fice hummed. It was past nine. Another bru

gh Instagram. Just to numb my brain

preschool teacher,

ight balloons, a gag

saw t

eath

d robot, gears and circuits a

Dubois for Emily's birthday last month. The one h

wore a miniature leather bomber jacket, avia

nted it down from a boutique in Paris d

an amazing cake from his mom! The kids

y. Not Emily's scho

ld unease wa

led K

ovial, like he'd just closed a deal

st saw somet

agram Story. The rob

e finally enjoy that robot cake I got for her birthday yeste

is end. A beat of silenc

few bites, then, you know kids, she had a bit of a tantrum

effort, that specific

dn't sound like Emily. She c

se super expensive cakes. It's a waste of money. Same with thos

most... rehea

shing down the disappointment about Emily's.

dismissive sound that

t's probably jus

e, designed by Antoine Dubois?

ow how these Silicon Valley parents are. They all try to one-up each other.

nagging in my mind. "How could they copy it so fast f

oney. Creative license, you know? Don't get

before I co

orked up ov

htened. Emily, having a tantrum and destroying her cake? It didn't sound like my usu

Instagram. Ms.

Leo's party?

ainst my ribs. Why d

's number in my c

I said, my voice a little too sharp, the CEO

with Emily?" Her voice was high-pitche

Instagram Story earlier. The one with

could almost hear her

that.

as thinking of getting something similar for Emily. Could you tel

sked me to take the Story down. She felt... she felt it was a bi

ing

jacket for a four-year-old's party, shared with his entir

e. A poorly const

coldness spreading through

ung

chest. This wasn't a coincidence. Th

g was ve