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Chapter Text

Enid watched the lyrics to her favorite Twice song scroll on her phone, trying to parse their meaning with the limited Korean she picked up from attempting and then giving up on Duolingo.

날 부르는 네 목소리에
I feel loved, I feel so special

Something about “your voice”? Her musings were cut short by her mom pulling her earbud out.

“The doctor’s back. Pay attention,” Esther reprimanded.

Enid was suddenly brought back into the present where she sat in a fake leather chair under the oppressive fluorescent lights of the exam room. A nurse had already taken all of her measurements and asked all the questions they always ask at her annual physical and now was the part where her doctor came in 20 minutes later to chat for about 30 seconds before letting them go.

“Hi, Enid?” the doctor asked as she let herself in. Enid figured it was protocol to ask even though she’d seen this doctor every year for as long as she could remember.

“Yep, hi Dr. Wallace,” Enid answered with a polite smile.

Dr. Wallace took a seat and quickly reviewed Enid’s information on the special little exam room computer, confirming certain details aloud. Enid was so ready to go back to Nevermore.

“Well, everything is looking good,” Dr. Wallace cheerily announced. “Now, is there anything in particular you wanted to talk with me about today?”

Enid knew exactly what was coming before Dr. Wallace could finish her sentence.

“There is,” answered Esther. “Enid is 16 and she still hasn’t wolfed out yet. Is there anything we can do to help her? I’ve heard there are programs we could enroll her in?”

Enid could feel the desperation rolling off her mother in waves and it left her with a familiar pit of shame and frustration in her stomach.

“Well, Mrs. Sinclair, while it may be less common for a werewolf Enid’s age to not wolf out, I can assure you it’s perfectly normal. In fact, there are plenty of werewolves who never wolf out living happy, healthy lives.” Dr. Wallace rolled her chair over to a display case of brochures and handed one over to Esther. The cover showed a seemingly human woman holding a clawed hand to her head in a gesture of confusion. The title above her asked, in friendly block letters, Why Isn’t There Hair There?

Esther nearly growled in frustration. “So what? You’re saying there’s nothing we can do? We should just give up?”

“Mom,” Enid whined.

“What? I just want you to be normal, honey.”

“Enid is perfectly healthy,” Dr. Wallace interjected. “Whether she wolfs out or not, the main thing that she needs from you is support.” Esther scoffed but Dr. Wallace pressed on. “And you should know that there is no medical evidence to suggest that interventions to try to encourage a transformation are at all effective. In fact, they can be quite damaging to a young person’s mental health. I would urge you to just be patient and be prepared to love your daughter, come what may. Can you do that?” she asked patiently.

Esther slumped back in her chair, folding her arms and shaking her head. She was the very picture of petulance. A beat passed and it was clear that Esther had no intention of continuing the conversation.

Dr. Wallace shot Enid a commiserating smile and pushed up to her feet. “Well if there are no more questions, you’re free to go.”

Esther was up and out the door immediately. Enid couldn’t help feeling embarrassed by her mother’s behavior.

“Sorry about that,” Enid offered weakly.

“You don’t have to apologize for your mother, Enid.”

Enid nodded noncommittally.

“Take care,” Dr. Wallace offered with a warm smile.

“Thanks,” Enid answered as she pushed out the door.

Esther was already halfway across the parking lot when Enid caught up to her.

“That doctor doesn’t know what she’s talking about!” Esther shouted back to Enid as she approached. Esther directed her frustration at the brochure in her fist, crumpling it and throwing it at the ground.

“Come on, mom, that’s littering,” Enid grumbled as she picked up the ball of paper and attempted to smooth it back out.

“She doesn’t care about her patients! She doesn’t want to do her job! And then she has the nerve to suggest that I don’t love my own daughter when I just want what’s best for you!”

Enid just slid into the passenger seat and waited for her mother to tire herself out. She put in just her right earbud and resumed listening to her music. It was an hour drive back to Nevermore. She could handle an hour in the car with her mother. She lived under her mom’s roof for the first 14 years of her life - what was another hour?

“Are you going to be on your phone the whole car ride? I haven’t seen you in months and you’re just going to ignore me?”

Enid reluctantly took out her earbud. “Okay. What do you wanna talk about, mom?”

“I don’t know, how’s school? Any new friends? I’m sure you’ve done something since the start of the new school year!”

“Yeah, um, school’s fine.” Enid never knew how to answer this question. She always ended up searching for something that was both true and that her mom would like to hear and she rarely came up with much. Was she supposed to talk about the werewolves she wasn’t friends with or the packs she didn’t run with? She didn’t think her mom wanted to hear about kpop news or the show she started watching because she heard that something gay might eventually happen in it.

“Um, we’re reading Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in English? It’s pretty cool.”

“Oh… That’s nice.” Esther didn’t seem to know what to do with this information. “Do you like English?”

“Yeah, I guess I do. My roommate’s in the same class and she’s really smart and helps me with my homework sometimes so I think I’m liking it more this year.”

“Well that’s nice of her. Is she a werewolf too?” Esther asked hopefully.

“No, she’s a psychic.”

“Oh, well…”

Silence stretched out between them for just a bit too long to be comfortable.

“What’s new in San Francisco?” Enid asked.

“Oh well the Autumn equinox wasn’t too long ago and the pack did the usual potluck,” Esther began.

Enid paid enough attention to hum and nod at the right places as Esther rattled off a series of half familiar names and places. She knew that she must have met the people Esther talked about but mostly only saw them at annual events that gave her enough time to forget them again. By the time Esther finished talking, they still had a good half hour to go before they could expect to arrive at Nevermore.

Enid decided to connect her phone’s bluetooth to the car’s speakers and put on Spotify. She looked through her playlists for something they would both like. Mitski - too sad. Chappell Roan - too gay. Phoebe Bridgers - too sad and too gay. Twice - Esther would complain about it not being in English. Taylor Swift… might work. Esther mostly liked folk rock so Taylor might be a safe compromise.

Esther nodded along through willow but less than a minute into betty she interrupted, “Honey, why don’t you put on something that we’ll both like.”

Fuck me, I guess. Enid pulled up Willie Nelson and Esther began happily singing along. Enid didn’t understand how her mom loved his music. Willie was a full hippie but betty was too gay. Sure.

Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys
'Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone
Even with someone they love

Enid wondered if her mom knew that she was raising a cowboy.

One song rolled into another and Enid allowed the nostalgia to wash over her and eventually she joined in singing the songs that she had grown up listening to with her mom. She pictured herself sitting around a campfire with her family, a guitar on her mom’s knee, as they sang along to these same songs. Back when it was okay that she had never wolfed out and it wasn’t so hard to be the daughter her mother loved. She wondered if that’s what her mom was thinking about too: a better time when it was easier to be a family. They passed the time this way for the rest of the ride to Nevermore.

Pulling up in front of the school gates, Enid felt relieved. It’s good to be home, she thought and then immediately felt guilty for thinking it. When had she started thinking of Nevermore as home? Wasn’t San Francisco her home? Was she allowed to have more than one?

Enid and her mother got out of the car and Esther walked around to her daughter’s side. “Well, goodbye, honey. I’ll miss you,” she said as she wrapped Enid in a hug.

Enid hugged her back with an “I’ll miss you too.”

Drawing back to arm’s length, Esther continued, “I guess I won’t see you until Parents’ Weekend, is that right?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Esther pulled her back into a second hug, “Well, I love you and I can’t wait to see you again.”

“I love you too, mom.”

Esther eventually let Enid go and got back in her car, waving goodbye to her daughter. Enid waved back until Esther’s car left the gate and then she released a breath that seemed like it might have been structurally important to keeping her upright.

The sun had set but it was still early enough that Enid could have gone to the cafeteria for dinner. But at this point, all she wanted to do was lie down in her bed until she was about 32 and had a different (if not better) relationship with her mother. Enid dragged herself directly to Ophelia Hall.

The lights were out when she opened the door to her shared room and she saw no sign of her roommate. Just as well. She didn’t know if she could be around people just then. Enid kicked off her shoes and flopped on her bed. She pulled up her go-to playlist for when she felt sad about her relationship with her mom, which turned out to be after any amount of time spent with her mother as well as some other times randomly in between. With Wednesday out, she didn’t bother with headphones and let the music fill the room.

Enid thought about their parting words. “I love you.” “I’ll miss you.” How much did she mean it? She loved her mother. That was true. Would she miss her? She didn’t want to think about it. She thought about the image of her mom singing by a campfire. She missed that version of her mom. “I’ll miss who you were” had a different ring. She didn’t think she could ever tell her mother that. “I grieve you.” “I miss you.” “I wish you were here.” She couldn’t say that to her mom’s face. The same face she always had but with more lines every year. She regretted all the things that would be left unsaid when her mother someday died. All the things she didn’t know how to make her hear.

Tears streamed down her cheeks and disappeared into her hair at her temples. This was her routine with her mother. Esther would appear and Enid would fade. Enid would show her mom the parts of her that Esther could love and she would hide the rest. And when Esther would leave, Enid would cry her eyes out for two hours and forty four minutes straight.

When a dark figure walked through her window, Enid shrieked and jumped about a foot off of her bed.

“Jesus Christ, Wednesday!” Enid clutched at her chest, willing her heart to slow back down to a normal pace.

“My apologies,” Wednesday stated simply, closing the window behind her. Enid couldn’t be certain but she thought she saw a tiny smirk on her roommate’s lips.

“What were you doing on the balcony?!”

“Meditating.”

“With all the lights out?!”

“You should try it some time.”

Enid collapsed back on her bed and let out a heavy sigh, tapping the pause button on her phone. Her roommate was such an idiot. And so pretty.

“I heard a few of the songs you were listening to,” Wednesday remarked as she approached the center of their shared room. “They were excruciating. In a good way.”

“Really?” Enid asked, wiping her face dry.

“Some were so full of forlorn sadness, I couldn’t help tapping my toes.”

Enid let out a sad laugh and looked over at Wednesday. She stood there, unreadable as ever, calmly staring at Enid. “Do you wanna listen with me?”

Wednesday gave a short nod and stepped up to the side of Enid’s bed. “Move over.”

Enid was shocked by the implication but complied immediately. She scooted over to one side of her bed and Wednesday lay down on the other. Enid tried to act like this was a normal thing to happen. She knew that Wednesday was like a neighborhood cat that had decided Enid was acceptable company for the moment. If Enid let on that she was excited, Wednesday would leave.

Enid picked up her phone and hit the play button and Wednesday noticed the name of the playlist.

“Mothers and Daughters Existing as Wretched Mirrors of Each Other?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s um my go-to after spending time with my mom,” Enid answered.

“And if she were to die in some tragic accident…”

Enid laughed a small laugh that brought tears right back to choke in her throat. She couldn’t imagine having a relationship with her mother where she could be seen and loved for her whole self. She couldn’t imagine spending time with her and it not hurting. Whenever Esther would die, it would be before anything ever changed between them. And until then, Enid would be hurt again and again.

Enid let out a shaky breath and whispered, “Don’t kill my mom, Wednesday.”

Wednesday nodded her ascent.

Song after song played with one or the other of them making occasional comments or asking questions.

“What song is this?” Wednesday asked.

“Thumbs by Lucy Dacus.”

“Perhaps I should get a record player.”

“Lol or a phone.”

“I would sooner die.”

“You’d sooner die than do a lot of things.”

Wednesday smirked. “You know me so well.”

Enid giggled softly but Wednesday’s words caused warmth to burst inside her chest. She and Wednesday had seemed so different in the beginning that she thought they might kill each other. Now she was her favorite person. And though she tried to ignore it, Enid knew that she had a crush on her. Wednesday was beautiful - everyone knew that. But Enid had learned that she was also funny and insightful and incredibly kind. Even now, Wednesday was here comforting Enid. Sure, if she tried to suggest such a thing, Wednesday would probably deny it and come up with an explanation for her behavior that portrayed her as unfeeling and selfish. But Enid knew that not every song on this playlist could have been to Wednesday’s taste. And yet, Wednesday didn’t criticize or ask to skip a single song.

Enid turned her head to look at her roommate’s beautiful profile. Her dark eyes staring up at the ceiling, the dusting of freckles over her nose, her high cheekbones and sharp jaw. She was so pretty, Enid’s chest felt tight just looking at her.

Wednesday slid her eyes to look at her and Enid had to fight the urge to look away. “Thanks for being here with me. I’m feeling a lot better now.”

Wednesday considered her for a moment before answering. “It’s unfortunate that this is the music you listen to when you’re in distress. I quite like it. But strangely I don’t enjoy seeing you distressed.”

A smile took over Enid’s face. Wednesday’s words were borderline effusive for her. Enid wrapped her arms around herself and squeezed. She had taken to doing this whenever she wanted to hug her roommate. “Thanks, Wednesday,” she said as she let go of her hold.

“The cafeteria will be closing soon,” Wednesday said abruptly and then got to her feet. “Get up.”

Enid hurried to comply, stopping the music and putting her shoes back on. Some part of her had already resigned to just eat peanut butter pretzel bites in her room but a proper dinner sounded a lot better. Wednesday held the door open for her and the two made their way to the cafeteria.

Chapter Text

Monday morning assemblies were always incredibly boring. The whole school would gather in the auditorium and Principal Weems would drone on about upcoming events that almost always could have been an email.

Enid usually tried to sit somewhere in the middle of the crowd where she wouldn’t be too close to a teacher who would scold her for not paying attention. She and Wednesday always sat next to each other and if Enid was lucky, Yoko would get the seat on her other side.

This morning, Enid had her preferred setup: Wednesday to her left, Yoko to her right, and positioned right in the middle of the rest of the student body. When Weems started talking, Enid took out a notebook to doodle in and put in her headphones to listen to music.

She was soon interrupted by a tap on her shoulder. Looking to her left, she saw Wednesday’s hand still hanging in midair. She took out her headphones and looked at Wednesday questioningly.

“What are you listening to?” Wednesday asked quietly.

Enid smiled, “Cavetown. It’s kinda emo? Here.” Enid offered Wednesday one of her earbuds so they could listen together. Wednesday accepted Enid’s offer and listened, her face giving away nothing. Enid hoped she liked it.

She went back to doodling and thought about how Deviltown is colder in the summertime and how much she dreaded going back to San Francisco for school breaks. Wasn’t there some quote about “the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco”? Maybe a high schooler said that. It could happen. Mary Shelley was only 19 when she came up with Frankenstein.

One track played into the next and Enid went on ignoring whatever announcements were so important as to gather the whole school here.

Try as hard as I can
Guess I must be satisfactory
You said you love me exactly the way I am
And you know I find it hard to understand

That sounded nice - someone loving you exactly the way you are. Was it possible to be loved for who you are if you constantly curated yourself for the people around you? Okay, that was too much to think about on a Monday morning.

Enid felt a heavy gaze on her and looked over to Wednesday to see that she was staring at her. Enid smiled back with a question in her eyes.

Slowly, Wednesday redirected her attention to Enid’s notebook and nodded her chin as though to ask what she had been drawing. Enid angled her notebook so Wednesday could see the little black cats she had been doodling. Wednesday nodded her approval and looked back up at Weems.

Enid let out a little laugh that was no more than a puff of air at her enigmatic roommate and resumed shading.

The shuffling of students getting their things together let Enid know that the assembly was wrapping up so she took her headphones back and put away her notebook.

Yoko elbowed her in the side, “So are you gonna do the talent show?”

“Talent show?” Enid asked.

“Yeah, the talent show for Parents’ Weekend. Weems was literally just talking about it. Where were you?”

“Uh,” Enid answered lamely as they filed out of the auditorium, “Deviltown?”

Yoko furrowed her brow but didn’t ask. “Whatever. Weems was saying that the school is putting on a talent show the Sunday of Parents’ Weekend and anyone who wants to participate should sign up soon. It seems like your kind of thing.”

