Is She Really Going Out with Him?

Thirty-seven-year-old Anna lives in Bath, England. She is the guest reader for story time at her son Ethan’s school. She reads a fairytale story while the six-year-olds pepper her with questions. Jason vomits on Anna’s shoes, and while cleaning up the restroom, she receives an email from the United Kingdom government confirming the finalization of her divorce from Dan. Anna reels from receiving such life-changing news in such an impersonal way. At the same time, she gets an email from Dan, who is hiking in South America and sent photos for the children.

Anna finishes the story hour, but the trite story of a rescued princess infuriates her. She accuses the book of “[…] perpetuating a damaging narrative of a woman needing to be rescued by a man” (5). She tears up the book and encourages the children to join her in shouting to “smash” patriarchal expectations. 

Anna’s younger sister, Lottie, consoles her in the car after Mrs. Hollybush asks Anna not to return as a guest reader and to replace the damaged book. Anna laments that Dan is off exploring Machu Picchu while she’s shouldering all the emotional weight of the divorce.