My family group chat has a secret second group chat.

The second one exists only to discuss what happens in the first one. Somehow I am an administrator in both.

My dad keeps pretending he does not understand emojis.

He absolutely understands them. He uses the confusion to avoid answering questions he dislikes.

My sister and I have been exchanging the same birthday card for nine years.

We cross out the old name, write the new one and add increasingly dramatic messages.

My family group chat has a secret second group chat — I still think about it.

This week, the second one exists only to discuss what happens in the first one. Somehow I am an administrator in both. I am sharing it here because my friends are tired of hearing about it.

My dad keeps pretending he does not understand emojis — I still think about it.

This week, he absolutely understands them. He uses the confusion to avoid answering questions he dislikes. I still laugh every time I pass the same spot.

My sister and I have been exchanging the same birthday card for nine years — I still think about it.

This week, we cross out the old name, write the new one and add increasingly dramatic messages. It has become one of those oddly specific local memories.

My family group chat has a secret second group chat — nobody knows the full story.

A while ago, the second one exists only to discuss what happens in the first one. Somehow I am an administrator in both. I am sharing it here because my friends are tired of hearing about it.

My dad keeps pretending he does not understand emojis — nobody knows the full story.

A while ago, he absolutely understands them. He uses the confusion to avoid answering questions he dislikes. I still laugh every time I pass the same spot.

My sister and I have been exchanging the same birthday card for nine years — nobody knows the full story.

A while ago, we cross out the old name, write the new one and add increasingly dramatic messages. It has become one of those oddly specific local memories.

My family group chat has a secret second group chat — and it happened again.

I have never admitted this, but the second one exists only to discuss what happens in the first one. Somehow I am an administrator in both. I am sharing it here because my friends are tired of hearing about it.