Page 55 of The Game Is Afoot

I get down onto the ground to check just in case, and that’s when Polly finally comes running in, jumping on my back with her tail wagging. Theworstguard dog.

“Iam tired of being the bad guy!” Hank shouts, and I jerk up. Where is that coming from? It’s so loud, so close. But I’m the only one in this room.

“Ifeel like I can never please you.Ihelped out on Saturday, just like you’re always saying you want me to do more!Ilistened! But that’s just forgotten now, huh?” I search around the floor, looking for the source of Hank’s voice. “Idon’t like how you question my intentions, butIcan never question yours.”

There’s a flash of red light, pulsating with his passive-aggressivewords. It’s the pair of walkie-talkies on the ground, abandoned next to the polka-dot pajamas Pearl didn’t put in her hamper. That’s where Florence and Hank’s argument is broadcasting from—but how?

“My intentions? My intentions arepure,” Florence shouts, making the screen on one walkie-talkie light up red again. “I’m always doing what’s best for our children—our family! That is my guiding light!”

“Oh, is that what you tell yourself? You’re forgetting I’m not one of your Instagram followers! I know you.”

“I can’t help it if other people don’t see it that way, butyoushould, Hank.”

I feel a little flutter, athrill, at seeing behind the perfect family front. Is this about that tone-deaf email she sent, the one that most of the team parents are still mad about, or the sun-flare swinging pictures she posted along with a caption about the back-and-forth nature of grief? (Along with a code to try the children’s therapy app that sponsors her, of course.) Does Hank actually call her on this shit?

I guess I feel a little guilty snooping on their private conversation, too. But it’s not like I sought this out!

Still, I grab the walkie-talkies off the ground, looking for the off buttons. They both haveCHNLand then a number on the front. One says06, and the other, the one that’s been lighting up and broadcasting their voices, says18. I push a button on the top of that one, but instead of going dark, the walkie-talkie emits a blaring beep.

Their bickering immediately stops.

“What was that?” Hank asks.

There’s a rustling and then: “It’s this monitor. It’s always been a little glitchy. Peaceful Baby offered to send me their deluxevideo one for just twelve stories, two reels, and three posts—but I don’t know if we should upgrade. Video uses 5G, right? And who knows what that could do to Marigold? Thewaves.”

A monitor?Oh—a baby monitor! That must be the radio signal that this thing is picking up. I really need to read the manual for these walkie-talkies before Pearl plays with them any more, because I don’t want anyone hearing what goes on inourhouse.

“Do we even need the thing anymore? She’s almost two, Flo.”

“She isnot.And we cannot justleaveher in here unattended.”

“She’s unattended in front ofBlueyright now.”

Bluey? This is the same lady who told me her kids don’t have any screen time because of its harmful effects on emotional and social development—evenmorescary than 5G waves. I wonder what else I’ll find out Florence is lying about if I keep listening…

Okay, no, I need to turn this off now, before it becomes my new favorite show.

I find the right off button this time—turns out it’s next to whatever that beeping button was—and then put the walkie-talkies under Pearl’s bed, so she hopefully won’t play with them again until I can figure out how to get them to work the way they’re supposed to.

I check my phone—no time for any more deep breathing before my meeting. But honestly, seeing another side of perfect-parent Florence might have brought me all the clarity and calmness that I need.

—

“So what brings you heretoday, Ms. Miller? Ms. Lilliam said you informed her that it was urgent.”

I’ve only been sitting in Principal Smith’s office for less than a minute, and I can already tell that he wants me to leave. Hisdark, deep-set eyes drift to his computer screen, and he clicks his mouse a couple of times, as if to show how busy he is, that I should feelluckyhe made the time.

I open up the Project Window file folder in my mind and get that professional-Mavis software running, because I’m clearly going to need it.

“I wanted to bring your attention to an unfortunate situation between Mr. Forest and Trisha Holbrook. On two occasions, I saw her approach him in a threatening manner, and this is concerning because, as you may know, Trisha’s daughter was cast as Annie in Mr. Forest’s after-school program.”

“Let me stop you right there, Ms. Miller.” Principal Smith threads his fingers on his desk and leans forward. His thick mustache lifts in a patronizing smile. “Listen, you’re not the first mother who’s come to me upset about her child not getting the part they preferred in this performance. And I understand how disappointing that can feel, but I’ll tell you what I told her: something like this builds resilience in both the childandparent.”

I shake my head. “No. No, this is not about Pearl.At all.It’s about Trisha continuing to manipulate and—”

He cuts me off with a loud sigh. “I can hear that you’re frustrated, but it’s my policy to not get involved with interpersonal issues between parents.”

“But it’snotan interpersonal issue. She’s blackmailing a staff member.”

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