Frenching

How much do you say to a child, when you’re not the parent? In this work of philosophical short fiction, Mimi and her ten-year-old granddaughter Evelyn bake brownies and discuss “making out,” sparking Mimi to reflect on her own coming-of-age and evolving perspectives on relationships, sex, and parenting. As Evelyn navigates her first crush and seeks Mimi’s advice, the story gently contrasts Mimi’s upbringing, shaped by societal awkwardness and parental silence, with the more open, albeit sometimes over-analyzed, approach of Evelyn’s parents and their generation. Through warm humor and intergenerational dialogue, the story explores how societal norms and personal understanding of connection and intimacy shift over time.