Permission to Laugh

At an elementary-school story night, Diane Reed slaps the woman helping her grandchildren perform a funny play about their late mother. Owen arrives to find his son holding a torn script—and asking which parts of Mom he is allowed to remember. Nora was hired to help with pickups and laundry. She never knew Owen's wife. But she has noticed something he has missed: both children check the doorway before they laugh. As Owen uncovers the rules that have kept his home so quiet, he must confront his mother's controlling version of grief and the moments when he taught his children to disappear. Their little paper dragon has an ending. Whether the king earns his place inside is another question.