The idea of a talent show sounded fun but the anxiety of Parents’ Weekend tempered it. “Oh. Yeah? Maybe? I’ll think about it. What about you?”

“Doesn’t one require talent to participate in a talent show?” Wednesday shot at Yoko.

“Your mom thinks I’m talented,” Yoko returned.

Wednesday looked confused. “You’ve never met my mother.”

Enid bumped her shoulder into Wednesday’s good-naturedly. Wednesday and Yoko had developed a friendly routine of verbal dueling but sometimes their references missed each other completely.

“I think I’ll pass on the talent show,” Yoko answered. “Not really my thing. But if you decide to do it, I’ll cheer, like, super loud.”

Enid wrapped an arm around Yoko in a side hug and then waved goodbye to her friends as they split off in different directions to go to class.

A talent show… Yoko was right, it was her kind of thing. But the fact that it happened on Parents’ Weekend made it feel like she was supposed to perform for her family - something she expected she would be doing the whole weekend. That said, it would give her an excuse to get away from her family for at least a little while.

When she went back to her dorm after class that day, she dug out the ukulele she kept under her bed. She had picked it up a while ago because her mom played guitar and Enid thought that learning to play an instrument would give them something to have in common. It kind of worked. They could talk about calluses and picking patterns and whether or not using a capo was cheating. Enid liked playing her ukulele well enough but she wasn’t passionate about it the way her mom was about the guitar and most of the time it stayed under her bed gathering dust.

She sat cross-legged on top of her duvet and got the thing in tune and then she tried to see which chords she remembered. C, G, Am, and F came back easily enough. Great start.

For a while she just strummed chords, half paying attention to her playing and half thinking about if she had any other talents she might want to exhibit for the talent show. After about 20 minutes of this, her phone buzzed with a text from Yoko.

Yoko: Yo it kinda smells like updog

Enid: Be so fr rn

Yoko: SAY IT!!!

Enid: Omfg

Enid: What’s updog?

Yoko: Nothing what’s up with you????

Yoko: I can’t believe you fell for that. Idiot 🖕

Enid: Can I help you????

Yoko: Yeah what are you doing? I’m bored. Come hang out in my room

Not even five minutes later, Enid was at Yoko’s door knocking as obnoxiously as she could manage. When Yoko swung the door open, Enid continued to knock her fist against an imaginary door in the air. Yoko stood back and when Enid continued the bit said, “So you’re gonna be a mime for the talent show?”

Enid walked into Yoko’s room and flopped down on her bed. “I haven’t decided yet.” And then brandishing her ukulele, “I might do this.”

Yoko closed the door and sat beside her friend. “I didn’t know you played the ukulele. Also take off your shoes.” Then added with a tsk, “White people.”

Enid toed off her shoes and kicked them towards the door. “I only kinda play,” Enid sighed, spreading her arms out on Yoko’s bed and staring listlessly up at the ceiling.

Yoko observed Enid for a moment. “Hey, are you alright? You seem kinda… sad.”

Enid lolled her head to the side to look up at Yoko. “I dunno. I want to be excited for the talent show but the fact that it’s during Parents’ Weekend… It’s like it’s supposed to be a performance for the parents. So like, instead of feeling like I can pick whatever I wanna do, I feel like I have to pick something my mom would like.”

Yoko hummed in acknowledgement. “Here,” she reached a hand towards Enid’s ukulele. “I have just the song you should sing.”

Enid handed over the ukulele and Yoko started strumming the open strings and discordantly sang, “Hey, mom! You’re a bitch and you’ve never treated me well a day in my life! You make comments about my body and are really preoccupied with whether I wolf out or not which is weird!”

Enid laughed and reached over to take her ukulele back. “Hey, stop it!” Yoko was really good at cheering her up. Still, she felt the need to defend her mom. “And she’s not a bitch. She’s just… complicated.”

Yoko handed over the ukulele. “Yeah,” she sighed. “Being a good parent seems pretty uncomplicated to me though.”

Enid furrowed her brow and absentmindedly strummed the chords she knew. She didn’t like to think of her mom as a bad parent. She always had a hard time talking about her with her friends because as much as she wanted to vent, she hated when her friends talked shit about her mom. She imagined how a hypothetical conversation might go: “My mom hurts my feelings.” “It sounds like your mom hurts your feelings.” “No it’s not like that!”

“Well, I think it would suck if you played a song or whatever just because it was something that your mom would like.”

Enid took a deep breath, held it, and let it go. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” Maybe she could find a compromise between playing one of her mom’s favorite songs and Yoko’s “hey, mom, you’re a bitch” song.

“What about you? Are you dreading Parents’ Weekend too?”

“Me? No. My parents rock. That’s why I have high self-esteem and a smokin’ hot girlfriend.”

Enid laughed. “Where is Divina?”

“She has seance lab tonight.”

“Oh, for sure. I think Wednesday’s there too.”

Yoko hummed knowingly. “And how is your big fat crush on your spooky roommate going?”

“Shut uuuuup,” Enid groaned and grabbed one of Yoko’s pillows to smother herself with.

“The yearning continues?”

Enid mumbled an unintelligible reply.

“Okay, some of us don’t have dog hearing.”

Enid shifted the pillow up so her mouth was no longer covered. “I said I’m cooked.”

Yoko hissed through her teeth, “That’s rough, bud.”

“The other day, I was listening to my sad mommy issues playlist and she laid down on my bed and listened with me until I felt better,” Enid whined.

“Gay.”

“So gay!”

“So are you gonna tell her?”

Enid’s mouth opened and closed helplessly for a moment. “I dunno? Maybe? No? I don’t wanna mess up our friendship if it turns out she doesn’t feel that way too.” Enid knew that she was just terrified of rejection. Simple as that.

“I think you should tell her.”

Enid resumed smothering herself and groaning through the pillow.

“But,” Yoko continued, patting the pillow over Enid’s face, “it’s your decision. Not mine.”

Enid sighed and tossed the pillow back where she found it.

The two continued talking for the better part of an hour before Divina threw open the door. “Hey, nerd,” she announced and then upon seeing Enid amended, “Sorry: nerds… I didn’t know you played the ukulele.”

Yoko spread her arms wide, “We’re not getting into it.”

Divina fell into Yoko’s embrace, nearly tackling her to the bed. Enid quickly moved to avoid being crushed by her friends.

“Sorry I’m late,” Divina’s voice was muffled, speaking directly into Yoko’s comforter. “My lab partner kept moving the planchet.”

“My poor baby,” Yoko murmured and began pressing kisses all over Divina’s face.

“Okay, I think I’m going to head back before this gets weird.” Enid got off of the bed and made her way to the still open door.

“Good *kiss* idea *kiss*”

Enid closed her friend’s door and walked back to her own dorm. As she approached, she started to hear the telltale sound of cello music confirming her suspicion that Wednesday had returned.

Seance lab disrupted her roommate’s schedule. On Monday’s, she had to move her writing hour to her free period so she could still have time for evening cello. Wednesday had never talked about it but Enid suspected that playing the cello was a way for Wednesday to decompress or to process her thoughts and feelings.

Stepping into her room, Enid could just make out the silhouette of her roommate on the balcony. Enid tried not to disrupt her when she was playing but tonight she thought she might push her luck and join her outside. Enid put her ukulele down on her bed and snuck through the still open window as quietly as she could manage.

Wednesday’s playing didn’t miss a beat but she did direct her gaze at Enid momentarily before focusing back on the piece. Enid simply sat down on the balcony and leaned her back against the railing as she watched her friend.

Wednesday’s performance was beautiful and Enid was hypnotized by her easy proficiency with her instrument. The girl was good at everything and carried herself with a justified confidence that Enid admired. She couldn’t imagine ever getting tired of watching her.

When Wednesday finally pulled her bow away from the strings, her performance evidently finished, Enid started to applaud. It felt a bit silly, clapping alone through the silence of the night but it also felt deserved. In response, Wednesday simply tilted her head in the gesture of a bow.

“What song was that?” Enid asked.

“Scheherazade. The violin part adapted to the cello.”

“Oh, cool…” Enid offered. “What’s it about?”

A corner of Wednesday’s mouth turned up in the shadow of a grin. “It’s a wretched tale. As a child, it was my favorite bedtime story.” Wednesday chuckled at that.

“How does it go?”

Wednesday straightened her posture and pinned Enid in place with her unblinking gaze. “Once upon a time, there was a terrible king who married a new woman every day only to have her beheaded the following morning.”

Enid cringed. When Wednesday called the story “wretched” she was hoping it would be in the Addams way that actually meant “good”. She suspected she might be wrong.

“After killing countless women this way, the king married Scheherazade. However, Scheherazade had a plan. On the night of her wedding, she started telling a story and the king listened, enraptured. When dawn broke, Scheherazade stopped her story. The king demanded that she finish but she told him that it was morning and there was no time. The king reluctantly agreed to spare her life that day so she could finish her story that night. And so she did but then she began another story. And again, she stopped her telling in the middle when the sun came up. And so she was spared another day. In this way Scheherazade continued for a thousand nights. But after one thousand stories, she had no more to tell. So she brought before the king the three sons she had bared him and begged that he spare her life so she could raise them. And thus he agreed to let her live.”

The ensuing silence told Enid that the story was finished. “Yeah… that was kinda cool but mostly really dark.”

“Indeed. After a herculean effort and a thousand sleepless nights, Scheherazade’s reward is to be allowed to live with a tyrant.” Wednesday’s expression was positively fond.

“I guess that’s better than being beheaded?” Enid offered uncertainly.

“Do you think so?”

“I seriously don’t know,” Enid said. “I mean, death versus psychological torture. I guess I don’t know which is worse.”

“How can you choose?” Wednesday sighed wistfully.

Enid giggled at her goth roommate. “I can see why this was your favorite bedtime story.”

“Yes. The story of Scheherazade is actually the frame narrative of One Thousand and One Nights and I loved the story so much that I would make my mother play the role of Scheherazade to my King Shahryar. She would tuck me in and I would remind her that she was to be beheaded in the morning and she would start telling me a story from One Thousand and One Nights. And I would always fall asleep in the middle of the tale, long before dawn.”

Wednesday was outright smiling now and Enid could only hold her breath and watch. Her usually sharp eyes looked so soft. She didn’t think she had ever seen her roommate smile like this before and she wanted to commit the moment to memory while she could. But realizing she had been quiet for too long, Enid rushed to speak. “What’s One Thousand and One Nights about?”

“I could tell you but we would be out here for the better part of three years.”

“Okay,” Enid smiled. “How about generally, what’s it about?”

“One Thousand and One Nights is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales. You might compare it to Aesop’s Fables or Grimm’s Fairy Tales. However, nearly all of the stories of One Thousand and One Nights contain other stories within them. And other stories within those stories. Making the frame narrative of Scheherazade all the more fitting.”

Enid hummed in response, taking a moment to think.

“I don’t suppose she had any stories about an evil king who decides to become a pacifist, did she?”

“I don’t believe that was part of her strategy, no.” Wednesday began loosening the tension on her bow. “I always thought she should have just assassinated the king on that first night and fled. At worst, she would be executed for regicide, which was the same fate she was facing anyway.”

Seeing that Wednesday was making moves to go back inside, Enid felt the need to prolong their time on the balcony. “Maybe you should just tell me the first story.”

Wednesday grinned at her as she gathered her things. “I think you should go to sleep, your majesty.”

Enid thrilled at her words. Not moving from her spot, she looked up at Wednesday. “What if I threaten to kill you tomorrow?”

“Promise?”

“No,” she grumbled. She could only joke about harming someone she cared for so much before it made her sad.

“Goodnight, Enid,” Wednesday said, stepping through the window and back into their shared room.

Enid needed a moment to breathe before going back inside. She took in a lungful of cold night air and thought about her conversation with Yoko earlier. Yeah. I’m cooked.

Chapter Text

The full moon brought with it the most boring emotional roller coaster for Enid, as predictable as the tides. First came anxiety from the hope she couldn’t quite escape that this time she would finally turn. She was always filled with nervous energy that left her pacing and fidgeting even as she tried to remind herself that probably nothing was going to happen. Then the full moon would climb high into the sky and she would hear a chorus of howls signaling that her peers had turned and she, once again, had not. And even though she tried not to get her hopes up, crushing disappointment found her every time. She had a ritual at this point. She would put on her headphones and do her skincare routine and read the sticky notes on her mirror. “I am enough as I am.” “I deserve to be kind to myself.” “Not wolfing out doesn’t mean I’m not a werewolf.” The affirmations helped but the feelings of disappointment and shame were hard to shake, even into the following day.

The vibe around campus was always a bit quieter after a full moon. After wolfing out and running wild all night, Nevermore’s werewolf population was exhausted. As a result, morning classes were always canceled the day after the full moon. Most students loved having a monthly half day but for Enid, it was bittersweet. While the rest of the werewolves commiserated about the aches and pains of turning or teased each other with stories of traumatized squirrels, Enid kept to herself and used the extra time to connect with nature in her own way. Being the only werewolf at school who had never turned made her feel singled out, observed. She tried to remind herself that other people didn’t care like her family did but she still felt watched and pitied and she just wanted to not be perceived for a little while.

She had just finished getting her things together - phone, keys, water bottle, ukulele - when her phone rang. Her mother was calling her. She didn’t want this to be perceived either. Enid spared a glance over to where Wednesday was working on her novel and quietly dipped out their room. She took long strides as she walked down the hallway, wanting to be far away from anyone who could hear her conversation, and answered the call.

“Hi mom.”

“Hi dearie, how are you doing?” Esther asked, hope evident in her voice.

“I’m good. What’s up?”

“Oh, I just wanted to check in since the full moon was last night and all.”

“Right.” Enid let her silence answer her mother’s unspoken question. Her mother didn’t usually call her after the full moon to see if she’d turned but it was perfectly clear what she was hoping to hear.

“Well I was also calling to tell you that your little cousin, Aiden? Your aunt Moira’s son? He turned last night. They’re going to host a barbeque over the weekend, the usual sort of thing. I don’t know if you’re friends on Facebook but you might want to send your congratulations.”

“I don’t think twelve-year-olds are on Facebook, mom.”

“Well, reach out to your aunt! It’s polite.”

“Okay, I will,” she lied. Enid didn’t think she could remember her Facebook password but she didn’t imagine her mom would check if she actually messaged her aunt.

“So,” Esther hesitated briefly, “you didn’t wolf out last night?”

“No, mom,” Enid sighed, “I didn’t.”

“And you didn’t feel anything? Moira had been saying these last few months that Aiden was going to wolf out any day now because he would get so energetic during the full moon and I know your brothers were so rowdy before they turned. You didn’t feel anything like that?”

“Mom, Hunter and Morgan have been rowdy every day of their lives.” Enid used to get hyped up about her family turning into wolves once a month too until it became a problem that she still hadn’t turned herself.

“Well you should be keeping an eye out for these things,” Esther admonished. “But you went outside and soaked up the moonlight at least?”

Enid used to do that. Every month for over a year after she turned 14 she sat outside under the light of the full moon all night, no matter the weather, hoping that it would help her shift. Eventually she gave up on that approach and replaced it with skincare and affirmations. Her new routine made her a lot happier, not that her mother would know anything about it. Enid leaned back against an exterior wall of Ophelia Hall and looked over the deserted green space where students would normally play soccer or frisbee if they weren’t sleeping in.

“For a little bit, yeah.” Enid didn’t like outright lying to her mother and she reasoned that they got moonlight through the windows in their room.

“Just for a little bit? Enid, this is serious! This is your future we’re talking about, you need to take it seriously!”

“I am, mom.”

“Promise me you’ll spend the next full moon in the moonlight. And eat plenty of red meat.”

“I’ve tried all that, mom, and it doesn’t work. I…” Enid took a steadying breath, willing herself to ask the question that hung over both of them. “What if I never wolf out?”

