Big Little Lies
by Liane Moriarty
Contents
Chapter 25
Overview
At the school athletics carnival, Jane tries to appear sociable during the kindergarten mothers’ race but remains painfully aware of judgment from the parent community and haunted by memories of her assault. The light banter about cupcakes, petitions, and running exposes the competitive and performative nature of the school social world.
Madeline’s irritation toward Bonnie surfaces again just as the race begins, tying the carnival to Madeline’s larger conflict over Abigail, Nathan, and Bonnie. A later comment from Thea preserves the murder-investigation frame and suggests that the seemingly trivial school tensions may matter more than they appear.
Summary
At the Pirriwee athletics carnival, the kindergarten mothers line up for their race in a cheerful, picturesque setting. Jane smiles and tries to seem at ease, reminding herself that her mother believes the orientation-day trouble has probably been forgotten.
Jane reflects on her efforts to belong in the school community: volunteering in the canteen, helping Miss Barnes with reading, making polite conversation, and arranging playdates. Despite this, Jane still senses subtle judgment from the other parents, which intensifies her unease and connects in Jane’s mind to traumatic memories of a past assault.
Before the race starts, the mothers chat and joke. Audrey or Andrea approaches Jane about a petition to ban birthday cupcakes, while Madeline criticizes the school’s habit of turning everything into an adversarial petition. Jonathan, the stay-at-home father acting as starter, repeatedly tries to bring the women to order.
The mothers also discuss Jonathan’s accomplished wife, Jackie, and notice that Renata and Celeste are holding the finishing tape rather than running. Bonnie stretches gracefully and takes a serious starting position, which draws attention and prompts Madeline to watch Bonnie with competitive irritation.
Jonathan finally starts the race with the gun. The chapter closes with a later police-style comment from Thea, who hints that she has theories about what happened but says she does not want to speak ill of the dead.
Who Appears
- JaneTries to fit in at school while sensing judgment and recalling a traumatic assault.
- MadelineJokes with the mothers, criticizes petition culture, and reacts competitively to Bonnie.
- BonnieCalmly stretches and prepares for the mothers’ race, drawing attention from others.
- JonathanStay-at-home father acting as race starter, repeatedly trying to organize the mothers.
- ZiggyJane’s son, watching from the bleachers with the kindergarten children.
- Miss BarnesSupervises the kindergarten children on the bleachers during the mothers’ race.
- Audrey or AndreaMother who asks Jane about supporting a cupcake-ban petition before the race.
- SamanthaMother who jokes with Jonathan and comments on Bonnie’s professional-looking preparation.
- HarperMother at the start line who discusses Renata’s shin splints and race concerns.
- GabrielleMother who jokes about skipping the race for coffee and asks about Jonathan’s wife.
- RenataAvoids running because of shin splints and helps hold the finishing tape.
- CelesteHelps Renata hold the finishing tape instead of running in the mothers’ race.
- TheaLater offers a guarded comment about having theories but not speaking ill of the dead.