For the Fun of It

Talia Bassett embarrasses her father, Wellington, by reading during dinner with the Ugandan ambassador. Wellington insists that a young woman with her privileges must learn proper behavior and gives her a choice: attend etiquette school or spend a week with his twin brother, Wooton. He expects the threat of Uncle Wooton’s eccentric household to change her mind. Instead, Talia chooses the visit, partly to prove that her father cannot control every decision.

Wooton welcomes the niece he has not seen since she was an infant with Power Boy gifts, a grape-juice float, a slide leading out of his house, and old baby games Talia finds humiliating. She responds with rules of her own: no meat or fattening food, no contact with dirt, and very little unnecessary conversation. Wooton limits her to three rules and starts a game of hide-and-seek before she can add that she does not play games.

Breakfast is a vegetarian casserole made from macaroni, marshmallows, watermelon jelly beans, and corn chips. Talia decides to leave, only to discover that her father has removed the money and credit cards from her purse. She recognizes his plan and realizes that she cannot simply move into a hotel. Wooton offers to take her to a coffee shop during his mail route, though he will not allow caffeine in his own house.

Talia soon discovers that Wooton’s postal work includes mowing lawns, cleaning pools, reading to retirement-home residents, and performing countless small favors. At Mrs. Randolph’s house, Wooton finds missing eyeglasses at the bottom of a fish tank. Mrs. Randolph knows a surprising amount about Talia because Wooton and Bradford often talk about her. Talia is equally surprised to learn that Bradford, whom she thinks of only as the family driver, is also their butler.

Mrs. Randolph asks for help bathing Horse. Talia eagerly offers to groom what she assumes is an actual horse, only to discover that Horse is the woman’s dog. While trying to avoid dirt, Talia loses control of the animal and lands in a mud puddle. At first she is furious. Then she realizes that photographs of herself covered in mud and dressed like Wooton would greatly annoy her father.

Talia throws herself into the joke. She gives up the mall and coffee, buys used Hawaiian shirts at Wooton’s thrift shop, and emails the photographs to Wellington. When he calls in alarm, she assures him that Wooton has not forced her to do anything and pretends that Odyssey’s peculiar habits have transformed her. The prank gives her more pleasure than the expensive amusements she usually pursues.

At Whit’s End, Wooton builds an enormous ice-cream skyscraper from many flavors, pineapple rings, and warm peanut butter. Talia normally counts every calorie but agrees to taste it for another photograph. She finds it far better than her usual latte and shares it eagerly with her uncle.

Wooton and Whit then lead Talia on what appears to be a forbidden hike. Whit pretends to be an angry landowner and chases them through pipes, over nets and parallel bars, and across a shallow lake. Only afterward does Talia learn that Whit built the obstacle course for her and played the pursuer at Wooton’s request.

Wooton explains that he wants Talia to have the simple fun of being a child. She admits that she likes being young but rarely makes time for it. She also assumes her father never wants her to enjoy herself because he is so different from Wooton. Wooton defends his brother as a good father who teaches the things he considers important. He reveals that Wellington once loved fun too and suggests that Talia invite him to share an activity instead of merely resisting his rules.

Talia chooses to jump into the lake again without taking a photograph. For the first time during the visit, she is not performing for her father or trying to prove anything. She is enjoying the moment simply because it is fun.

Before returning home, Talia agrees to attend etiquette classes and asks Wellington to play polo with her afterward. He accepts. She leaves her thrift-store clothes and most of the comics at Wooton’s house, not because she rejects them but because she intends to use them during future visits. She takes one comic along, calls Bradford by his name, and carries a can of Silly String to surprise him. Wooton has not turned her into a copy of himself; he has helped her make room for play while still respecting her father.