“Oh don’t say that, honey. You will,” Esther insisted.

“But what if I don’t? Some people just don’t. What if that’s me?” Enid’s heart was in her throat. Tell me you’d still love me. Tell me I’d still have a home.

“It won’t be,” Esther answered definitively. “You just need to keep trying, okay? Just keep trying and it’ll happen, sweetie. I promise.”

Enid could tell that her mother’s words were meant to be comforting - they probably were for Esther - but they left Enid cold. “Okay,” she mumbled.

“Alright. Well, that’s all I had to say. I hope you’re having fun at school and staying out of trouble.”

“I am.”

“That’s good. I’ll let you go then. I love you, honey.”

“I love you too.”

Enid ended the call and let herself slide down the wall to sit on the concrete. Putting her phone in her pocket, she shut her eyes and took in a few long breaths. She felt scooped out, like a jack o’ lantern, and her head was buzzing. For a while, she just felt. She felt the sun on her skin and the cold ground underneath her. She felt the fabric of her pink bomber jacket move with the rise and fall of her chest and listened to the swish of polyester rubbing against itself.

Enid looked out at the tree line at the edge of the green space where the arboretum began and she remembered why she was out here in the first place. Werewolf culture had deep ties to nature and she was raised to respect it and see herself as a part of it. She knew that when other werewolves shifted and ran together, it not only brought them closer together through that shared experience, it also brought them closer to nature. And when she thought about wolfing out, those were the things she longed for: connection with her community and connection with the earth.

She didn’t feel like she had a lot of control over the former. But connecting with nature was something she knew she could do even if she was alone. And right now, she felt pretty alone.

The school arboretum was simply an area of the woods near the school that featured some very minor landscaping. Walking trails, informational plaques, “in loving memory” benches, that sort of thing. Enid walked along the trail that started at the green space and into the peaceful quiet of the arboretum itself. Redwood trees loomed high overhead and their bows reached out around her, ushering her further into their depths. She passed by a picnic table littered with the butts of spent joints. It would be a nice place to practice the ukulele if it weren’t for the smell. She listened to the chirp of birdsongs in the trees and the crunch of leaves under foot. The sun peeked through the canopy in splotches but the air was still crisp and cool. Eventually the trail bent towards a creek that featured a few benches that looked out on the water.

Enid took a seat and pulled her ukulele out of its case. She still hadn’t decided on what song she wanted to play for the talent show but she figured she could play around with a bunch of different songs until she made up her mind. She pulled out her phone, opened her browser app, and scrolled through dozens of tabs to find the one with Rebecca Sugar’s page on ukulele-tabs.com.

Enid bounced from one song to another, sometimes working at a song for 20 minutes and sometimes for less than one. Different songs reminded her of different people. We Are the Crystal Gems reminded her of Eugene and his easy enthusiasm. Haven’t You Noticed I’m a Star reminded her of Bianca and her confidence. She played Everything Stays for a bit before zoning out and watching the clear water in the creek wash over rocks and moss and tree roots.

She thought about things changing and things staying the same. She was the same daughter her mother had always had. She hadn’t changed and that was the problem. She was the same and Esther was the same but their relationship had changed.

Everything stays, right where you left it
Everything stays, but it still changes

Sometimes, when Enid let herself go there, she thought about how she couldn’t wolf out and would feel overcome with shame. She felt childish, like everyone else was growing up and she was left behind. Like she was the kid who couldn’t go to slumber parties because she would wet the bed. She felt pathetic. Defective… Broken.

Her grip on her ukulele nearly slipped and she broke out of her reverie. Okay, different song then. She started playing Here Comes a Thought and felt significantly better. She was sitting on a bench donated to the school in the name of someone’s loved one, on a beautiful clear day, surrounded by trees, looking out on the peaceful water of a creek. She was safe and she could be kind to herself. Deep breath in. And out.

She heard footsteps approaching and turned to see Xavier with a sketchbook under one arm walking her way. He smiled and raised a hand in a wave, “Hey, Enid.”

“Hi, Xavier,” she answered.

He walked up to her bench. “I didn’t know you played the ukulele.”

“Yeah, it’s my big secret.” Enid twisted the instrument in her hands, self-consciously.

“Oh?” He looked confused.

“Not really. I’ve had it for a while but it stays under my bed most of the time. But I wanted to do the talent show thing and this was something I could do so,” she explained.

“Got it,” he nodded. “So you’re out here practicing?”

“Yeah,” Enid moved over to make space on the bench, indicating that he could sit. “I haven’t decided what song I want to do though.”

“Oh, for sure,” he said, taking a seat. “Do you have any ideas?”

“Not really,” she sighed. “If the talent show wasn’t on Parents’ Weekend, it wouldn’t be so hard.”

“Parent shit,” Xavier said, grinning like nothing had ever made more sense. “It’s a trip.”

“I’m guessing you’re not excited for Parents’ Weekend either?”

“My dad says he’ll come but he says that about everything where he could, y’know, be a dad. And then something more important comes up and he can’t make it.”

Enid hummed in commiseration.

“And I can’t even really enjoy meeting my friends’ families because they ask me where my parents are and I have to tell them that they couldn’t make it. And then I just end up hanging out alone in my room because I can only third wheel someone else’s family for so long before it gets weird.” Xavier was digging his thumbnail into the just-soft-enough wood of the bench as he spoke.

“That sucks.”

“Yeah.”

“I’d offer to let you third wheel my family but I don’t need witnesses for when my mom starts listing everything wrong with me,” Enid chuckled humorlessly.

Xavier nodded and looked out at the water. Ducks were bobbing along the surface now and occasionally diving below with a quiet splash. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Enid plucked at one of the strings of her ukulele, taking a moment to get her thoughts in order but when she opened her mouth, words just fell out. “I mean, I love her because she’s my mom. And she loves me, I guess, because I’m her daughter. We kinda have to love each other. But like, it’s so important to her that I wolf out. And I can’t help it that I can’t do that but it’s the only thing that matters to her. Like, I’m still here and she could still try to get to know me but that’s not what she cares about. So like, I know what she likes and doesn’t like and whatever but when I try to share things about me, she doesn’t care. It’s like she’s not even trying or like it never occurred to her to try to care about the things I care about. Like I put in all this effort and it doesn’t mean anything to her!” Enid slumped down on the bench in exasperation.

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“I mean, I get it. Whenever I try to tell my dad about whatever I’m doing, it’s clear he isn’t listening. Like I might as well be talking to myself. I could tell him I won a Nobel prize or burnt down the school and either way, he’d just say ‘that’s nice’ and wrap up the call.”

“Shit,” Enid laughed softly.

“Yeah,” Xavier smiled.

“That sucks that your dad is so…”

“Uninterested in my life?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah well, right back at you.”

“She’s not uninterested in my life,” Enid defended reflexively. “She just… She wants me to be a version of me that I don’t think is ever going to exist.”

Xavier’s eyebrows crept up his forehead. “That sounds worse.”

“I…” Enid tried to protest but couldn’t find the words. “I don’t know. It’s like, I know what she disapproves of so I can avoid her disapproval if I just don’t share anything she won’t like. But it just feels like I’m putting on this exhausting show for her all the time and I just feel empty and sad afterwards.”

Xavier nodded and a not uncomfortable silence fell between them. His eyes dropped to the ukulele in Enid’s lap. “Is that why you haven’t decided on a song for the show?”

Enid looked down at the instrument and sighed, “Yeah, probably.”

“Well, if putting on a show leaves you feeling empty and sad, maybe you shouldn’t do it.”

“But I love this sort of thing! I don’t want to not do the show.”

“I more meant, maybe this is an opportunity to say something about yourself instead. Like, if it’s hard to talk to your mom about this stuff, maybe…”

Enid smiled teasingly, “Maybe I put it in song?”

A flush worked its way up Xavier’s cheeks. “I meant, you want to do the show and you’re worrying about what to play because your mom is going to be there,” he was getting more flustered as he tried to explain himself and Enid couldn’t help laughing at his discomfort. “Okay, no! You’re not going to make me feel embarrassed about the power of art and self expression!” His face was beet red now.

Enid tried to control her laughter but his embarrassment was now funnier than his earlier sincerity. “I’m sorry!” She took a steadying breath and tried to suppress her smile, “I’m sorry. You’re right.”

Xavier ignored her barely concealed mirth and pushed ahead. “Look, when I was a kid, my visions really scared me and I didn’t know how to talk about it with anyone so I started drawing them.” Enid’s expression sobered. “Yeah, I bet you feel like a real asshole for laughing now!” Xavier’s good humor returned now that Enid was done teasing him. He drummed his fingers on the sketchbook in his lap. “Anyway, drawing my visions helped me process them but it also helped me talk to people about what was happening to me. Now I like drawing for the sake of drawing and I don’t always do it to communicate something but I think even when I’m not trying to say anything in particular, I’ll finish a piece and it’s like ‘oh I did have something to say’, you know?”

Enid’s brow furrowed in concentration and she stared at her ukulele like there was a riddle hidden in its nylon strings. “I think so.”

“I’m just saying that maybe you should focus less on what your mom wants to hear and more on what you want to say. Does that help?”

Enid gave him a small smile. The two of them didn’t hang out together much and they definitely didn’t have heartfelt conversations like this. They were friends-of-friends. But he was surprisingly easy to talk to.

“Thanks, Xavier. It does.”

He smiled in return and the two chatted about lighter things for a while before Xavier got up to find his own quiet place to draw and to let Enid practice in peace. Sitting on her sun warmed bench, Enid decided to bump Xavier up from friend-of-a-friend status to a full fledged friend.

That evening, Enid continued practicing the ukulele in her dorm room. She sat on her bed with the instrument on her lap and her phone sitting in front of her open to ukulele-tabs.com, strumming and singing along.

When Wednesday walked in their door, Enid didn’t stop playing even though she could feel a self-conscious flush warm her face. Wednesday said nothing about Enid’s performance and busied herself with her normal evening routine, eventually settling on her own bed with a book.

Enid periodically paused her playing to scroll on her phone to see the next chords in the song or to unlock her phone when it fell asleep. She probably should have just used her laptop but she had committed at this point and didn’t want to change her setup now. It made it difficult to practice though.

After the fourth or fifth interruption of this kind, Enid felt her mattress dip and looked up from her instrument to see Wednesday sitting across from her. Enid’s strumming pattern faltered and she felt a question forming on her tongue but before she could ask it, Wednesday reached out a hand towards her phone and dragged her finger along the screen.

Enid tried to focus on playing the song, knowing that if she commented on Wednesday’s behavior, she would leave and that was the last thing she wanted. Unfortunately, it was difficult to seem unaffected when her roommate was quietly offering this simple act of care. There was nothing in it for her. It took her away from her book and brought her in contact with color. And while Wednesday had shown before that she would help Enid if she was distressed, there was no emotional fire to put out here.

Enid kept her eyes on her phone and tried her best to play smoothly. She felt self-conscious playing in front of Wednesday but she had taken the leap to keep playing when her roommate walked through the door and she wasn’t about to stop now.

After what felt like an eternity, Enid finished the song and finally looked up at the girl sitting across from her. Wednesday was looking at her with her usual piercing gaze and, after a moment, brought her hands together in almost inaudible applause. A wide smile spread across Enid’s face and she gave a goofy bow in response.

“Thanks for the help,” Enid murmured.

Wednesday only glanced down at Enid’s phone in response. “That song was on your Mothers and Daughters Existing as Wretched Mirrors of Each Other playlist. Did Esther call?”

“Oh,” Enid startled slightly. Was that why Wednesday helped her? Was she worried about her? “Um, yeah, she called me this morning.”

Wednesday stared at her silently, waiting for her to continue. This approach worked on Enid every time. She couldn’t stand the silence and had to fill it.

“It’s fine. I mean, I’m fine now. I wasn’t this morning. But then I went on a walk in the arboretum and played my ukulele. And I ran into Xavier and we actually had a really good conversation.”

Wednesday looked skeptical at that. “Xavier Thorpe?”

Enid laughed, “Do we know any other Xavier’s?”

Wednesday shrugged and Enid remembered that everything Wednesday knew about their peers she had likely learned against her will.

“Yes, Xavier Thorpe. We talked about difficult parents and art and stuff. It was actually really helpful. And I think I’ve decided what song I wanna play for the talent show.”

“The song you were just playing?” Wednesday asked.

Enid nodded in confirmation.

Wednesday tapped on Enid’s phone to keep it from falling asleep and straightened her posture imperiously. “Your performance was rough at best. You need more practice.”

“And you’re going to help me?” Enid smiled so big it hurt her cheeks.

“If I am to be forced to listen to you practice, I would rather it be productive.”

Enid squeaked in excitement before wrapping her arms around herself in a hug. Wednesday was just so cute! Enid quickly pulled herself together enough to focus on playing the song.

“Let’s take it from the top!”

Chapter Text

Thing had apparently noticed how Wednesday helped Enid practice the ukulele and, for the last couple of days, offered his assistance. Enid graciously accepted Thing’s help even though she wished that Wednesday were the one helping her instead. But Thing didn’t have classes or extracurriculars so he was more available than her roomie and she wasn’t going to turn down a kind offer from her favorite gossip buddy.

Yesterday’s practice session was cut short when Thing and Wednesday had to leave to follow a lead in the case they were working on. Enid was at the point where she really ought to practice without the lyrics or chords in front of her anyway so she didn’t mind too much. Thing filled her in about it at the cafeteria the next morning.

“We checked the cop’s house but there wasn’t much to see,” Thing signed from Enid’s shoulder as she sat down at her usual table with her breakfast. Yoko, Divina, Xavier, and Bianca were already there when she arrived. Wednesday usually skipped breakfast. Thing hopped onto the table, “He and his son were both out and we didn’t find anything particularly suspicious. So we trashed the place for fun and made it look like the kid did it.”

“What?!” Enid asked Thing incredulously, drawing the table’s attention.

“Does Thing have tea?” asked Divina eagerly. “You have to tell us.”

“Um,” Enid quickly scanned the faces of her friends. “Apparently the sheriff’s kid trashed his house.”

“Oh shit! Why?” asked Divina.

“Because fuck cops, that’s why,” Thing signed and Enid was really glad that no one else could understand him. “Besides, it’s not like the sheriff is going to press charges against his own son.”

“Uh, we don’t know,” Enid offered the table.

“Really?” asked Bianca. “Because I can fingerspell well enough to catch ACAB.”

Thing clenched his fist in the universal sign for resistance.

Enid laughed awkwardly and shrugged, “Rebellious streak?”

Thing started signing aggressively at Enid. “Okay, Thing says he wants me to interpret this part for him… He says Don’t ever talk to cops. They’re legally allowed to lie to you. Seriously? Um What you tell them can be used against you but not for you. Cops coerce false confessions out of people all the time. If a cop wants to talk to you, you say ‘I’m not talking to you without a lawyer present’ and then you shut the fuck up…” Enid looked around the table. “Uh, that’s it.”

A brief silence hung over the group before Yoko broke it by raising her fist and saying, “Hell yeah, fight the power!” which Thing returned with his own raised fist.

“We talk all the time, Thing. How did I not know you were so anti-cop?” asked Enid.

“Well first of all, the whole Addams family is anti-cop. And second, we’re usually gossiping so I guess it just hasn’t come up.”

“That’s true,” Enid smirked, peeling the paper off of her blueberry muffin. “We’re normally talking about who has a crush on who, not the criminal justice system.”

Thing took a moment to stir sugar into Enid’s coffee before signing, “So when are you going to tell me about who you have a crush on?”

Enid nearly fumbled her muffin at his question. Of course Thing would clock her like that. “Um, maybe later,” she muttered quickly - suddenly interested in talking with the rest of her friends. “So, weekend plans?”

“Well,” Divina began, “Yoko and I were talking last night and how would you guys like to start the weekend a little earlier?”

“Take an unsanctioned off-campus lunch?” added Yoko.

