Playworld

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying, violence, sexual harassment, and child sexual abuse.

In 1980, first-person narrator Griffin Hurt is 14 years old. That year, a friend of his parents (Shel and Lily Hurt) named Naomi Shah falls in love with him. Two decades later, Griffin tells Lily about it. Lily is surprised because Naomi is unattractive, but Griffin never noticed.

Griffin attends Elliott and Lynn Bar’s anniversary party in Great Neck with his parents and younger brother, Oren Hurt. Elliott is the psychologist for every member of the Hurt family. That evening, Griffin and Naomi end up “alone together for the first time” (4). Griffin is a child actor, and Naomi asks about his acting in The Talon Effect. Delighted by her attention, Griffin gets into character and tells her about playing Peter Proton on the television series The Nuclear Family, too. He also lies and says he slept with the director’s assistant, Liz. Naomi is intrigued by his interest in older women but draws back when Griffin tries to kiss her.

Griffin and Oren secretly explore the house together. Afterward, Naomi’s husband, Sam Shah, takes the boys and Shel for a drive in his sports car.