Se'era Spragley Ricks

You're right.

You're right.

Vincent, you have perfectly described Ellen. Like a lot of parents, Ellen's life revolves around her daughter's school, which is a private grade through 12. It's the kind of school that has multiple kilns for the ceramics classes. They've got a 500 square foot greenhouse so that they can bring nature directly to the students.

Vincent, you have perfectly described Ellen. Like a lot of parents, Ellen's life revolves around her daughter's school, which is a private grade through 12. It's the kind of school that has multiple kilns for the ceramics classes. They've got a 500 square foot greenhouse so that they can bring nature directly to the students.

For the purposes of this story, I'm going to be calling this school Briarwood Academy. Ellen's oldest daughter just graduated from Briarwood, while her youngest daughter just started eighth grade there. And Ellen isn't really looking forward to the school year for a few different reasons.

For the purposes of this story, I'm going to be calling this school Briarwood Academy. Ellen's oldest daughter just graduated from Briarwood, while her youngest daughter just started eighth grade there. And Ellen isn't really looking forward to the school year for a few different reasons.

The first one is that her oldest daughter has decided to take a gap year before she starts at Stanford, which... would be all well and good, except that instead of backpacking around Europe or like building schools in South America, this child has decided to spend this gap year at home interning for one of Ellen's longtime frenemies, Hazel.

The first one is that her oldest daughter has decided to take a gap year before she starts at Stanford, which... would be all well and good, except that instead of backpacking around Europe or like building schools in South America, this child has decided to spend this gap year at home interning for one of Ellen's longtime frenemies, Hazel.

Well, are you someone who avoids having frenemies or are you someone who's like sort of energized by their presence?

Well, are you someone who avoids having frenemies or are you someone who's like sort of energized by their presence?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a good way to live your life. Like, you shouldn't have people who are preying on your downfall in your immediate orbit.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a good way to live your life. Like, you shouldn't have people who are preying on your downfall in your immediate orbit.

Yeah, Hazel and Ellen are both in that second group of people who are energized by having frenemies.

Yeah, Hazel and Ellen are both in that second group of people who are energized by having frenemies.

Both have two kids who are the exact same age, which means they've been battling it out in the same PTA meetings for, like, nearly two decades now. And where Ellen is a champagne socialist, Hazel is an espresso martini capitalist. Oh, shit. She's not always wearing a power suit, but, like, spiritually she is, you know? I understand. She runs a very, very successful boutique PR agency called

Both have two kids who are the exact same age, which means they've been battling it out in the same PTA meetings for, like, nearly two decades now. And where Ellen is a champagne socialist, Hazel is an espresso martini capitalist. Oh, shit. She's not always wearing a power suit, but, like, spiritually she is, you know? I understand. She runs a very, very successful boutique PR agency called

So an invite to her Christmas party usually means brushing elbows with like a Hilton or a Getty.

So an invite to her Christmas party usually means brushing elbows with like a Hilton or a Getty.

Yes.

Yes.