“Or an unsanctioned half-day?” finished Divina.

“Like, skip school?” asked Xavier, leaning in conspiratorially. Bianca simply raised an intrigued eyebrow.

“There’s a ramen place that’s supposed to be super good but they’re only open on Fridays, which is so unfair! So Divina and I are going to cut out after third period and go into town. You guys in?” Yoko tipped her sunglasses down to gauge her friends’ reactions.

Thing jumped with excitement and began vigorously shaking his fist in agreement and then pivoted to Enid. “Let’s do it!”

“I dunno,” Enid hedged. She was definitely on the fence about this one. “What if we get in trouble?”

“Yeah, that might happen. But this is a great opportunity to break the rules in a low stakes way!” Thing signed excitedly. “Civil disobedience is a muscle that you have to exercise. Practice breaking little rules so that when you have to stand up to authority, it’s not such a new thing!”

“Okay, Che Guevara, but what if we do get in trouble?” asked Enid.

“First of all, a distant Addams. Second, what do you think would happen?” Thing asked back.

“I guess we would be sent to the principal’s office? And then the school would call our parents?”

“Okay, and then what?”

“And then my mom would be upset with me.”

“Okay, and then?”

Enid took a long breath and considered the question. “Then I guess that’s it.” It wouldn’t be the first time her mom had gotten upset with her. In fact, it felt almost inevitable these days.

“You get to decide if you want to go or not. But if the thing that’s holding you back is the fear of upsetting your mom, I want you to know that it’s not your job to manage her feelings. She’s an adult and her feelings can’t hurt her.”

Yoko and the rest of the group intently watched the side of the conversation they could understand, waiting for which way their friend would land. Enid tried to connect with what she actually felt she wanted - impassioned speeches and expectant looks aside. She glanced across the cafeteria to look through the windows at the world outside. It was a beautiful day. It would be a shame to spend it inside.

“I’m in.”

“That’s what I’m talking about!” exclaimed Yoko, stretching across the table for a high five that Enid automatically returned.

“Okay, after third period, get changed into normal clothes and then meet at my room and we’ll head down together,” Divina clearly had a plan.

“What about me?” asked Xavier. He couldn’t just waltz into Ophelia Hall out of uniform in the middle of a school day.

“I dunno, man,” Yoko rolled her eyes. “Figure it out.”

The rest of breakfast was spent planning. Despite Yoko’s comment, they worked something out for Xavier too. In a few short hours they would be embarking on a little teenage rebellion. And even though she had been unsure before, Enid found herself vibrating with excitement and barely able to focus on her classes. When the group was heading out, they did hit one snag. A teacher saw them and stopped them in the grand hallway right at the entrance of the school. Enid could feel her heart leap into her throat. Mr. Bell was a lanky, werewolf math teacher who Enid would be happy to run into on any other day. But in this moment, she was gripped with ice cold dread.

“Hey, what are you kids doing out of uniform?”

“Oh, no we’re good, don’t worry about it,” said Divina.

“Right, of course,” answered Mr. Bell. “Hey shouldn’t you be wearing a siren necklace?”

“Nope,” answered Divina.

“My mistake. Well you kids have a good one,” Mr. Bell waved to them as he walked off.

Divina ushered her friends through the front doors and out through the gates before the group descended into a fit of giggles.

“Divina!” Enid scolded half-heartedly, her earlier fear replaced with an adrenaline-induced giddiness.

“He talks to kids all day. That one interaction isn’t going to be memorable. Relax!”

Bianca shook her head and fistbumped Divina. “You’re crazy. I love you.” She looked over at Xavier, “You got the Uber?”

Xavier craned his neck. “Yeah, earlier. I think that’s it there,” he said as a white Prius came into view down the road.

Divina took the front passenger seat while the other four squeezed into the back with Enid sitting in Yoko’s lap. Their Uber driver chuckled at the pile of teenagers in her car.

“Half-day?” she asked with a knowing smirk.

“Yep!” answered Divina.

Enid couldn’t tell if Divina was naturally charming or if it was her siren song coming through but their driver let her choose the music for their drive into town.

Rebel girl, rebel girl
Rebel girl, you are the queen of my world

Yoko gripped Enid’s wrists and waved her arms around like a ragdoll dancing to the song. Enid went with it, twisting her body and bobbing her head. The drive was full of laughter, singing, and dancing.

When they pulled up to the ramen place, they toppled out of the Prius thanking their driver profusely.

“Thanks for the ride, Angela!” said Divina who had chatted with her for most of the drive.

“You kids have a good one. And don’t get into too much trouble!”

Angela drove off with a final wave and Divina turned to address Xavier. “Okay, she was awesome. Give her the max tip and five stars.”

“I’m on it,” said Xavier, tapping his screen. “I’ll send Venmo requests later.”

The line for the ramen place stretched halfway down the block but the food was well worth the wait. Enid was too impatient to taste it and burnt her tongue on the broth. Xavier got halfway through an explanation of the etiquette of slurping noodles in Japan before Yoko stopped him with a withering glare. And Bianca casually dropped new lore.

“You know a cult leader?!” Enid whisper-yelled.

“We’re not close,” answered Bianca and then shifted the conversation to another topic, clearly uninterested in disclosing more. “So where are we going after this?”

“I have a friend who got a tattoo gun recently,” Yoko began.

“Not doing that,” Bianca dismissed. “What else?”

“We could get boba?” suggested Enid.

Bianca weighed that suggestion. “Maybe later. I’m too full right now.”

“There’s an art supply store I’ve been wanting to check out,” Xavier chimed in.

“I could be into that,” said Yoko.

“Actually, a new plant nursery opened up. How would we feel about splitting up?” asked Bianca.

Soon they were leaving the ramen shop in two groups. Yoko, Divina, and Xavier headed off towards the art supply store and Enid and Bianca with Thing in Enid’s pink hoodie pocket walked off in the direction of the plant nursery.

“Welcome in,” greeted the cashier as Enid and Bianca walked inside. The nursery was fairly small with plants of all different shapes and sizes on every shelf. Bright lights were set up to ensure that all of the plants were healthy and sprays of mist clicked on at seemingly random intervals throughout the shop. Towards the front of the shop were flower pots of various sizes, watering cans, potting soil, gardening gloves, and all sorts of other gardening accessories. Thing hopped out of Enid’s pocket and disappeared into the greenery.

“Are you looking for anything in particular?” asked Enid.

Bianca shook her head, “Not really. I always tell myself I’m just looking but I always end up bringing home something.”

The two slowly walked through the aisles of plants. “I didn’t know you had a green thumb.”

“You haven’t seen my room, have you?” asked Bianca. “I’ve lost count of how many plants I have.” Bianca ran her fingertips along the leaves of a few plants. “Are you going to get anything?”

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Enid looked around at the overwhelming variety of plants. “I like plants. Like, I like being around nature. But I don’t know what I’m doing and I think I’d just end up killing a plant if I got one.”

“Maybe get a pothos,” Bianca said, nodding her chin towards a nearby shelf in the back of the store. “They’re a good starter plant and they’re pretty hard to kill.”

Enid lingered by the plant while Bianca continued through the store. She touched its smooth, teardrop shaped leaves. It was pretty but she didn’t have a pot for it and she didn’t know where she would put it. Maybe another time.

As she was coming to the conclusion that she would not be buying the pothos, a sign caught her eye. It looked like a piece of paper that had been printed out, laminated, and then taped to the edge of one of the shelves. It read: “Proplifting” is picking up fallen leaves off the floors of garden centers or pinching off leaves and taking them home to propagate - IT IS THEFT! PLEASE DO NOT DO IT.

Enid’s brow pinched in a frown. Something about this sign felt patronizing. It felt stupid. Weren’t they just going to sweep the shop floor and throw out the leaves they’re so afraid will be taken? Is the shop really losing business to people taking cuttings? Is anyone coming in thinking “Well, I was going to spend $20 on a houseplant but I think I’ll just take a leaf and wait several months for it to grow into the same thing instead”?

Enid felt something settle in her chest as a decision crystalized in her mind. With a quick glance around her, she extended a claw and cut off a piece of the pothos and stuffed it in the pocket of her hoodie. Just two leaves and the bit of stem that connected them. She didn’t know how to propagate plants so she took more than she thought might be necessary.

When she found Bianca, she had a small plant in her hands and was walking towards the register. Thing popped out of a shelf and climbed into Enid’s pocket. Surely, he noticed the cutting but he didn’t make any indication of it.

“It’s called a tradescantia nanouk,” Bianca explained as Enid walked up to her. It was beautiful, with striking green and pink leaves.

“Omg I love it,” Enid touched its leaves, admiring the unique coloring.

After checking out - Enid trying to look as normal and unsuspicious as possible - the two left the nursery and started walking in the direction of the art supply store. Once they were a block away, Thing climbed out of Enid’s pocket and onto her shoulder, brandishing the illegal cutting. Enid laughed, taking it from him.

Bianca gasped in faux shock, “Enid. You little thief.”

Enid put the cutting back in her pocket. “There was a stupid sign talking about proplifting and it kinda ticked me off? And like, I didn’t even really want anything going into the shop but when I saw that sign I was like fuck that, I’m taking a leaf.”

Thing signed from her shoulder, “Dr. King once said ‘One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.’” Thing gave her a squeeze on her shoulder before continuing, “I’m proud of you, rebel girl.”

“Of course you approve,” she said before giving him a fist bump.

Bianca gave her a few pointers on how to propagate her cutting. She pointed out the nodes that would become new leaves and the little branches that were actually roots. Apparently, Enid had cut enough to start two propagations.

When they met up with their friends, Enid realized that the excitement of the day had tired her out more than she expected.

“I’m down to get boba but I think I’m going to take mine home with me.”

“Me too. Today’s been fun but my social battery is running low,” added Xavier.

The group decided to get boba and then Xavier and Enid would peel off while Bianca, Yoko, and Divina would stay in town.

Classes were still in session when Xavier and Enid got back to Nevermore but sneaking in was significantly easier than sneaking out. If a teacher was going to question them about being out of uniform, they could just assure them that they were going back to their rooms to change. Luckily, it didn’t come up and Enid was able to make it to her room, no questions asked.

Enid closed her door and slumped against it, an almost manic grin taking over her face. “That was so much fun!”

Thing popped out of her pocket and hurried over to Enid’s bed, patting the comforter in invitation. Enid skipped over and jumped onto her bed to sit across from Thing. She had been feeling tired earlier but crossing the threshold into her room seemed to fill her with a new excitement from the rush of getting away with something.

“I can’t believe I did that! I never do stuff like that!”

“And look at you now. A regular troublemaker.”

Enid giggled in response. “Oh! I need to get my cutting in water!”

Enid went digging around in her things to find a container she could fill with water. Eventually she landed on taking the pencils out of a cup on her desk and using that. Then she shoved a doom box she never emptied from when she moved into her dorm room in front of her half of the spider web window. She cut the stem of the cutting into two propagations and placed them in the cup of water on top of the doom box. And after much consideration, Enid eventually peeled a single colorful sticker off of her side of the window to ensure that her little plants would get the best possible light.

“There,” she said definitively. Bending down to be eye-level with the propagations, she whispered to them, “I believe in you.”

Feeling very satisfied with herself, Enid strode over to her bed and flopped down on it, barely giving Thing the chance to scurry out of the way.

“So,” Thing signed from his spot beside Enid’s pillow, just inches from her face. “Gossip? Are you finally going to tell me about your crush?”

Enid let out a long sigh and then rolled to her side to grab her ukulele from beside her bed. It had become a sort of fidget toy for her now and it gave her something besides Thing to focus on. She sat up with it in her lap and pressed different chord shapes onto the fretboard, thinking about what she was going to say. She knew she could trust Thing and that he would never judge her. But this part of herself felt so new and fragile.

Eventually Thing broke the silence. “Hey, you don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to. I didn’t mean to pressure you into talking about something you don’t want to talk about.”

“No, I want to talk about it.” Enid braced herself. “I’ve only ever told Yoko this but… I’m gay.”

Thing paused for a moment before answering, “Great.”

“That’s it?” Enid sighed, a timid smile taking over her face.

“Enid, the Addamses are a bunch of anarcho socialist pagans and I’m a severed hand. We’re cool with gay people.”

“Oh,” Enid blushed, “when you put it like that.”

“And honestly, given how rigidly straightness is defined, I don’t think anyone in the Addams family would consider themselves straight.”

Enid’s blush deepened, feeling a bit out of her depth and reeling at the implications for her crush. Did that mean Wednesday liked girls too? Or that she could be open to it?

“You know, technically Morticia and Gomez are ethically non-monogamous. They’re just too obsessed with each other for it to really come up,” continued Thing.

“Should you be telling me that?”

“It’s not a secret.”

Enid nodded and pressed her hands to her cheeks trying to bring her skin down to a normal temperature. After everything she learned about Thing today, she wasn’t exactly surprised to find all this out about the Addamses but she couldn’t help her reaction. After gathering herself a bit, Enid eventually gave Thing a sheepish smile.

“So I’m the second person you’ve come out to?” Thing asked carefully.

“Yeah, I only figured it out pretty recently.” Enid plucked a string a couple times before continuing. “Don’t tell Wednesday or anybody. I’m not, like, ashamed or anything. I just want to tell people myself when I’m ready, you know?”

“Of course, Enid,” Thing answered. “Thank you for trusting me with this. It means a lot.” Thing scuttled forward to hold Enid’s hand, which Enid learned was Thing’s version of a hug.

Enid could feel herself getting teary eyed. “Thanks, Thing.”

Thing let go of Enid’s hand to sign, “If I could cry, I think I would be getting a little choked up right now.”

Enid laughed past the lump in her throat, “But you’re so badass!”

“I know but that doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings!”

Enid let that thought sink in for a moment and wiped her nose with the sleeve of her hoodie. She could have feelings and be a badass. Badasses could have feelings. It was a nice reminder.

“Do you think you would tell your family?”

Enid sighed and let her shoulders slump forward a bit. “I don’t know. They’re not, like, republicans or anything but my mom always gets all uncomfortable whenever there’s gay stuff on TV, you know? So I’m not in a hurry to come out to them.”

“And you know you don’t have to, right? Especially if you’re not sure how they’ll react and especially if you’re financially dependent on them. If they haven’t made it clear that you can trust them with that part of you, then you don’t have to, okay?”

Enid nodded, tears coming back with a vengeance.

“Sharing who you are with the people you love and who love you is a beautiful thing. But you don’t owe it to anyone,” Thing said firmly.

Enid sniffled. “Thanks, Thing. I love you.”

“I love you too, Enid.” Thing signed and then squeezed Enid’s hand again.

Enid really was tired now and, after a few spent tissues and a cup of tea, the two fell into their own activities. Enid practiced her song for the talent show and Thing flipped through one of Enid’s mangas. She had made quite a lot of progress and could reliably play through the song without referring to the lyrics or chords. Her strumming could be better and she struggled with changing between certain chord shapes but otherwise, she had it. After half an hour or so of this, Wednesday burst into their room.

“Thing, you’re wanted in the art classroom to model,” she announced and then froze in the middle of the room, staring at them.

Thing hopped up and turned to Enid. “Okay, model!” she said and Thing strutted towards her and back on two fingers before running out the door.

“You’re Thing’s agent now?” asked Enid.

“Art students famously struggle with hands,” Wednesday returned. “You’re still practicing?”

“Yeah, but now,” Enid smiled brightly, “I can play it all the way through without looking at the chords or lyrics or anything!”

Wednesday stared at her for a moment too long to be comfortable before simply stating, “Good.”

She wasn’t sure what sort of reaction she was expecting from the goth. Heartfelt praise was probably too much to hope for but she thought she would get a little more than that.

“Your hard work has paid off,” Wednesday added and Enid brightened a bit.

“Thanks,” Enid murmured.

