Queenie

For Queenie’s 26th birthday, her grandmother gives her a blank card with money in it and tells her that never saw a baby born with as much hair or worry as Queenie. She tells her grandmother that she wants Sylvie to be at her birthday.

Queenie recalls her 23rd birthday. She was hungover and jokingly blamed Tom for letting her drink too much. He joked that he liked it when she got drunk because her wall came down and she became “sweet.” They talked about getting married, and he told her that he’d always love her.

The Corgis chat group wishes Queenie a happy birthday. Diana cancels plans with her friends to hang out with Queenie while she takes a bath. Queenie says that she doesn’t really like birthdays, and Diana suggests that she try having fun more often because it might lift her spirits. Diana takes Queenie to a thrift store. Afterward, they get milkshakes and Queenie starts to wind herself up about how this isn’t what she imagined her life would be like at age 26. She starts to panic but tries to hide it. By thinking about her safe space, she successfully calms herself down.