The Strangers

The next morning, Finn wakes to the smell of French Toast, and he wonders if it’s a special occasion breakfast. As Finn and Emma try to rouse Chess from his bed, Finn notices dark circles under his eyes, like he hasn’t slept enough. Even when Chess tries to play along with Finn, something seems off: “He wasn’t just pretending or acting; it was more like he was pretending to pretend and acting like he was acting. He had layers. Lots of them” (28). When Finn asks his mother about the reason for the French Toast, he sees something similar in her face, like a brief peek behind a mask, and he thinks she might suddenly start crying. The moment lasts only a second, though, and she quickly reverts to her normal, cheerful self. She then announces that she has to fly to Chicago “for work.” When Chess asks when she’ll return, Finn senses an angry, challenging tone to the question. He is further unsettled when she doesn’t give them a straight answer. In the past, she always left a very specific itinerary with very specific contact information. Now, things are “a little up in the air” (30).