“I’ll be on the balcony,” Wednesday announced and stalked off to drag her cello outside. Enid watched her go but Wednesday pointedly ignored her.

Enid knew that Wednesday liked her alone time and everything but her behavior seemed off, even for her. She thought about going outside and asking her if something was wrong but she decided that it was probably better to give her space for now. Instead, she attempted to focus on practicing her song. It was trickier now because she could hear the classical music Wednesday was playing but she pressed on.

It was nice to have something to focus on. Enid had enough going on in her life to spiral about but she couldn’t really think about her relationship with her mom or her hopeless crush on her roommate when she was playing an instrument. Perhaps it was because of this intense focus that she didn’t immediately notice that Wednesday was no longer playing classical music but, instead, the melody that she had been working so hard on herself.

Shocked, Enid put down her ukulele and carefully made her way out onto the balcony. Wednesday immediately stopped her playing and turned to look at her.

“Were you just playing my talent show song?”

Wednesday’s eyes shifted away from her as though searching for clues for the answer to Enid’s question. Expression inscrutable as ever, Wednesday returned her gaze to Enid and answered, “I was.”

“You know that’s Taylor Swift, right?” Enid grinned.

Wednesday frowned, “Is it?”

“Yep,” Enid rocked back and forth on her heels. Watching Wednesday realize that she had been unwittingly playing a Taylor Swift song was priceless.

“It is possible that I misjudged her as an artist.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying! She’s really good!” Maybe there was hope yet of turning Wednesday on to pop.

Wednesday directed her attention back to her cello, checking the tuning and not dignifying Enid’s comment with a response.

“So you’re a Swiftie now?” Enid teased, carefully watching her roommate.

“Please. I may appreciate an artist but I refuse to allow my identity to be defined by fanatic devotion to a celebrity.”

Enid smiled and shook her head at Wednesday’s vehement rejection. “Why were you playing that song then?” Enid’s expression quickly shifted to one of concern. “Did I get it stuck in your head? Because I’m really sorry if I did. I don’t have to practice in our room and you can always tell me if you want me to stop -”

“Enid,” Wednesday interrupted and Enid snapped her mouth shut. “You did not get the song stuck in my head and you know that I would not hesitate to tell you if your practicing bothered me.”

Wednesday’s words helped to soothe Enid’s anxieties. The fear that she was too much only ever needed the slightest opportunity to show itself. Still, she waited for Wednesday to explain why she was playing that song.

After a long moment, Wednesday finally spoke, “I was going to suggest that I accompany you in the talent show.”

Her concern evaporated instantaneously. “Wait, really?!” Enid vibrated with excitement and Wednesday nodded in response. “OMG Wednesday! That’s so nice!”

Enid took a step towards Wednesday as though to hug her before she stopped herself. She may be over the moon with excitement but Wednesday wasn’t a hugger and she respected that. Instead, she wrapped her arms around herself and squeezed with all her strength, jumping in circles. She wanted desperately to ask Wednesday why she would do such a thing but she didn’t want her to change her mind.

Enid stopped her spinning to look at Wednesday, her hands hovering in the air between them. “OMG this is going to be so fun! Wait right here, I’m gonna get my ukulele so we can practice together!” Enid dashed to the window before stopping to look back at Wednesday. “No take-backsies okay? You promise you’re in?”

Wednesday only nodded silently. The confirmation was all Enid needed to shriek once more before diving back into their shared room. Today couldn’t have been more perfect.

Chapter Text

Yoko: Everybody ready for parents weekend 🙃

Xavier: Shocker, my dad can’t make it 🙄

Xavier: But on the upside, I have a shitload of party games on my switch and I still don’t have a new roommate so drop by whenever!

Enid: Sucks about your dad. I would visit but my parents planned out the whole weekend

The Sinclair family group text had been busy in the week leading up to Parents’ Weekend. Esther and Murray liked to have a plan or Esther would get irritated and Murray would get time anxious. Enid’s older brothers, Hunter and Morgan, seemed content not to contribute in organizing plans and the responsibility largely fell to Enid and Esther. Esther asked about any events the school had planned, any restaurants they should visit, what sort of weather to expect and Enid provided suggestions.

The school schedule was fairly open on Saturday aside from a late afternoon “picnic on the green” as it was called in an email reminder for the weekend. Other than that, the talent show on Sunday was the main event. That was scheduled for 10 am so that any families that traveled to attend would have time to get on the road afterwards without missing the show.

After plenty of back and forth, the plan was decided. Esther and Murray would drive in on Saturday morning and the family would gather at the cafeteria for breakfast. After that, they would have a chance to tour the school and meet their kids’ friends. Then lunch in town followed by the picnic on the green before Esther and Murray drove back for the night. This sounded absolutely exhausting to Enid but she just needed to get through it. Sunday should be a lot easier.

Enid insisted that, because she was participating in the talent show, she would not have any time before it started to meet up with her family. Esther thought that was ridiculous but Enid maintained that there was nothing she could do about it because there was preparation to be done in the theater. This wasn’t exactly true but Esther didn’t need to know that. Enid would simply see Esther and Murray at the theater at the time of the talent show. Afterwards, the Sinclairs would go get lunch at a steakhouse in Jericho before Esther and Murray got back on the road to head home and Enid would likely decompress in her room for the rest of the day.

Divina: 😬

Enid: I might actually go insane

Bianca: I’m sure your roommate would be into that

Enid blushed and snuck a glance across her room at Wednesday. She was seated at her typewriter, working on her novel. Enid often wished that Wednesday had a phone but, in this moment, she was glad she didn’t.

Enid sat on her bed texting her friends, sending each other memes and tiktoks. It was the night before Parents’ Weekend and Enid welcomed the distraction. Yoko, Xavier, and even Bianca had texted her outside of the group chat to send words of encouragement.

Enid noticed the clacking of typewriter keys had stopped and when she looked over at Wednesday, she seemed to be staring at somewhere on the wall above her.

“Ending your writing hour early tonight?” Enid asked.

“I am writing.”

“Could have fooled me,” Enid grinned.

“Writing looks like this sometimes,” Wednesday answered, clearly annoyed.

Enid knew that sometimes Wednesday spent her writing hour sitting at her typewriter and staring out into space. She knew it was part of her process but, every now and then, Enid liked to try to get a rise out of her.

The minutes ticked by slowly. Enid was too anxious about Parents’ Weekend to focus on anything else but there was nothing for her to do but wait and look for distractions. Swinging her legs off of her bed, she walked over to crouch in front of her pothos propagations to check on them. One of them had just started sprouting the tiniest little fuzzy white root. She had googled how long it should take for new roots to appear and was surprised when she learned that it would take a couple weeks. She worried that they would wilt and die in that much time but the little teardrop shaped leaves were heartier than she expected. Soon, she would have to find a pot for them and pick up some potting soil from the plant nursery.

An alert buzzed on her phone in her pocket telling her that Wednesday’s writing time was up and Enid promptly turned her head to look at her roommate. She watched as Wednesday straightened her posture and turned in her chair to return Enid’s look. Wednesday always seemed to know when she was being watched.

“Done?” Enid asked hopefully. Wednesday nodded and Enid hopped to her feet. “Great! One last practice before the weekend?”

Wednesday stood and began the process of carrying her cello out onto the balcony and Enid followed with her ukulele. They didn’t really need to practice anymore but Enid hoped it would soothe her nerves. Wednesday remained silent all through their practice, seemingly content to go over the song as many times as Enid wanted. Eventually this distraction wore thin too.

Enid sighed and rested the ukulele in her lap. “So,” she began, “are you excited for Parents’ Weekend?”

“I expect it will be dreadful. Hundreds of families reuniting, crowding the already congested halls. The noise. The socializing.” Wednesday’s face twisted in disgust, “The niceties.”

“Yeah, you don’t really do niceties.”

“And I never will,” Wednesday answered.

Enid smiled. “What about your family? Are you excited to see them at least?”

“I am rarely excited for anything aside from unhinged madness. And unfortunately, my uncle Fester will not be able to attend.” A flicker of disappointment showed briefly on Wednesday’s face but then she continued. “I suppose I would say I anticipate their arrival. They are dear to me. Their presence is at times irritating but it is an irritation that I am… begrudgingly fond of.”

Wednesday began loosening the tension on her bow. Enid had learned that, consciously or not, this was how Wednesday signaled that she was ready to move off of a topic soon. She would do something to begin wrapping up an activity or she would physically move from one location to another.

Enid still had one question she wanted to ask. “Will I get to meet them?” She sounded shy.

Wednesday stared at Enid before answering, “I’m sure they will insist.”

The two packed up their things and made their way inside.

The next morning, Enid woke up before her alarm. She had woken up just enough to remember what day it was and that provided the necessary anxiety to eliminate any chance of getting back to sleep. She proceeded to lay in bed doom scrolling until her alarm went off.

Wednesday stepped out of the bathroom just as Enid’s feet touched the floor. “Ready to meet the undertaker?” Enid asked.

Wednesday raised an intrigued eyebrow in response.

“Figuratively,” Enid clarified and Wednesday scowled in disappointment. “My family is going to have breakfast at the cafeteria before touring the grounds.”

“I believe my family has more or less the same idea. And then if the weather holds up,” Wednesday looked out the window at the overcast sky, “we might go fishing.”

“You fish?” Enid asked incredulously.

“It’s mostly for Pugsley’s sake.”

Enid accepted that as as good a reason as any and the two finished getting ready to head down to the cafeteria together. Before they left the room, Wednesday spoke. “For the record, if I ever ask you if you’re ready to meet the undertaker, I’m referring to my great aunt Josephine.”

As they made their way down to the cafeteria, several other students appeared, moving in the same direction. This was an early warning of how crowded the cafeteria was going to be. When they arrived, they were greeted by a cacophony of voices. It seemed that half the student body had the same breakfast plans. Parents, siblings, and even grandparents filled the space to bursting.

Even amongst the chaos, it did not take long for Enid to spot her family. Hunter and Morgan were already wrestling and looked dangerously close to tipping over one of the tables. They were always rowdier around their parents.

“That would be the Sinclairs,” said Enid.

Wednesday observed them with the same scowl that she had worn since they left their room but something seemed to darken behind her eyes. “Find me if you need to fake your own death.”

Enid smiled at Wednesday. The offer was significantly less violent than she would have expected and she appreciated Wednesday’s restraint. “Thanks,” she said and then noticed Wednesday’s parents off in the crowd. She tipped her chin their way, “Looks like your family’s here too.”

Wednesday slowly tore her gaze away from the Sinclairs before looking in the direction Enid had gestured. Morticia caught her daughter’s eye and raised a delicate hand in greeting. Wednesday only sighed before nodding at Enid in a silent goodbye and the two walked off to their respective families.

As Enid approached her family, she squared her shoulders and braced herself for the day to come.

“Enid!” Esther pulled her into a hug and then held her out at arm’s length to inspect her. “You look tired, honey. Are you not sleeping?”

“Hi mom. I had a hard time falling asleep last night.”

“You have to take care of yourself, Enid,” Esther fretted as she ushered her daughter to sit. “You’re a growing werewolf! Here, we already grabbed you a plate.”

Enid took her seat next to her dad with a murmured greeting. Murray gave her his trademark silent smile and wrapped an arm around her in an affectionate squeeze. Enid picked up her fork and knife. “Ribeye. The breakfast of champions.”

Esther frowned at Enid’s snarky tone. “It’s important that you get enough red meat in your diet,” she said meaningfully.

Hunter and Morgan had taken their seats now that the whole family was there to eat. They took after Murray in the way that they were perfectly aware of Esther’s opinion of the fact that Enid still hadn’t wolfed out but would quietly ignore it for the sake of keeping the peace. As for Murray, he always looked like he wanted to disagree with Esther but never quite spoke his mind.

Normally, Enid would bite her tongue about the insinuation but she was feeling just a little bit braver than usual this morning. “I actually heard the NIH did a study on that and found no correlation between eating red meat and wolfing out.” Enid shrugged at her mom who continued frowning at her. “Basically, red meat is expensive so the people who can afford to buy it can also afford better healthcare and stuff. So when you control for socio-economic status, the supposed benefit of eating red meat disappears.” She smiled at her family as she continued, “I heard about it on the podcast Maintenance Phase. You should check it out.”

“Well you’re certainly in a mood this morning.”

Enid almost never pushed back like this so it was a surprise to her when her mother simply refused to engage. Enid should have known. It explained why her father and brothers avoided conflict with her mother. It shed some light on why she did too. She wondered if this was a lesson she had already learned a long time ago.

The Sinclairs ate their breakfast in relative peace. Esther made a few more comments based in pseudoscience and Enid let them slide this time. She wanted to get through the day and didn’t think she would last if she picked a fight every time Esther said something Enid knew was false.

“You know, the cafeteria breakfast is better than I expected,” Esther remarked, finishing her steak. “Are you sure you can’t join us for breakfast before the talent show tomorrow?”

“Sorry,” Enid shrugged, trying her best to look remorseful. “I wish I could but I’ve got to help set up ahead of the show.”

Esther looked disappointed but Murray reached out a hand to give Enid’s arm a gentle squeeze. “We understand, honey,” he said softly.

Enid returned her father’s small smile. These little gestures were how he showed up. Enid wished he would show up in bigger ways too but still, she felt loved.

“I’m really excited for the talent show. I’ve been practicing nonstop,” Enid said, fidgeting with her napkin.

“And we’re excited to watch,” Esther answered, smiling at her daughter. “You know, I was thrilled to hear that you’re still playing the ukulele. Maybe we can find time this weekend to play together a little?”

“Yeah, I mean, I only really know this one song but I can play a few chords,” Enid answered. Did she actually want to play music with her mom? Esther would probably enjoy it and it could be a chance to bond. It was worth a try.

“Okay, kids,” Esther began as they got up to bus their trays, “show us around! I want to meet your friends!”

“Hey, Mike!” Morgan shouted at a shaggy-haired boy with a canine grin.

Enid’s brothers tracked down their friends and made introductions. Esther was noticeably more enthusiastic to meet the werewolves her sons introduced her to than any of their other friends she met and it made Enid incredibly uncomfortable.

Eventually, Enid caught sight of the Addams family heading towards them. She waved at them and ushered her family in their direction.

Enid smiled brightly at Wednesday’s family before turning to her parents. “Mom, dad, this is my roommate, Wednesday Addams, and her family,” she said enthusiastically.

Wednesday glared silently at Esther, which was to be expected. She did not, however, expect Gomez to approach her mother for a hug.

“It is so good to meet you!” he said as he wrapped his arms around Esther who tentatively returned the hug. “My little storm cloud is very selective of who she considers a friend so I know Enid must be very special for our Wednesday to hold her in such high regard!” He released Esther and hugged Murray who had been holding out a hand for a handshake which Gomez had ignored.

Releasing him, he continued, “But where are my manners? Let me introduce myself. I’m Gomez. This beautiful creature,” he reached out his hand to his wife who delicately accepted it, “is my wife, Morticia.”

“Enchanté,” Morticia greeted.

“And this,” he clapped a hand on Pugsley’s shoulder, “is our son, Pugsley.”

“Hi,” Pugsley waved.

Esther smiled uncertainly. “Nice to meet you.” Enid wished her mom could at least try to sound like she meant it. “I’m Esther. This is my husband, Murray. Our two sons, Hunter and Morgan. And of course you know Enid.”

“Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?” Enid asked.

“Gomez and I wanted to revisit the old haunts around campus,” Morticia replied.

“The condemned proscenium.”

“The abandoned tunnels.”

“La Llorona.”

“Mon cher,” Morticia pulled Gomez into her arms in a passionate embrace.

Wednesday managed to move the focus of her glare from Esther to her parents.

“Well, we’ll leave you to that.” A touch of disgust made its way into Esther’s tone. “We’ve got a busy day planned. Enid here is a late bloomer but we want to be sure she’s building ties with the packs here for when she finally wolfs out.” Esther put a hand on Enid’s shoulder as she spoke.

