Scarlett and her mom parked in Kate’s driveway. In a very light tone, Scarlett heard her perturbed parent mumbling something.

“Psh! Her house is a mansion! I can see the chandeliers and Picasso art pieces from the driveway. Is it necessary for everything to be that big? How does she even afford all of this? We work at the same place.”

As the front door opened, Kate, a small 9-year-old, was dressed in a beautiful one-piece romper with her hair in a pretty pink bow, while her mom sported a flowing white gown. Scarlett and her mom scuffled to the door in their blue jeans and Nike shoes to meet the other mother-daughter pair. 

“Scarlett, I will be in the living room talking to Kate’s mom. You can go to the other room and stay with Kate,” Scarlett’s mom said. 

“Ok.” Scarlett replied back.

“Hi! You must be Scarlett!” Kate said peculiarly, smiling. 

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to go to the arcade downstairs?” Kate asked.

“Yeah!” Scarlet said excitingly.

Scarlett was thrilled to see a room full of arcade games. There was Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Claw Crane, Tetris, Kung Fu Master, and way more! While Kate and Scarlett were having fun in the arcade room together, their parents talked in the living room. 

Scarlett’s mom was looking at the Picasso artwork in the living room, and she thought, “Sure it’s nice, but why does it take up all that space on the wall? Maybe something more quaint would be nicer.” 

“Don’t you like that artwork?” Kate’s mom said, thinking the other woman was admiring the piece. 

“Y… Y… Yeah,” Scarlett’s mom stuttered as she choked down a sip of scorching hot tea that was just delivered to her.

“It’s one of a kind; made in Paris.” Kate’s mom said. 

“It goes with the rest of your house. Big!” Scarlett’s mom eeked, oddly smiling.

“Thank you.” Kate’s mom said.

Silence ensued for a few minutes as the ladies glanced over every part of the house.

Sensing that her guest was uncomfortable, Kate’s mom made a last attempt to make her colleague feel welcome.

“Even though I have this big kitchen, I can’t cook. But, I heard you are a fantastic chef. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two?” Kate’s mom said in an overly friendly tone.  

“Sure.” Scarlett’s mom replied, laughing awkwardly. 

Scarlett came to the kitchen to get water and overheard her mom squeaking out responses in an unfamiliar voice. 

“Mom, stop talking like that! You’re embarrassing me!” Scarlett whispered to her mom as she maneuvered herself closer to her parent.

Scarlett’s mom couldn’t seem to last another second in the uncomfortable setting, so she pleaded to her daughter, Scarlett, to get ready to leave. 

“We’re leaving in five minutes.” Scarlett’s mom proclaimed.

“Ok.” Scarlett dejectedly replied.

“Thank you for inviting us and we’re sorry to run so quickly, but Scarlett has to go to dance practice after this, and I completely forgot her outfit.” Scarlett’s mom lied. 

“Thank you for coming.” Kate’s mom said as her brain hopelessly searched for words to mend the situation.

Scarlett’s black shoes scuffled to the front door with her new friend, Kate, right next to her. Both of their eyes stared at the tile floor, both too sad to look up. 

“Bye, Kate,” Scarlett said cheerlessly. 

Without responding to Scarlett’s parting words, Kate blurted out, “Mom, can she please stay over for another hour?”

“Yeah, mom. Can we please stay over for only an hour more?” Scarlett begged. 

The two ladies’ eyes locked, both vigorously contemplating excuses to get them out of their agonizing exchange.