Fourteen

Mara and Jo have been best friends since they met at the age of 14. Mara is reliable, while Jo often finds herself in turmoil. Both lead unstable lives, with uncertain jobs and unfulfilling relationships, and they dabble in writing as a side pursuit, a common scenario in Brooklyn. Amidst their daily routines and conversations, the only true constant is their friendship, or more specifically, its dynamic: Mara’s phone will ring with Jo needing assistance, prompting Mara to drop everything, only for Jo’s mind to have wandered by the time Mara arrives. The narrative gently progresses, highlighting different instances of this recurring pattern, as Jo’s struggles intensify and Mara’s frustration mounts. As time goes on, they experience new jobs, new relationships, encounters with drugs, moments of tears, and attempts at fresh beginnings, including a pregnancy and eventually a little girl, all of which gradually test the strength of Jo and Mara’s friendship.