Rachelle Hampton

And even though all of Grace's changes are annoying, none of them are dangerous or feel personal. Do you think our friend of a friend is being wise here? Do you think Kennedy is right in thinking there's not a lot to be done right now?

Yeah. And Kennedy, she doesn't have any real plans for rebellion in mind until the town council meeting. Every month, she and Grace have a meeting with the town council where they give little reports and requests to increase the budget for the fire department.

Yeah. And Kennedy, she doesn't have any real plans for rebellion in mind until the town council meeting. Every month, she and Grace have a meeting with the town council where they give little reports and requests to increase the budget for the fire department.

A couple days beforehand, Grace had told Kennedy that she was planning on asking for an increase to her stipend since her responsibilities had increased. Both the chief and the assistant chief get stipends because they're leaders, so they get a little bit of extra money.

A couple days beforehand, Grace had told Kennedy that she was planning on asking for an increase to her stipend since her responsibilities had increased. Both the chief and the assistant chief get stipends because they're leaders, so they get a little bit of extra money.

So Kennedy wasn't surprised when halfway through the town council meeting, Grace makes the case for increasing her own stipend. What Kennedy is surprised by is Grace's response when one of the councilmen asked her where the funds for her increased stipend should come from. Because Grace suggests decreasing Kennedy's stipend to make up the difference. Snake in the grass. Wow, that's a bold move.

So Kennedy wasn't surprised when halfway through the town council meeting, Grace makes the case for increasing her own stipend. What Kennedy is surprised by is Grace's response when one of the councilmen asked her where the funds for her increased stipend should come from. Because Grace suggests decreasing Kennedy's stipend to make up the difference. Snake in the grass. Wow, that's a bold move.

Kennedy's jaw drops. Even some of the Williams on the town council look shocked at Grace's brazenness. And they do that thing that people do in like polite company where they're like, that won't be necessary. In the moment, Kennedy is just seething because even though they don't decrease her stipend, they do agree to increase Grace's because we're still in a Williams world. Huge news!

Kennedy's jaw drops. Even some of the Williams on the town council look shocked at Grace's brazenness. And they do that thing that people do in like polite company where they're like, that won't be necessary. In the moment, Kennedy is just seething because even though they don't decrease her stipend, they do agree to increase Grace's because we're still in a Williams world. Huge news!

Our Dowager Queen, Kelsey McKinney, wrote a New York Times best-selling book of beautiful essays about gossip. It's called You Didn't Hear This From Me, mostly true notes on gossip, and I am obsessed. It's about how we use gossip to learn about ourselves. It's about Britney Spears and Weston Caleb and Gilgamesh and Picasso. It's so fun.

Our Dowager Queen, Kelsey McKinney, wrote a New York Times best-selling book of beautiful essays about gossip. It's called You Didn't Hear This From Me, mostly true notes on gossip, and I am obsessed. It's about how we use gossip to learn about ourselves. It's about Britney Spears and Weston Caleb and Gilgamesh and Picasso. It's so fun.

A month passes in a sort of uneasy stasis, but Kennedy is on high alert, especially when the next town council meeting comes around. Grace has got a new idea. A new idea she has run by no one else in the department. Grace's new idea? The creation of a deputy chief position to be below Grace, but above Kennedy. Why? Well, because Grace's right hand needs to be able to do everything that Grace can.

A month passes in a sort of uneasy stasis, but Kennedy is on high alert, especially when the next town council meeting comes around. Grace has got a new idea. A new idea she has run by no one else in the department. Grace's new idea? The creation of a deputy chief position to be below Grace, but above Kennedy. Why? Well, because Grace's right hand needs to be able to do everything that Grace can.

And at first, Kennedy is like, what the fuck are you talking about? And then she realized that Grace is proposing Kennedy basically be demoted because Kennedy doesn't want to drive the fire truck. And the thing is, Kennedy would actually be willing to hear that out because she will literally never drive the fire truck.

And at first, Kennedy is like, what the fuck are you talking about? And then she realized that Grace is proposing Kennedy basically be demoted because Kennedy doesn't want to drive the fire truck. And the thing is, Kennedy would actually be willing to hear that out because she will literally never drive the fire truck.

And there are a whole host of qualified people on the crew who can drive the fire truck who will be great deputy chiefs. But guess who Grace suggests? Elijah Williams. Aye, aye, aye. The failed son of the Williams clan. Kennedy briefly wonders whether she is hallucinating. But reality reasserts itself when the town council starts seriously considering Grace's proposal.

And there are a whole host of qualified people on the crew who can drive the fire truck who will be great deputy chiefs. But guess who Grace suggests? Elijah Williams. Aye, aye, aye. The failed son of the Williams clan. Kennedy briefly wonders whether she is hallucinating. But reality reasserts itself when the town council starts seriously considering Grace's proposal.

Luckily, the proposal ends up being vetoed for a lack of proper detail. But it's vetoed without prejudice, which means that Grace can flesh out her proposal and present it again at a later meeting. Wow. Kennedy leaves this meeting and tells everyone on the squad who wasn't a Williams and even a few Williams who happen to be cool. Everyone's in shock.

Luckily, the proposal ends up being vetoed for a lack of proper detail. But it's vetoed without prejudice, which means that Grace can flesh out her proposal and present it again at a later meeting. Wow. Kennedy leaves this meeting and tells everyone on the squad who wasn't a Williams and even a few Williams who happen to be cool. Everyone's in shock.

Kennedy cannot believe how fast morale has deteriorated. Coming in for Sunday dinners with the crew used to be one of the highlights of her month. And now she just constantly prays that she never gets called in.