Enid was mortified and moved quickly to do damage control. She didn’t miss the murderous look Wednesday gave her mother but she just wanted to patch this up and move on. “It was really great seeing all of you,” Enid rushed out. The Addamses looked perturbed either by Esther’s comment or Enid’s behavior - she couldn’t tell which. “Mom, I think I saw Principal Weems walk off that way,” she said, gesturing behind them. “She should know all about what packs are active on campus.”

“Oh, well we should catch her while we can. It was lovely meeting all of you,” Esther said, already turning in the direction her daughter had indicated.

Enid hoped that there would be time tomorrow to get to know Wednesday’s family without her mother around. She physically directed her family away before glancing over her shoulder to look at the Addamses. Wednesday was watching her and Enid only hoped that this weekend wouldn’t change how Wednesday saw her.

The day proceeded as planned. The Sinclairs explored the school grounds and chatted with teachers and other families. They went into Jericho for lunch and Enid snuck away when she could for an extra long bathroom break to take a breath and text her friends.

Enid: When did parents weekend start? Like a month ago?

Xavier: 😭😭😭

Bianca: Sounds about right

The day was halfway through. She just needed to survive until her parents went home. Just a few more hours. Soon enough, the Sinclairs had finished lunch, stopped at a grocery store for some supplies, and were making their way back to campus for the picnic on the green.

“I’m sure all of the packs will be there,” said Esther. “Come on kids, hurry up! We want to get there early so we can help set up and get a good spot!”

The picnic was being held on the green space near the arboretum. A few teachers were setting up fire pits and arranging folding chairs. When Esther spotted Mr. Bell by a stack of chairs, she marched up to him with her family in tow.

Enid soon found herself hauling folding chairs across the green. She knew what Esther was doing by offering their help. This was purely for networking purposes. As more people started showing up, she overheard a bit of it.

“That’s so nice of you to volunteer! And your kids are helping too?”

“That’s right! Over there is Morgan, that’s Hunter, and my daughter, Enid, is right over there.”

Enid didn’t really mind. It gave her a little space from her family, which she really appreciated. Soon the green was ready and nearly all of the fire pits were taken. Enid looked around to see if she could spot any of her friends and was pleased to see Pugsley and Thing playing with lighter fluid by one of the fire pits. She wondered where the rest of the Addams family was. Hopefully, those two were saving space for them and they would arrive soon. Maybe she could sneak away to join them for a bit.

Enid sat in a folding chair by the fire the Sinclairs had taken and skewered a marshmallow on a stick to roast. Esther sat beside her and Murray started roasting a couple hotdogs in his place across from her. Hunter and Morgan had spotted some of their friends and were roughhousing as usual. Esther watched them fondly. Silence fell over the remaining three of them when the brothers left, as it so often did these days. Murray was always quiet and conversation hadn’t come easily between Esther and Enid for a long time now. Enid kind of wished her mom had her guitar with her. This seemed like just the occasion for it.

“Enid, dear?” Esther finally spoke. “I brought something for you.” She began rummaging in her purse.

“Oh?” Enid asked as Esther retrieved a stack of trifold documents and passed them to her. A sort of cold numbness washed over Enid as she looked at the glossy papers in her hands. Whatever Enid had been expecting Esther to hand her, it wasn’t this. Nothing could have prepared her for this.

“What are these?”

“Brochures. For summer camps.”

“These are wilderness therapy camps.” Esther wasn’t the only one with google. Enid knew every home remedy, every exercise, every program that claimed to have the solution to her problem. And she knew that every one of them was full of shit.

“They can help you connect with your inner wolf! A few weeks in the Balkan countryside-”

“Did you even look into these camps?” She interrupted, brandishing one of the cheery looking pamphlets at her mother. “The Happy Wolf was in the news a few years ago when a kid died of hypothermia!” A small part of her, the part that always reflexively tried to protect her mother, worried about raising her voice. But a bigger, angrier part of her didn’t care.

“Well, I’m sure that was a terrible accident,” Esther dismissed. “But, look,” she said, taking the brochure from Enid’s hand and tearing it up. “The Happy Wolf is out. There are still plenty of others-”

“Plenty of others that make their money traumatizing kids!”

“Enid-”

“Is it really so awful that I can’t wolf out? It’s such a problem that you’d rather I be scarred for life and maybe die so long as it happens?”

“Enid, I just want what’s best for you!”

“Why can’t you ever just say no to that question?!” Enid knocked her camp chair back getting to her feet. Her hands were balled into tight fists at her sides, crumpling the brochures.

Esther looked confused.

“I asked you what would happen if I never wolfed out and you said that I shouldn’t worry because I will. And now, I asked you if wolfing out was more important than my wellbeing and you didn’t say no!”

“Enid, you’re making a scene.”

“Why can’t you just love me?!”

With an offended scoff, Esther stood as well, “What are you talking about, of course I love you!”

“Me now! I am here right now and you could love me right now as I am but you don’t!”

Esther leveled a glare at her daughter, anger and hurt swirling in her eyes. Enid was sure her mother could see the same reflected back at her. Their silent standoff stretched out between them. Enid had never stood up to her mother like this and she didn’t know what to expect next. So when Esther turned on her heel and walked away, Enid was gutted.

Murray stood and reached out to touch her shoulder, “Enid.”

Enid dodged his hand. She barely remembered he was even there. “I think you’ve said enough,” she whispered with all the pain in her heart as she walked away.

She wasn’t sure where she was headed. Her eyes were glued to the ground in front of her. She suspected that other families were looking at her and she hated it. Hated that she had been seen. Hated that the secret was out. Not that she couldn’t wolf out but the secret that her mother couldn’t love her right. She couldn’t explain this away. She couldn’t protect her mother from others knowing the truth. That her mother had hurt her. That she was hurt.

She needed to get away. Something her feet seemed to know before her head did because when she looked up, she was nearly to the trail entering the arboretum. She took long strides, not quite running, as the tears came. The trees wrapped around her and shielded her from the world. Here she was alone. Here she was safe. The sounds of the birds and the creek and the wind in the trees told her that she could cry here. No one would know. They would keep her secret. Nature offered her the comfort it could. No one would see her. No one would hear her. And no one would hold her either.

She found her bench by the creek and curled up on it, wrapping her arms around herself. Tears streamed down her face and her body shook with sobs. She had never felt pain like this before. She thought she knew how her mother felt about the fact that she hadn’t wolfed out. But lycanthropy camps? She had to know how controversial those were. How dangerous they were. She thought she knew her mother. But the mom she knew - even if she was ashamed of Enid - wouldn’t try to send her to one of those camps.

“Enid?”

Enid gasped in surprise and quickly scrubbed her face, trying to hide the evidence of her tears. That was Wednesday’s voice. She hadn’t heard her coming but here she was, only a few feet behind her. Enid uncurled herself and twisted in her seat to look at Wednesday, forcing a watery smile.

“Hey, Wednesday,” her voice was paper thin. She knew she must have looked a mess but she hoped she could at least come across as having been crying and not actively in the midst of falling apart.

Wednesday walked up to her side, her brow pinched as though in confusion. “I saw what happened.”

Enid looked down at her lap where she was absentmindedly picking at her nails. A knot of shame formed in her stomach. She hated being seen like that.

“I didn’t hear the details.” Wednesday paused and Enid couldn’t bring herself to look at her face. “Do you mind if I sit with you?”

Enid pulled her lip between her teeth as fresh tears welled in her eyes. She scooted over to make space for Wednesday who sat down next to her, facing the creek. Wednesday didn’t say anything and Enid didn’t know what to say. Words formed and dissipated like snowflakes falling on her tongue. She wanted to say something but the desire to tell the truth was at war with the desire to hide it. To deny it. She couldn’t tell how long she sat there tongue-tied. Long enough for her sleeves to become wet with tears and then dry again. Long enough for her head to go fuzzy. When the words finally came, it felt like someone else had said them.

“She wants to send me to lycanthropy camp.” She cut herself on the words as she spoke them and she began to cry again.

Wednesday stiffened and turned her head to look at her. “That won’t happen,” she stated, certainly.

Enid let out a humorless laugh in response and the furrow of Wednesday’s brow deepened.

“I won’t allow that to happen. My family and I would kidnap you if she tried.”

Enid couldn’t help smiling at Wednesday’s earnestness. “I know you would,” she assured and Wednesday relaxed slightly. “It’s not that she’s going to, it’s that she wants to.” She struggled with her words again but, now that the truth was out, they came a little easier. “It’s just… I thought I knew her. I thought I knew how she felt about me. I mean, I knew I was this big disappointment but I didn’t think she hated me.”

Then the question Enid didn’t know she needed to ask fell from her lips like a Prince Rupert’s drop.

“Why am I not enough for her?”

And she shattered. Heaving sobs racked her body as she gasped for breath through her tears. She was so lost in her pain that she hardly registered the arms wrapping around her and pulling her into a hug. Desperately, she returned it, grasping at Wednesday’s back and burying her face in her neck.

She cried for the relationship she lost that she was afraid she never had. She cried for the late nights outside under the moonlight, wrapped in blankets against the cold. She cried for the hours spent reading subreddits and listicles and goop-y blog posts. For every disappointed sigh and disapproving scowl. For every “Can we listen to something else?” and “Actors will do anything if you pay them.” Every unnoticed compromise and undeserved excuse. For the sticky notes and trees and songs that comforted her when no one else could because no one else was allowed to see the secret, unlovable parts of her. She cried for all of it.

Why was she not enough for her mother when she tried so hard to be the daughter she wanted? When she folded herself up into the shape of something easy to love and tucked away the rest? Why, when she was enough once? When she was a child sitting by the campfire. When did she stop being that child?

Slowly, after a lifetime of tears, the storm began to clear and her sobs gave way to sniffles. The wool of Wednesday’s coat was damp beneath her cheek and the smell of ink and pine wrapped around her. She felt Wednesday’s hands pressed firmly against her back and her cheek against her hair. She could hear Wednesday’s heartbeat from this close. She didn’t want to pull away from this comfort but she didn’t think she could stay there forever.

She waited until her breath had evened out and then she waited a moment longer. She wondered if Wednesday would pull away from her at some point but she never did and Enid fell that much more in love with her.

With one last steadying breath, Enid slowly pulled out of the embrace. Not quite able to meet Wednesday’s eyes, Enid brushed her fingers against the tear stained spot on Wednesday’s shoulder. “Sorry,” she murmured.

Wednesday’s gaze never waivered. She only looked intently at Enid before she spoke. “You are worth so much more than your mother’s expectations. You are not a disappointment. She is.”

As difficult as it was to make eye contact with her a moment before, Enid couldn’t look away from Wednesday now.

“And,” she continued with a flicker of self-consciousness, “many people love you. Just as you are.”

Enid didn’t want to cry again - she was exhausted and she didn’t think she could possibly have any more tears to shed. But Wednesday was saying the things she so badly wanted to hear.

“I don’t suppose I could get another hug?” Enid’s voice trembled.

And Wednesday was leaning in immediately. This hug was different from the previous one. This time, Enid wasn’t overcome with grief but with love. She wasn’t clinging to Wednesday like a buoy in a storm but instead she held her tight like her love could press into her.

This time when they eased apart, they didn’t let go all the way. Wednesday’s hands rested on Enid’s arms and Enid’s were around Wednesday’s waist. Enid had never seen Wednesday from this close up before. Her dark brown eyes were so soft and open. She wanted to kiss her. She had thought about it before but never like this. She wanted to kiss her and she was here in her arms. The air between them vibrated with some unknown something and she wanted to kiss her. She wanted to kiss her. But she was afraid. She couldn’t handle another rejection today. She couldn’t stand to lose Wednesday.

Enid pulled away and looked down at her hands in her lap. “Thanks,” she murmured. When she glanced at Wednesday, she wasn’t looking at her and her expression was as neutral as ever. From this distance, her eyes didn’t look as soft or open as they did a moment ago.

“Don’t mention it,” Wednesday answered in typical Wednesday fashion.

Enid didn’t know what to do now. She had the distinct feeling like she had done something wrong. Had she made Wednesday uncomfortable? Enid had dumped all her shit on Wednesday and then asked for a hug. Of course Wednesday was uncomfortable. And then she sat there staring at her with her arms around her waist. Did Wednesday know what she was thinking?

“I um,” Enid hesitantly got to her feet. “I think I’m going to go back to our room.” She needed to get out of there.

Wednesday nodded in response, still not looking at her. Enid couldn’t read her. She looked almost sad, if Enid had to guess. Part of her wanted to comfort Wednesday or distract her or something but she was too wrapped up in the mess of her own emotions to do anything but run away. She had to leave. She had to hide.

She ran through the arboretum, avoiding the green, and up to the dorms. She ran past Usher Hall where Xavier was likely still playing video games. She ran past Bianca's room and then Yoko’s in Ophelia Hall. She ran all the way until she was inside her own room.

As she hurried to hide in her bed, she ran past her pothos propagations by the window and, in her carelessness, knocked the little ceramic cup to the ground, shattering it and spilling its contents. She looked down at the mess she had made and softly sat down on her bed, stunned. Tears filled her eyes again and again she fell into great gasping sobs. She felt so small. So pathetic. So tired. She wasn’t good enough for her mom, she wasn’t good enough for Wednesday, and she wasn’t even good enough for a couple of stolen leaves.

And the weekend wasn’t even over yet.

Chapter Text

Slowly, Enid’s sobs quieted into sniffles and the tears stopped flowing down her cheeks. They always did, one way or another. She looked at the puddle of water on the floor seeping into the floorboards and the ceramic shards and her precious pothos propagations scattered about. And she got up because she had to. She carefully stepped around the broken pieces of her cup and grabbed the wastepaper basket from under her desk and set to gathering the shards. Then she grabbed a towel from the bathroom and mopped up the water. She needed a new container for her propagations and eventually found a mug that Wednesday had let her borrow a while ago. Enid filled it with water, placed the propagations inside, and set them back in their spot by the window.

“Sorry about that,” she murmured to the little plants.

They seemed so fragile to Enid and she worried about them but Bianca had assured her that they were stronger than they looked. Enid had seen Bianca’s plant collection and trusted that she knew what she was talking about but she still worried.

Enid sat back on her bed and glanced about her room. Her eyes landed on the sticky notes on her mirror and she did a few breathing exercises. She still felt sad but it wasn’t as sharp as it was a few moments before. Enid reached for her phone to check her texts. She was afraid that her friends might have seen what happened at the picnic but when she saw that she had no messages from her friends, she was surprised to feel disappointed. She didn’t want her friends to worry about her, she didn’t want the fight with her mom to be witnessed, so why was she disappointed? How could they reach out to her if they didn’t know what happened?

Enid pulled up Yoko’s contact and started typing a text. “I had a huge fight with my mom” delete. “My mom said something really fucked up” delete. “What do you know about lycanthropy camps?” delete. If it had been something smaller - if it had been Esther’s usual judgy shit - Enid wouldn’t be struggling so much. But this was too big and she still felt too fragile. She wanted to have a little more distance from it, to pull herself back together a bit more, before telling her best friend.

Enid tossed her phone aside and started setting up a nest to watch Netflix on her laptop. She propped pillows up against the headboard behind her, dug out her box of peanut butter pretzel bites, and pulled her comforter up over her knees. She was halfway through an old episode of The Great British Bake Off when her phone buzzed with a text to the group chat.

Yoko: Day one over! Everybody make it??

Xavier: Kent and Ajax stopped by for a bit and we got stoned and played mario kart so I’m having a great parents weekend

Divina: I was wondering where Kent went after lunch lol

Enid considered her phone for a while trying to decide what to say. Eventually she just laugh reacted to Xavier’s text and resumed watching her show.

