Summary

Section One, “Bubbe Meise,” is narrated from the point of view of Rachel Shapiro, the 64-year-old mother of Aviva. Rachel is divorced and lives alone, and she works out every day doing Pilates. The section begins with Rachel telling us that her best friend, Roz Horowitz, had met her new husband online. Roz convinced Rachel to sign up and start dating online. Rachel went on two bad dates in the past, one with a man whose only offense was dirty fingernails, but then meets a nice man, Louis. They flirt and seem to get along, but then she tells him that she has a daughter named Aviva. He says that he likes the name, but that the only time he ever heard it before was during the political scandal when a young intern named Aviva slept with a congressman. Rachel gets uncomfortable and walks...