All the Other Mothers Hate Me

Florence arranges a date with Matt B., a married man with whom she has been having a casual affair. She leaves Dylan home alone. After dinner, Florence finds herself disgusted by her behavior and abruptly leaves the date before having sex with Matt. Florence gets on the night bus and sees Cleo, who is disheveled and drunk. Cleo shows Florence “a child’s drawing” with a note from Alfie (255), which she claims was sent to her by Alfie’s kidnapper two days prior (after Mr. Sexton’s arrest). She tells Florence that the police think it is a hoax, and they do not believe her claims that the note is authentic. She begs Florence to help her. After Cleo gets off the bus, Florence admits to herself that the note’s handwriting does resemble the handwriting Florence saw in Alfie’s journal, the one she burned.

The next morning, Dylan and Florence both sleep in, which is unusual for Dylan, who is typically an early riser. When Florence drops Dylan off at school, the other moms tell her that the school gala is going ahead as a memorial fundraiser for Alfie. When Florence asks if they have checked in on Cleo, they tell her it would not be “appropriate,” because “she’s threatened legal action against the school” (258).