“Someone told you that?” Maude gasped. “Who?”
“I am sworn to secrecy. Come on, I love hearing gossip, but I do not perpetuate it,” Sarah said primly. “At this point, I wish people would stop telling me all the lurid details. I already knowwaymore than I ever wanted to.”
“Who emails with an escort?” Kerry laughed. “Did he make herfill out a W-9, too?”
Sarah ignored Kerry and turned to Sebe and Maude. “I know you guys are all free to be you and me, but I’d be careful what you put in writing these days.”
“Oh, I don’t need escorts,” Sebe said with perfect deadpan timing.
Maude was the only one who didn’t laugh. She was staring down at her untouched food.
“Touché!” Kerry cried at Sebe, though a beat too late and a little too loud. “Sebe could probably go and stand in the middle of the sidewalk and women would show up and open their legs.”
Sarah made a disgusted face and swatted at Kerry. “Ew.”
“Oh, come on, that was a joke.” Kerry laughed. “I thought we were all joking here.”
“It was colorful, Kerry,” Sebe said diplomatically. “Disgusting, but colorful.”
“Thank you, Sebe.”
“Why don’t they steal credit card numbers or something? Like normal criminals?” Maude asked with uncharacteristic spite. “This is such a sick, twisted violation.”
Amanda could think only of her dad, who’d even had a cameo in her now familiar dream the night before. He’d appeared in the middle—Amanda transported nonsensically back home in the midst of all that running in those dark, damp trees—his frame so large he almost filled the doorway of her bedroom. He was silent and stooped, the way he’d been whenever he drunkenly mistook her bedroom for the bathroom in the middle of the night. She couldn’t count the times he’d peed right on her floor. Thinking about it now, Amanda was sure her dad had enjoyed embarrassing her in that way.
“Some people love to shame others. They feed off of it.” Amanda’s voice was so venomous it was barely recognizable. “It’s worse than sick. It’s evil. They shouldn’t be allowed to live.”
And now everyone at the table was staring at her.
“Cash for escorts, Amanda,” Kerry joked. “Always cash.”
They were still all looking at her, though.
“Sorry. It’s just—my childhood wasn’t the easiest,” Amanda said, because she needed to say something. And at least that was the truth. Though her explanation seemed only to make everyone more uncomfortable. “That’s all.”
“Then it’s all the more credit to you that you turned out to be such a nice person,” Kerry said as he opened another bottle of wine and began refilling everyone’s glasses. “You’re not wrong, anyway,” he added, sitting back down. “My stepfather broke my arm—on purpose—when I was fourteen. I think to shame me in a way. Everyone’s got a history. Even here on Sesame Street.”
“What are you talking about?” Sarah looked confused and annoyed. “Your stepfather is such a nice guy.”
Kerry smiled, but in a strange, sad way. “You don’t knoweverythingabout me, dear.”
“That’s awful,” Sebe said quietly.
Maude looked sick. “Kerry, I’m so sorry.”
Sarah was staring at her husband. Amanda was just glad the focus was off her.
“A toast to the future.” Kerry raised his glass. “And to great friends, who make the very best family.”
“To friends!” everyone called.
To the future,Amanda thought as their glasses clinked like wind chimes.To the future.
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