Such a Fun Age opens on Emira, a young black woman out with her friends, as she tries to hear a phone call from Mrs. Chamberlain, who Emira babysits for. As Emira’s friends drunkenly fool around in the background, Emira makes sure Mrs. Chamberlain won’t be upset that Emira doesn’t “exactly look like a babysitter right now” (4). Although Emira’s friends Josefa and Shaunie don’t want her to leave, her closest friend, Zara, supports her by going with her, despite the fact that it’s late at night.

When Emira arrives at the Chamberlain’s house, she sees a hole in the front window and can hear the younger child, Catherine, crying. At Mrs. Chamberlain’s request, Emira takes Briar, the toddler, to head out of the house with her and Zara. They head to the local grocery store, or as Zara calls it, “a rich people’s grocery store” (6). Briar and Zara have an impromptu dance party in front of the frozen foods; Emira decides to join in. Briar is excited about dancing, which is rare for her, and Zara turns some music on her phone. As the song ends, a man walks down the aisle and applauds Briar after she bows.