Big Little Lies

Jane is ready to go to the book club, when Miss Barnes calls her. Miss Barnes informs Jane about the petition, and Jane is downtrodden. Miss Barnes assures Jane that, at least from what she’s seen, Amabella and Ziggy get along, are even friendly with one another. Miss Barnes tries to comfort her, but Jane really knows “It was perfectly obvious she didn’t know what to do either” (270). After their phone call, Ziggy comes back into the room, tears streaming down his face. He is afraid no one will play with him anymore. 

With Perry out of town again, Celeste has a neighbor, the elderly Gwen, come babysit the boys so she can go to the book club. Before Celeste leaves, Gwen notices a bruise on Celeste’s arm, and Celeste lies and says it’s from playing tennis: “My doubles partner and I both went for the same shot” (273). Gwen suggests finding a new tennis partner. Celeste retorts that it was her fault too. Cryptically, Gwen replies “I bet it wasn’t” (273). Celeste realizes that in all the time she’s known Gwen, she has never heard Gwen mention having a husband. 

Ziggy continues to cry, telling his mom that kids are starting to not play with him. Chelsea, the teenage babysitter, knocks on the door. Consoling her son, Jane decides not to go to the book club, but pays Chelsea anyway. Moments later, Chelsea’s mother, Irene, comes back with the money, refusing to let Jane pay Chelsea.

Jane tells Irene about the problems Ziggy is having at school. Irene, having taught primary school for many years, doesn’t see Ziggy as the bullying type. Irene generalizes the issue as “Little kids, little problems” (276), which Jane finds irritating. As Irene leaves, Jane hears Ziggy crying in the other room. Hearing her son’s sobbing, Jane thinks “This was a grown-up type of crying: involuntary, soft, sad weeping” (276). Jane purposes they go spend the night with Ziggy's grandparents, which cheers him up. Jane suggests they eat snacks the whole way to her parents’ house.  

Celeste arrives at the book club. She is disappointed to find that the women are gossiping instead of talking about the book. The petition the conversation. Eventually, someone asks about Perry, as most of the book club attendees still haven’t met him. Celeste reiterates that Perry travels a lot for work but that he will be at the trivia night, which Perry is legitimately excited about. Celeste imagines that Perry will buy her an expensive necklace for her costume.

A testimonial at the end of the chapter states Celeste looked stunning at the trivia night and that the pearl necklace she had for her costume was extremely expensive. However, people saw a melancholy side of Celeste that night, too: “as if she’d seen a ghost. It’s almost like she knew something terrible was going to happen that night” (282). 

Madeline and Celeste continue to talk after everyone leaves the book club. Over tea, Madeline confesses to Celeste that she Googled the name of Ziggy’s father: Saxon Banks. Upon hearing the name, Celeste chokes on her tea. Shockingly, she tells Madeline that “Perry has a cousin called Saxon Banks” (284). Madeline is titillated by the news; she feels guilty, but the Saxon drama helps take her mind off her own problems with Abigail.

Celeste is conflicted. She always liked Saxon, finding him to be a kind man and devoted husband. She debates if she has an obligation to tell Perry. She worries that telling him will anger him and make things uncomfortable when Perry sees Jane at school functions. Madeline agrees. They will keep what they know about Saxon a secret from Perry and Jane. They both know there’s a chance Jane’s assaulter is another Saxon Banks, but still consider this Saxon to be the primary suspect. Madeline admits “I’m terrible at keeping secrets” to which Celeste replies “Really? […] I’m quite good at it” (287).

Celeste heads home and reflects on the last time she had seen Saxon: it had been at a wedding for another of Perry’s cousins. Celeste acknowledges the possibility of Saxon having a darker side like Perry. Reflecting on Saxon’s alleged violence, and Perry’s domestic abuse, Celeste wonders if “the two men share some sort of genetic mental disorder?” (289). Celeste wonders if she needs to warn Saxon's wife and help stop him from assaulting other women in the future.

Celeste arrives at home. Before going inside, Celeste examines a bruise on her arm and thinks “At least [Perry] wasn’t as bad as his cousin” (290). 

