What does it take to be a good mother? A good neighbor? Straight answers are hard to find in this keenly observed short story by New York Times bestselling author Janelle Brown.
Polly's fourth-grade daughter has been spending a lot of time with her classmate Sylvie-maybe too much. Sylvie's clothes are a little...flashy...and her phone (a ten-year-old with a phone!) doesn't seem to have any parental controls. It seems that Sylvie's mother, with her vape pens and her too-high heels, may not be making good choices. As Polly tries to exert a positive influence, she discovers just how little anyone can tell about a family from the outside.
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(Amazon Original Stories, 7 February 2023, e-book, 36 pages, borrowed from @AmazonKindle, #PrimeReading)
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I thoroughly enjoyed Trouble. This is a well written and hugely entertaining story. The story is told from Polly's POV, and I really connected with her as she tries not to judge Sylvie and ponders how to help her when she believes he needs her help. I also loved this little twist at the end which turns the whole story on it's head.