The bakers were slowly eliminated one soggy bottom at a time and the sun had long since set before the door of her room creaked open. Enid’s heart skipped a beat but, instead of the brooding goth she had been expecting, Thing crawled inside dragging a takeout container in a plastic bag hooked on his stump. Enid paused her show as he approached her.

“Hey, Thing.”

“Hey, Enid,” he signed. “Have you eaten?”

Enid sheepishly held up the box of peanut butter pretzel bites in answer.

“So that’s a no.” Thing dragged the bag as close to Enid’s bed as he could manage. “Wednesday won’t be back until late but she said you were probably skipping dinner so she asked me to bring you this.”

Enid replaced her laptop with the takeout container and Thing crawled up onto her bed. Opening the box, she saw that Wednesday had gotten her a burrito.

“Carne asada from Roberto’s,” Thing provided helpfully.

“My favorite.” Enid looked up at the ceiling and sighed, willing tears away.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” asked Thing.

“Today just really sucked. And then Wednesday got me my favorite burrito after…” Enid trailed off, unsure of how much she wanted to share with Thing. “I saw you at the picnic on the green earlier,” Enid prompted.

“Yeah.” Thing hesitated a moment. “I didn’t really hear anything but it looked like you and your mom got into it?”

Enid picked at the foil covering her burrito, slowly peeling it away. “Yeah, well. Let’s just say, I’m not coming out to her anytime soon,” she said with a humorless laugh.

“Shit.” Thing shifted, clearly unsure of what to say. “You know, there’s this idea of reframing ‘coming out’ as ‘inviting in’ that I think is really powerful where-”

“Thing?” Enid interrupted and Thing stilled to let her speak. “I know info-dumping is kinda your love language and all but I think I just want to be sad for a bit and watch GBBO. Okay?”

Thing shook his fist in the affirmative. “Of course.”

Enid rearranged her setup so Thing could watch with her and she could eat her burrito. Together they commented on the baker’s creations, speculating on who would win star baker and who would be going home. They wondered aloud about what a pudding actually was and why chocolate week was always on the hottest day of the year. And they both flinched in unison when one of the bakers dropped a sugar sculpture that was crucial to their design.

Eventually, after one episode ended and autoplay had not yet started the next, Enid murmured, “I just don’t know what I’m gonna do when I see her tomorrow.” And Thing simply held her hand.

When it was finally time for bed, Enid cleaned up her nest of pillows and blankets, tossed the takeout container, and put away her laptop. She was nervous about seeing Wednesday again and she couldn’t help thinking that Wednesday was staying out late so she could avoid her. She turned that moment over in her mind. She felt certain that she had messed up but she wasn’t sure how. Had she done too much or not enough? Could Wednesday tell that she wanted to kiss her and that made her uncomfortable? Or was she disappointed that Enid had pulled away?

Enid groaned and pulled her blanket over her head. She had known for weeks that Parents’ Weekend was going to suck but this was ridiculous.

Eventually, she managed to fall asleep but once again, when the first glimmer of consciousness reached her mind the following morning, anxiety for the day to come woke her right up. Rolling over to find her phone on her nightstand, Enid saw that it was only six o’clock. Everyone participating in the talent show was expected to get there by nine for sound check and setup. That left her three hours to catastrophize about everything that could go wrong.

Enid heard the quiet rustling of sheets from the other side of the room and turned to see Wednesday getting out of bed. Their eyes met and Wednesday stilled, legs hanging off the edge of her mattress. “You’re awake.”

Enid moved to sit up, leaning against her headboard. “Yeah, nervous for the day I guess.”

Wednesday nodded before slowly resuming her routine. Enid couldn’t tell if things were actually awkward between them or if it was just her. Unable to bear the quiet, she spoke, “Are you doing anything before the talent show?”

Wednesday paused her rummaging through her wardrobe. “I’m getting breakfast with my family.”

“Oh right, breakfast.” Enid had forgotten about breakfast. She had ensured that her family knew she wouldn’t be able to meet them before the show but she had forgotten to come up with a plan to feed herself while avoiding the cafeteria.

Wednesday seemed to read the conflict on Enid’s face. “Join us.”

“Oh, no that’s alright,” Enid hedged. “I don’t want to intrude on your time with your parents.”

“It was their idea. I insist.” Wednesday spoke in that impenetrable way of hers that even Enid had trouble reading.

“Are you sure? Because -”

“Enid,” Wednesday growled.

“Sorry,” Enid said, bashfully. “Thanks.”

Wednesday resumed getting ready for the day. “Lurch will pick us up at seven.”

The two moved around each other in the practiced dance of people who have shared a bathroom for months, squeezing past each other in door frames and pointing out misplaced sneakers. It was just like any of their other mornings together at Nevermore but Enid couldn’t shake the feeling that something was unresolved between them now - diminished.

Enid was grateful when seven rolled around because she could focus on something other than this feeling of tension between them.

When a black hearse rolled up in front of the school gates, Enid felt a little foolish for not expecting as much. What else would the Addams family drive? A range rover? The back doors opened and out clambered Pugsley followed by Gomez, who held his hand out for Morticia to elegantly exit the vehicle.

“Wednesday!” Gomez greeted enthusiastically. “My little storm cloud!” He went in for a hug that Wednesday stepped back to avoid. Gomez took the rejection with a good natured chuckle and directed his attention to Enid. “And Enid! It’s good to see you again.”

“Hi Mr. Addams. It’s good to see you too,” Enid smiled.

“Please, call me Gomez. Will you be joining us for breakfast?”

“If that’s alright with you?” she asked.

“We would be delighted to have your company, dear,” Morticia supplied.

“Are we eating in the cafeteria again?” asked Pugsley.

“Dim sum at Jade Garden,” said Wednesday as she walked past her family and into the back of the hearse.

Gomez and Pugsley followed after her. “Yes! We have to get xiao long bao!” called Pugsley.

Morticia gently looped her arm with Enid’s and began leading them to the car. “I’m so glad you decided to join us today. We hardly got to talk at all yesterday.”

“Oh, yeah.” Enid recalled how she had cut the conversation short at the first sign that Esther might start openly criticizing Enid in front of the Addamses. “We had a pretty busy schedule yesterday.”

Morticia only hummed in response as they took their seats in the back of the hearse - Gomez and Morticia on one side and Pugsley, Wednesday, and Enid on the other. Enid knew that at least Wednesday and Thing had seen the fight she had with her mom but if any of the other members of the Addams family had seen anything, they didn’t let on. The not knowing left her feeling uneasy. Enid tried to focus on the conversation happening around her but her anxiety made it difficult to stay present.

“Are you excited for the talent show?” Morticia asked, her intense eyes landing on Enid.

“Oh yeah. A bit nervous, I guess.” Enid studied her hands in her lap. She was nervous for the show and she was nervous about everything around the show. She worried about what her mom would think of her performance and if she would get it. She worried about lunch afterwards. Would her mom want to talk about the fight or try to pretend that it never happened? Would she apologize for her behavior? Or would she think that Enid owed her an apology?

“We are more than adequately prepared,” stated Wednesday.

“I’m sure you two will bring down the house!” Gomez remarked, to which Pugsley perked up.

“He’s speaking metaphorically,” Wednesday clarified and Pugsley slumped in evident disappointment.

Soon enough, they arrived at Jade Garden and had little trouble getting a table, having beaten the brunch rush. Wednesday immediately took up the menu and pencil and began marking down their order before holding it out to the rest of the table. “Objections?” she asked.

“You did two orders of xiao long bao and siu mai, right?” asked Pugsley.

“Three.”

Lurch groaned in approval. Morticia and Gomez glanced over her work and nodded. “Oh good, they have mapo tofu,” observed Morticia. “Enid, if you haven’t tried sichuan peppercorns, their numbing quality is divine.”

Wednesday passed the menu to Enid for her inspection. “Looks good to me. Yoko and Divina are the foodies so I usually just let them pick. I don’t really know what stuff is called but dim sum is always good.” Enid handed back the menu.

“Do you know what any of your preferred dishes look like?” asked Wednesday.

Enid considered her answer for a moment. She was sure that whatever Wednesday ordered would be fine but she tried to consider if there was anything that she actively wanted. “There are these fried rice ball things stuffed with red bean paste and they have sesame seeds on the outside?”

“Jian dui,” Wednesday said as she added them to their order. “Anything else?”

Everyone at the table was watching her but they seemed perfectly happy to wait. No one seemed to be annoyed with her. If she were with her family, they would have already ordered by now but the odds that Enid’s preferences would be heard were slim. Wednesday watched her patiently. She seemed to have endless patience where Enid was concerned and it warmed her heart. Even after what happened last night, she was still such a steady presence for her. Finally, Enid answered, “Those steamed pork buns?”

“I’ll add a second order.”

Enid smiled as she watched her work. “I think that’s it for me.”

Wednesday passed their order to the waitress when she came by and soon steamer baskets of dumplings and bowls of noodles and rice dishes were set on the lazy susan in the middle of the round table. Gomez and Pugsley went straight for the xiao long bao as soon as they came out. Enid nearly followed their example when Wednesday informed her that her father and brother liked to eat the soup dumplings immediately because they enjoyed the burn of boiling broth on their tongues. Enid heeded her advice and sipped her tea as she waited.

Morticia eyed the two girls over her own cup of tea. “I am terribly excited to see you two at the talent show today. I must say I was surprised to hear that Wednesday would be performing.”

Wednesday chose that moment to take a large bite of mapo tofu, clearly in defiance of her mother. Enid gave a nervous chuckle, “Well I had been planning to do the show and was practicing the song for a while when I heard Wednesday playing it on her cello. And then she suggested we do the talent show together. I was surprised too but I wasn’t going to question it.”

Morticia watched her daughter with a knowing grin. “Well, we’re all excited to cheer you on.”

“That’s right!” Gomez chimed in. “We’re proud of you both just knowing the hard work you’ve put in! And I can’t wait to see you two on stage.”

Enid murmured a self-conscious “Thanks” and turned her focus back to her breakfast. The topic of the talent show had come up with her own family and her parents had said how much they looked forward to it but Gomez and Morticia’s support seemed more heartfelt. Like the Addamses just had more capacity for it.

The conversation meandered on amiably from there, with Thing catching up with the rest of the Addamses and Wednesday interpreting Lurch’s groans for Enid. Breakfast was lively and comfortable even as conversation took the occasional macabre turn. References to Wednesday and Pugsley’s time at summer camp in particular raised questions that Enid wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answers to.

Bellies full, the group made their way back to Nevermore. When they arrived, it was just about time for Wednesday and Enid to get to the theater for sound check. Lurch parked the car and they walked together all the way to Ophelia Hall.

“This is where Enid and I leave you,” Wednesday announced as she turned to look at her family.

“Of course, my little scorpion. I cannot wait to see your performance!”

Morticia smiled at the two girls. “Break a leg.”

Wednesday’s expression turned devious. “She’s speaking metaphorically,” Pugsley gloated.

Wednesday’s smile dropped. “Perhaps I should break both of your legs. How’s that for a metaphor?”

Gomez wrapped an arm around Morticia’s waist who leaned her head on top of his and the two watched their children fondly.

The Addams family was undoubtedly strange but Enid couldn’t help the affection she felt for them. Every one of them was unabashedly themselves and they clearly loved each other for it. And spending time with them, she could feel how easily they extended that love to others.

“Thanks again for letting me join you for breakfast.”

“Of course, Enid! We were delighted to have you,” Gomez answered enthusiastically.

“Always a pleasure, dear,” added Morticia.

Wednesday turned on her heel towards their dorm and Enid took that as her cue to bid the rest of the Addamses goodbye until after the show. Once back in their room, Enid touched up her makeup and checked her hair before they gathered up their things and headed towards the theater. Inside the theater, signs on printer paper were taped up to point students in the right direction, ultimately leading them backstage. There, Mrs. Omar, a petite siren music teacher, herded the twenty or so students who had signed up for the talent show. She held a clipboard in front of her and spoke with the tone and volume of someone who had significant experience organizing large groups of teenagers.

“Okay, everyone, programs for tonight can be found over on that table,” she said, gesturing to a folding table with stacks of programs as well as bottled water and bags of chips. “Those will tell you the order that everyone is going in.”

Enid picked up a program and flipped through it to see that she and Wednesday were one of the last acts to go on. She groaned, knowing that meant she had plenty of time for her anxiety to get the better of her.

“Make sure that you have everything you need for your act. If you left anything in your room that you’ll need for the show, now’s the time to get it.”

At this, a couple of students dashed out of the theater.

“Principal Weems will be announcing the performances. When she calls your name, you’re going to enter from stage left. When you finish your performance, you’re going to exit the way you came and then you’re going to wait back here until the show is over.”

Two more students joined the group.

“Welcome, I’ll go over everything again later. For sound check, we’re going to have everyone go up in order. This is not a rehearsal. We just want to make sure that the microphones are set to the right levels.”

Mrs. Omar began recapping for the students who joined late and everyone else started milling about the space. Enid checked the tuning on her ukulele and Wednesday did the same for her cello. That only killed about three minutes.

Enid sat in a folding chair, her knee bouncing rapidly. “Ugh, it’s an hour until the show and I’m already freaking out.”

Wednesday held out a water bottle for her, which she gratefully accepted. “Thanks.” She took a few sips and then started practicing as quietly as she could, singing under her breath and muting the strings with the heel of her strumming hand.

“Enid. You have no reason to be nervous.” Enid rolled her eyes but Wednesday continued. “You’ve been practicing for weeks. You could do this in your sleep.”

Enid gave Wednesday a little half smile. She appreciated that Wednesday was trying to comfort her even if calming her nerves was an impossible task. “Thanks, Wedns.”

Eventually, they were called up for sound check. The two gathered their instruments and walked out on stage. The auditorium looked huge from here.

“Okay,” Mrs. Omar sighed, checking her clipboard. “You two are performing a song?”

“Yeah,” answered Enid. “I’m going to be singing and playing the ukulele and Wednesday’s going to be playing the cello.”

“Got it.” Mrs. Omar set about arranging microphones and directed them to pull up a couple chairs that were already on stage. “Go ahead and play a bit.”

After playing a sample and making adjustments to their setup as necessary, Mrs. Omar was satisfied. She dismissed them and called up the next act. Enid looked out over the sea of seats one last time before they returned backstage.

“Do you think the whole auditorium will be full?”

“I expect so,” Wednesday answered.

Enid whimpered and went back to quietly practicing. Sound check wrapped up and all that was left was to wait for the show to begin. Nervous energy filled the space. Some students practiced, others talked excitedly with each other, a few focused on their breathing.

Fifteen minutes before the show was set to start, the doors opened and families and friends started filing in. Students were taking turns peaking out around the edges of the curtains and Enid joined in right away.

The Addams family was among the first to arrive and were able to grab seats right in the middle of the audience. Enid watched as more familiar faces appeared. Yoko, Divina, Bianca, and Xavier found seats together off to one side. She tried to wave to them but they didn’t see her.

Finally, she saw her own family arrive and take seats towards the back. Hunter, Morgan, Murray. But no Esther. Murray set his jacket down on the seat next to him presumably saving it for her.

Enid backed away from the edge of the curtain, giving another kid a chance to look. She went back to join Wednesday.

Her concern must have been evident on her face because Wednesday immediately asked her, “What’s wrong?”

“My dad and brothers are there but my mom’s not.” She shook her head, as though that would keep the bad thoughts out. “She must be running late.”

Wednesday only nodded in response.

Enid took a deep breath and rolled out her shoulders. “No, this is called ‘catastrophizing’. She’s just running late. She probably met a pack leader or somebody in the lobby. Everything’s fine.” Enid shook out her hands a few times. “I’m gonna do some box breathing.”

Mrs. Omar was now doing laps around backstage, checking that everyone had what they needed and ensuring that the first act up was ready to go. Soon, the house lights went down and the audience applauded as Principal Weems took the stage. After her opening remarks, she introduced the first act and the talent show officially began.