While Ziggy sleeps, Jane enjoys time with her parents and her brother, Dane. She decides to let Ziggy have the next day off school and wonders if they should move out of the Pirriwee area. She remembers the good things here: Blue Blues and Tom, her friendship with Madeline, Ziggy running and laughing on the beach. Reminiscing, Jane discovers “with a shock that some of the happiest moments of her life had taken place over the last few months” (292). At the end of the day, Jane wants to stay, and knows Ziggy wants to too.

Jane’s family reiterates that there’s no way Ziggy can be a bully. Jane’s mom, once again, suggests that Ziggy is the reincarnation of Jane’s grandfather, Poppy. Jane gets upset, finding the idea ridiculous, and almost tells them Ziggy’s father hurt her. She stops herself at the last moment. Jane lies, saying Ziggy’s father was a stranger, so it’s hard to tell what Ziggy did or did not inherit from him. Jane’s parents are willing to believe her, nodding. When Jane looks to her brother Dane, however, she sees “He wasn’t falling for the lie” (294). Nevertheless, Jane’s family collectively refuses to believe Ziggy is the bully, and Jane’s mother remains stubborn in her belief that Ziggy is a reincarnation of Poppy. 

Madeline realizes that Abigail being gone has made her responsibilities as a mother logistically easier. Regardless, she remains upset, and has resorted to constantly checking Abigail’s social media accounts. While browsing Abigail’s posts, Madeline notices a strange message from one of Abigail’s friends, Freya. Freya mentions a mysterious project Abigail is working on. Abigail tells Freya to be quiet, that the project is a secret. After seeing the timestamp of the comment, Madeline realizes Abigail is still awake.

Madeline sends Abigail a direct message to go to sleep, or she’ll be tired for her math tutor in the morning. Abigail responds that her dad cancelled the math tutor, electing to tutor her instead. Once again, fury overtakes Madeline. She calls Nathan, even though it’s around midnight. Nathan, tired and defensive, explains that the tutor wasn’t helping their daughter. Madeline scolds Nathan and informs him that Abigail is awake and online. Madeline yells “Is there any supervision in that house? Do you have any idea what she’s doing right now?” (300). Nathan promises to go check on her. Madeline wonders what other decisions Nathan is making about Abigail without talking to Madeline first.

Nathan hangs up. Madeline, on the other hand, throws her phone against the wall, and the screen cracks. 

At the school, Jane overhears two mothers gossiping about her and Ziggy. Jane approaches the women and firmly tells them “My son has never hurt anyone” (304), before turning and walking away. In a proceeding testimonial, a parent says that after Jane confronted the two moms, people thought Jane might be mentally unstable.

Walking on the playground after, Jane feels better having said something to the other mothers: “Perhaps she needed to learn from Madeline’s example. No more avoiding confrontation” (305). Miss Barnes approaches Jane and informs her that a teacher’s aide has been assigned to the classroom; their job is solely to watch the children and hopefully get to the bottom of the bullying. 

Jane helps Miss Barnes and the children with reading time. After Celeste’s son Max reads, Amabella approaches Jane. Jane feels an urge to talk to Amabella about the petition but doesn't. Ominous testimonials serve as a scene break. Miss Barnes says, in hindsight, letting Amabella read to Jane was a mistake, foreshadowing the drama that is about to unfold. 

Amabella proceeds to read to Jane. Jane, despite her better judgement, can’t help herself from asking Amabella about Ziggy, which immediately upsets Amabella. She mutters, letting out a meek “It wasn’t...” (311). Jane presses her further, but Amabella starts to cry.

Harper approaches and tries to comfort Amabella. Jane insists everything is okay. The two have an argument. Harper doesn’t trust Jane as a mother. Jane demands Harper stop defaming her son. In frustration, Jane kicks at the sand on the playground, which Harper interprets as a threat. Then Stu, a stay-at-home dad volunteering at the school, awkwardly enters the scene, stalling Jane and Harper’s fight.