The School for Good Mothers

The friendship between Frida, Meryl, and Beth is challenged because the staff is pitting women against each other in competition, awarding special privileges such as phone usage to those who finish at the top of their class. Frida’s phone privileges remain suspended because Ms. Torres claims that seeing Frida “retraumatizes” Harriet.

To begin Unit 3, “Reconditioning the Narcissist” (182), the instructors give the mothers smartphones and allow them to take their dolls outside. They can call people and use the internet but must stay accountable for the dolls, not get distracted, and use the same number of words with their dolls as they usually do. Frida leaves a voicemail for Gust, asking him to call her back. She plays in the amphitheater with Emmanuelle and teaches her about plants and seasons. Emmanuelle wants to live with Frida rather than in the equipment room. Frida calls her parents, who worry she’s too skinny and want to talk to Renee, but Frida refuses. When they ask who’s crying in the background (Emmanuelle), Frida claims it’s a recording.

The following day, Frida reaches Gust. Harriet claims to not remember her mother.