Chapter 11 #4
Anya [9:48pm]: Oh my god no they LOVED it, my mom thought the cupcakes were so cute. I can’t believe you still had her Tupperware from Vegas
Anya [9:51pm]: It’s just unbelievably funny that you brought the one food we can’t eat on Passover to a seder
Gabe [9:54pm]: So stupid
Gabe [9:54pm]: Glad they’re not mad
Anya [9:54pm]: No one’s mad
Anya [9:55pm]: And my dad says sorry he gave you the hardest part in Echad Mi Yodea and if you study up on your Hebrew you’ll do a better job next year
Anya [9:55pm]: (You did a fine job, he is very much joking, I told him this message would freak you out but he insisted I send it verbatim)
Gabe [9:59pm]: Sorry almost at the airport
Anya [10:00pm]: Oh. Okay!
Anya [10:00pm]: It was great to see you
WhatsApp transcript: Anya Katz and Simone Humphrey
April 4, 3:21 a.m.
Anya: Sorry, I know it’s late (/early?) but hopefully you have your phone on silent?
Anya: I’ve been crying in my childhood bedroom for hours, I’m kind of delirious
Anya: So I saw Gabe tonight, obviously
Anya: I don’t know what I thought was going to happen, I knew he was only going to be here for a couple of hours, and that my whole family would be here too, I knew we weren’t going to be able to really talk about anything.
Not that we necessarily have anything to really talk about?
But like, I don’t know. This was my first time seeing him since Zeke.
And I know you hate it when Gabe gets all flirty with me on text, but Simone, I love it.
I love it more than I’ve ever loved, like anything?
Maybe? And I know he has a girlfriend, so that probably makes me a terrible person, but he never talks about her?
I guess on some level I thought that after Zeke and I broke up, Gabe and Tallulah would too.
Which I know that’s stupid. Obviously that didn’t happen.
But I thought, if we saw each other in person, and if it was the same like it is on text, or on the phone even… I thought it would be undeniable.
Anya: But it wasn’t
Anya: Like it was fine, it was great to see him
Anya: And however handsome I remember him being, in person it’s always more
Anya: But he was just…friendly
Anya: And almost standoffish? Something was definitely weird
Anya: It just felt different. It felt, not like us, I guess
Anya: I don’t know. Maybe I’ve blown this whole thing up in my head to be something it isn’t
Anya: You’re right that I shouldn’t text him so much. I did this to myself
Text message transcript: Walt and Judy Katz
April 5
Walt [3:34pm]: Can you pick up some apples on your way home? We’re out
Judy [3:36pm]: I’m gonna talk to her
Walt [3:36pm]: Judy, no
Judy [3:36pm]: I have to. I can’t live like this
Walt [3:37pm]: We discussed this!
Judy [3:37pm]: You discussed it! At no point did I agree
Walt [3:37pm]: Anya and Gabe’s lives are not our business
Judy [3:38pm]: She’s my child, of course her life is my business
Judy [3:38pm]: They’re being idiots, someone has to talk sense to her
Judy [3:38pm]: She was moony-eyed when he was here and she’s been miserable since he left
Judy [3:39pm]: She never got that way about Zeke. Never. Not once.
Walt [3:39pm]: I’m not saying you’re wrong
Judy [3:40pm]: Does she think this happens all the time? It certainly never happened for my sister
Walt [3:41pm]: That boyfriend of hers is such a schmuck
Judy [3:41pm]: You’re telling me, did you see him filling his bag of leftovers?
Judy [3:41pm]: He took groceries from our fridge!
Judy [3:42pm]: I bet that’s why we’re out of apples
Walt [3:42pm]: So you are gonna get the apples?
Judy [3:43pm]: I’m saying, her whole life, I’ve wanted Anya to find what we have
Judy [3:43pm]: I know she doesn’t need to. She’s a strong girl, she’ll be happy no matter what
Judy [3:44pm]: But then I see someone who loves her the way we do, and she clearly loves him back
Judy [3:45pm]: And they’re not together?
Judy [3:45pm]: I can’t understand it
Walt [3:45pm]: We don’t know the full picture
Walt [3:46pm]: And we know he has that other girlfriend, the kitesurfer, what’s her name
Judy [3:47pm]: Tallulah. Ridiculous name. What is she, a character in a Tennessee Williams play?
Walt [3:47pm]: If you hate her so much you could stop watching every single one of her videos
Judy [3:48pm]: I’m invested! My daughter is involved!
Walt [3:48pm]: Okay, mother of the year
Walt [3:48pm]: Can you get the apples or should I go?
Judy [3:49pm]: I’ll get them. I’ll be home by 6
Walt [3:49pm]: Thank you, my love
Judy [3:49pm]: This conversation isn’t over by the way
Walt [3:50pm]: That’s the best part of being married to you
Walt [3:50pm]: It never is
WhatsApp message transcript: Anya Katz and Simone Humphrey
October 8, 8:41 p.m.
Simone: Hey, can you talk for a sec or are you working?
Anya: I can multitask, what’s up?
Simone: I have something to ask you
Simone: Something I am VERY AGAINST, for the record
Simone: But I promised Kira I would ask so here I am
Anya: Okay genuinely worried over here. What’s going on?
Simone: Gabe wants to know if he can come to New Orleans
Anya: After the election? Isn’t he going somewhere with Tallulah?
Simone: Apparently not
Anya: …
Anya: What aren’t you saying?
Simone: Their relationship hasn’t been going well lately
Simone: For a while, actually
Simone: And it would be one thing if he told you himself, but he hasn’t, which I actually respect
Simone: I didn’t want to tell you because he toys with your emotions enough without me getting involved
Anya: Okay
Anya: Are they broken up?
Simone: No
Simone: He’s deciding whether he wants to go see her for Christmas
Simone: Which is why I adamantly do not think he should come to New Orleans
Simone: Because I already know what you’re thinking, which is “if Gabe and I see each other in New Orleans, won’t that potentially sway his decision about whether he breaks up with Tallulah?”
Simone: And that’s trash
Simone: Absolute trash
Anya: That is extremely what I was thinking
Anya: And you’re right, it’s trash
Anya: It’s…also kind of trash that he didn’t ask me this himself?
Simone: He was nervous to talk to you
Simone: He thinks you’re mad at him
Anya: I’m not
Anya: It’s just easier, when we don’t talk as much
Simone: I know, babe
Simone: So can I tell Kira he shouldn’t come?
Anya: I don’t know
Anya: Let me think about it a little, okay?
Simone: Of course
Simone: Take your time
Text message transcript: Walt and Anya Katz
October 11
Walt [2:47am]: Hi hon. I’ve tried calling a couple of times, but it went to voicemail
Walt [2:48am]: Please call me as soon as you see this
Walt [2:48am]: It’s your mother