Enid returned to the spot off stage right that had become the de facto place to sneak peaks at the audience. It was harder to see without the house lights but Enid could still make out the spot where Esther should have been.

Enid tried to soothe or distract herself but the show had started and Esther still hadn’t come. She had to believe she was coming. Act after act went on stage and time was running out.

“Okay,” Mrs. Omar looked up from her clipboard. “Enid and Wednesday?”

“Here,” Enid said shakily.

Mrs. Omar smiled encouragingly. “You two are up next so grab your instruments and head over to the left wing. You got this.”

Enid nodded numbly and she and Wednesday slowly followed Mrs. Omar’s direction. 90’s hip hop played over the speakers as the act ahead of them, a break dancing gorgon, started her performance. Enid looked pale.

“Enid,” Wednesday asked quietly. “Are you alright?”

“She’s not coming.” The realization sank like a stone in Enid’s stomach. “She’s not running late or anything. We’re up next and she’s still not here.” Enid felt her breathing grow shorter as devastation transformed into panic. She kept her voice to a whisper but only barely. “She’s just not coming!”

What was the point of performing at all now? What was the point of all of the hours spent practicing? What was the point of agonizing over what to do for the show? What was even the point of ever learning how to play the ukulele in the first place?

She wound her arms around herself as she started having trouble catching her breath, which only made her panic more. She was having a panic attack, right here where anyone backstage could see. Right in front of Wednesday. This was a nightmare.

“I can’t do it,” she whispered. “I can’t do the show. I was gonna sing this stupid song and she was gonna hear it and get what I was saying and she was gonna get me and it’s all so stupid! I can’t believe I thought I could make her listen to me for once!”

Tears were streaming down her face and she was sure her makeup was ruined. Great. At least crying seemed to help with her breathing. Like it was bleeding off some of the panic. Some of it.

Wednesday carefully approached Enid and placed her hands on her arms.

“Enid, there’s a riddle you may be familiar with.”

“A riddle?” Enid asked, incredulously. Why would Wednesday be telling her a riddle right now?

“If a mountaineer dying of exposure in a vain attempt to summit Mount Everest uses his final breath to tell his family he loves them and no one is around to convey the message, does he make a sound?”

Enid shook her head, “I don’t think I’ve heard that one.”

“Oh,” Wednesday looked momentarily self-conscious before she continued on. “Well I mention it because, at the risk of sounding sentimental, I believe the mountaineer’s words did make a sound. Because, even though his words may not have been heard, they were still spoken. And perhaps that is what matters.”

Was Wednesday blushing? If she was trying to surprise Enid out of her panic attack, it seemed to be working. Wednesday was blushing and trying to make some point with riddles and dead mountaineers and Enid wasn’t spiraling so much anymore. Her breathing evened out and she could only watch mesmerized as Wednesday tried to comfort her.

Wednesday cleared her throat and continued, “If you don’t want to do the show I will support you. But just because you can’t make someone hear you, doesn’t mean you should be silent.”

Enid sniffled and took a few deep breaths as she processed Wednesday’s words. Applause sounded from the audience as the previous act finished.

“Up next,” Weems’s voice sounded over the speakers, “a musical performance by Enid Sinclair and Wednesday Addams.”

Cheers could be heard from the audience in anticipation, including a voice that could only be Yoko’s hollering, “Let’s go Enid!”

Enid scrubbed the tears from her face with her sleeve. She knew her makeup was a mess and her eyes were probably red and puffy. She didn’t know how her singing voice would sound. But looking at Wednesday, she could see the confidence she had in her. Wednesday knew that Enid could do it. And Enid trusted her.

She took one last steadying breath and nodded at Wednesday. “Let’s do it.”

The two picked up their instruments and walked out on stage. Under the stage lights, Enid could barely make out the faces of anyone in the audience. Another hoot from Yoko signaled her location in the crowd. Enid held a hand up to the lights and strained her eyes to see her friend. Yoko, Divina, Bianca, and Xavier, were all there smiling supportively. Dropping her hand, they disappeared into the glare of the lights but Enid felt a little braver knowing they were there.

Enid and Wednesday adjusted their microphones like they had during sound check and took their seats. When she was ready, Enid looked over at Wednesday and nodded. And with that, Wednesday began to play, just like they practiced. Enid followed with the ukulele and soon began to sing.

I’ve been having a hard time adjusting
I had the shiniest wheels, now they’re rusting
I didn’t know if you’d care if I came back
I have a lot of regrets about that

Her singing voice was a little shaky from the nerves of performing on stage and she definitely messed up her strumming pattern for a second but she was doing it. She was performing the song she had practiced for so long and it was terrifying but it was also exhilarating.

She looked over at Wednesday and, with the stage lights shining on them, she was the only person Enid could see. Wednesday was watching her and Enid noticed that when Wednesday looked at her, she didn’t feel scrutinized. She wasn’t afraid of Wednesday’s attention. She felt watched over. Cared for.

She knew that a whole auditorium of people were looking at her. People who knew that this weekend had been difficult for her and people who didn’t. People who supported her and people who were ready to leave. She hoped that they all liked her performance but if they didn’t, she was okay with that. Most of them didn’t know what this performance meant to her. Maybe none of them did. But she knew what it took to get her to this stage.

I just wanted you to know
That this is me trying
I just wanted you to know
That this is me trying

There was something about being on the performing side of a song. When Enid listened to music, she found her friends or her family or herself hidden in the lyrics and melodies, regardless of who the songwriter may have been calling out to. But on that stage, she was using her voice, sending out a wish to be heard, with no control over who would hear it and what it would mean to them. And it felt incredible.

Enid grew more comfortable in the performance. She was proud of what she and Wednesday had created. The chords Enid strummed on the ukulele were bright and earnest while the bassy tones of Wednesday’s cello danced from harmonizing with Enid’s voice to playing melodic interludes between verses.

She wished her mom was there. Esther was never going to have the opportunity to see this performance again. And she was missing out. Enid knew that now. It was Esther’s loss that she couldn’t see Enid for who she was. Because Enid was actually pretty great.

At least I’m trying

After a few more measures of ukulele and cello, the song ended with the final notes pulled from Wednesday’s bow hanging in the air. The audience cheered their performance and a bright smile lit up Enid’s face. Hopping to her feet, she gave a deep bow.

“That’s my best friend!” shouted Yoko. Enid turned in her direction and waved, bouncing on her toes. She felt electric. Somewhere along the way, Enid had forgotten that she wanted to do the talent show because she liked this sort of thing.

She turned to Wednesday only to see that she had already made her way off stage and was in the wings, setting down her cello. With one last wave to the audience, Enid rushed off stage and nearly tackled Wednesday into a hug.

“Wednesday!” Enid shouted, earning an aggressive hushing from other students who were nervously waiting their turn. “Sorry,” she mouthed over Wednesday’s shoulder.

Enid released Wednesday and took a step back to look at her. As usual, Wednesday’s face gave little away but Enid thought she could see the corners of her mouth threatening a smile.

“Bravo,” Wednesday whispered.

Enid bit her lip thinking about what she wanted to do. She was still riding the high from being on stage and decided to let it carry her forward.

Enid set her ukulele down on a nearby table and took one of Wednesday’s hands in hers. “Come with me for a second?” she asked quietly.

Wednesday nodded in response and Enid pulled her away from backstage, deeper into the building. She wasn’t entirely sure where she was taking Wednesday. She just wanted to find somewhere they could talk. Spotting one of the music department’s soundproofed rooms, Enid figured that was as good a place as any and ducked inside. A drum kit almost completely filled the little room but they squeezed in anyway.

Turning to look at Wednesday, her earlier excitement threatened to succumb to nervousness but it was now or never. Enid didn’t know if she would ever have the nerve to do this again and she didn’t want to hide anymore.

“Um, Wednesday?” she began tentatively. “I wanted to tell you…” She fidgeted with her fingers before clenching her fists at her sides and straightening her back. She had to just take the plunge. “I really like you! And I wanted to tell you last night but I got scared that you wouldn’t like me back and that you wouldn’t want to be my friend anymore or, like, would be grossed out or something which, like, I don’t actually think that you would think that but anyway I got scared so um I didn’t say anything. But I like you. Like… like like you.”

Wednesday nodded repeatedly in a way that Enid had never seen her do before. “I’m in love with you.”

“Oh, wow!” Enid answered, startled.

“Was that too much?” Wednesday frowned.

“Um, yeah, maybe a little bit. But would you wanna, like, go out sometime? You know, like, on a date?”

Wednesday nodded, again in that almost frantic manner. “I would like that very much, yes.”

“Awesome,” Enid smiled, still buzzing with excitement. And then, without thinking, she stepped into Wednesday’s space and pressed her lips against hers. The kiss ended as quickly as it began, as Enid stepped back again. “I’m so sorry! I should have asked, that was totally -” and she would have continued apologizing if Wednesday hadn’t stopped her with a kiss of her own.

The kiss was a little awkward. Enid had never kissed anyone before and she didn’t really know what she was doing. But it felt incredible. After pining after her roommate for what felt like an eternity, she finally plucked up the courage to tell her how she felt and she wasn’t rejected! Not only was she not rejected, she was kissing her!

Their arms tangled around each other in a loose embrace and slowly they allowed the kiss to break. Enid could feel Wednesday’s breath against her lips and could practically count each of the freckles on her nose.

“That was nice,” Enid whispered.

“It was,” answered Wednesday.

Enid had never been so happy as she felt in that moment. A smile took over her face and she squealed as she tightened her arms around Wednesday and playfully swayed her back and forth, almost immediately knocking them into the drum kit. She quickly released Wednesday to still the ringing symbols and check that she hadn’t caused any real damage. When she looked back at Wednesday, she was grinning at her, teasingly.

“We should probably go back to the theater,” Enid deflected and ushered Wednesday out of the little room. Once out in the hallway, Wednesday reached out her hand and Enid gladly took it.

The show was nearly over by the time they made it back to the theater. Enid went to the bathroom to fix her makeup while Wednesday packed their instruments into their respective cases. The two of them waited backstage with the rest of the students and stole glances at each other. Eventually the show wrapped up and they all went out to find their families and friends.

In the chaos of movement, Enid and Wednesday found their friends first. Yoko wrapped Enid up in a crushing hug, lifting her in the air for a moment before putting her back down on her feet.

“Dude, you were amazing! I’m so proud of you!”

“Thanks,” Enid laughed.

“Yeah, who’d have thought the ukulele and cello would go so well together,” Divina added, giving Enid a meaningful look.

Enid flustered and glanced at Wednesday to see if she caught Divina’s implication. Wednesday was scowling at Divina, annoyed. One of the students leaving the theater bumped into the large cello case strapped to Wednesday’s back, jostling her. She turned to Enid. “I’ll be outside,” she said and walked away. Enid smacked Divina’s arm once Wednesday was out of sight.

“You did great,” offered Bianca, warmly.

“Yeah, great song choice too,” Xavier smiled.

“Thanks guys.” All of this praise paradoxically felt good and she was ready for it to be over. Perhaps sensing this, the group began to dissolve as they found other friends in the crowd, leaving only Yoko with Enid.

“Hey, I haven’t seen you all weekend!” Yoko began. “How are you doing? Is Esther behaving herself?”

Enid hesitated a moment but decided to answer honestly. Grimacing, she explained, “Actually, she said some pretty fucked up stuff yesterday and we got into kind of a huge fight about it.”

A look of concern took over Yoko’s expression. “Oh my god, are you okay?”

“Not really,” Enid shook her head. “Maybe we can talk about it later?”

“Of course,” Yoko said, pulling Enid into a hug. The thought of decompressing with her best friend instead of just being sad alone didn’t sound quite as scary as it had the previous night.

“I also have some good news,” she said, pulling out of Yoko’s arms. She wanted to watch her reaction for this part.

“Oh yeah?”

“I told Wednesday I liked her and then we made out about it!” Enid did her best not to actually scream as she said it.

“Enid!” Yoko gripped Enid by the shoulders and shook her. “That’s awesome! I’m so proud of you!” Yoko exclaimed, pulling Enid into another hug. Enid laughed and squeezed her friend tight before releasing her.

“It was kinda awkward but also perfect.”

“Oh my god you have to tell me everything!”

Enid spotted her dad and her brothers over Yoko’s shoulder as they filed out of the theater and came back down to earth, knowing that she would have to see them.

“I will,” Enid promised. “But right now, I have to go talk to my dad.”

“Yeah, for sure.” Yoko gave Enid’s arm a supportive squeeze as she walked away.

Enid filed outside and quickly spotted her dad and her brothers. Esther was still nowhere to be found. Murray fidgeted with his car keys in a clear sign that he was ready to get going.

“Hey, dad.”

“Hey, kiddo,” he said, pulling her into a hug that she halfheartedly returned. “You did a great job up there.”

Enid nodded, taking a step back. “Mom couldn’t make it?”

“Yeah,” Murray frowned and looked away. “She uh, she was feeling a bit under the weather this morning. Said she’d meet us at the steakhouse.”

“Right.” Enid didn’t try to pretend like she believed him. “Well, she’ll meet you there. I’m gonna get lunch with some friends.”

“You’re not gonna to say goodbye to her?” His watery blue eyes always looked a little sad but now they looked anxious too.

Enid shook her head. “She could have been here today if she wanted to be. She missed out.”

“No, honey, she’s just not feeling well,” he insisted.

Enid sighed, “Dad, I wish you stood up for me half as much as you stand up for her.”

Murray could do little more than cast his eyes down in shame.

Tears welled in Enid’s eyes and her voice came out choked, “It just really sucks.”

Murray nodded and worked his jaw. He roughly scrubbed a hand across his eyes and sniffled as he spoke. “I’m sorry, Enid.” He couldn’t seem to bring himself to look at her, his eyes darting away when he tried. Hunter and Morgan were listening to the conversation from the sidelines and looked similarly ashamed.

Enid took a deep breath before speaking again. “Bye, dad.”

As she took a step away, Murray spoke up, “We’ll talk soon?”

It was an odd question coming from someone who hardly talked at all. “I’ll call you,” she answered.

“I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too, dad.”

Enid looked over the faces of her family. She saw confusion, frustration, shame. She didn’t blame her brothers for not standing up for her when her mom criticized her, though she wished that they would. Her dad was a different story. Her family was miserable despite everything they had. But this had been a group project. The limits of her mom’s love were where it all started. Limits that may have gone undiscovered if Enid had wolfed out a few years ago but that would have existed all the same. But they were all a part of this mess. Every time they failed to push back on Esther, they were complicit in the harm she did. Enid just didn’t want to be complicit in the harm done to herself anymore.

Enid remembered a conversation she had with Bianca the day they ditched school. Enid was worried that she might have hurt the plant she took the cutting from. That she might have damaged it permanently. Bianca assured her that it would be fine and then explained that pruning plants can help them stay healthy.

“Plants in the wild are grazed on and take damage over the course of their lives,” she had explained. “Pruning simulates that and it often actually helps the plant grow as a result.”

Enid wanted to protect her mom because she loved her. But protecting her from growth wasn’t love. She had to walk away this time. To love her mom and to love herself, she had to let Esther experience the consequences of her actions. Even if it hurt.

Walking back towards the theater, Enid quickly spotted the Addams family. They were hard to miss. But they weren’t alone. Standing with them were her friends. Yoko and Divina were chatting with Morticia, Bianca seemed to be discussing fencing with Gomez based on the fighting stance he had taken, and Xavier was looking very concerned talking with Pugsley.

Wednesday was the first to see Enid as she approached and a small but undeniable smile spread across her lips. This unusual behavior drew the group’s attention enough to see what Wednesday was looking at and soon they were all greeting Enid as she joined them.

Enid remembered Wednesday’s words from the previous night. “Many people love you. Just as you are.” And in that moment, she believed it.