an old white guy, so I'm sure
everyone will feel better.'"
Emira is at a friend's birthday party when Alix, the woman she
babysits for, calls with an urgent request. There was an incident at
her home. She wants her older daughter, Briar, out of the house when
the police arrive.
Emira takes Briar to a local upscale grocery store. A White
woman sees a Black woman with a White child and summons the store's
security guard. Pretty soon the guard is framing the situation as a
crime. A guy is filming with his cell phone in case things get ugly.
Emira just wants the night to be over. When the filmer
encourages her to send the video to a tv station she orders him to
destroy it. She's almost 26--about to get kicked off her parents'
insurance. She knows she has to get an adult job with benefits. She
doesn't want anything out there that could make this task any more
difficult.
Alix is lonely. She's just moved from New York City, leaving
her friends and life in the Big Apple. The people she meets seem so
stodgy. Now she decides she has to right the night's wrongs. She
makes attempts to befriend her sitter and make her one of the family.
The video is still out there. It has the potential to seriously
damage, if not destroy, their evolving relationship.
Such A Fun Age combines an engrossing plot with a candid look at
how rapidly racially centered roles, relationships, and norms are
changing. It's very timely, a must read for White people like me who
are doing our best to become truly antiracist.
Speaking of antiracist, that's what the next review will be all
about.
On a purrrsonal note, we're close to the end of the last week before
school starts. It was a good week. The highlight was a social
distanced Goodwill run with my chum, Mazie. The weather has been
lovely and not muggy. But I'm worried about Saturday. They are
saying 100% chance of rain. Which, if it's true, will cancel Amber's
Halloween party which might be my last time to see my kids until
spring (outdoors weather) rolls around again. (Jules)
I do not want a big storm. (Tobago).
A great big shout out goes out to Mazie, Amber, and all the stores
that are requiring masks. Way to protect the public's health!
Tobago and Jules Hathaway


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