naomi [✔️]

seks | participate, harold

week 1, day 2 | at dinner

"..."

"..."

"why are you guys looking at me like that?"

"..."

"..."

"um...the chicken was good...?"

"honey, are you okay?"

"helen, of course she's not okay."

"let her speak for herself. naomi?"

"i'm good."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"we're worried."

"..."

"we got a call from the principal today."

"you didn't tell us you were joining the talentshow this year!"

"don't get too excited. i'm not doing it."

"but...why not?"

"um, i don't know. maybe because i don't want to?"

"not that tone now, naomi."

"principal harrison said you didn't show up for rehearsal today."

"we got to talking, and turns out you didn't come to school last week."

"..."

"well, this is where you start explaining."

"..."

"honey-"

"i'm okay."

"well, this is not okay. naomi, school is important. and there will be days when you feel like not going, but that doesn't mean you can just decide to stay home."

"i...wasn't feeling well."

"..."

"..."

"listen... i'm showing up for all the detentions. principal harrison signed me up for the talentshow without me knowing it. i would rather do the community service, but she won't have it."

"..."

"mom, why are you smiling?"

"i'm...i'm not smiling."

"you think this is funny?"

"no, honey, not like that. it's just that principal harrison is a really good person. smart is she, too, so you should listen to whatever she's telling you."

"can't do that."

"why not?"

"dad told me not to listen to bullshit."

"harold?"

"what?"

"are you seriously texting right now? put the phone down!"

"yes, helen..."

"participate. we're trying to prove a point to our dau- naomi?"

"..."

"where'd she go?"

"she just left."

"and that would be the door slamming."

"gosh, i wish she'd stop doing that."

"harold...what are we going to do? ever since the incident, she won't open up to us. i can...i-i can..."

"helen, don't cry."

"but...i can feel her slipping through my fingers just like that."
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