Bittersweet Candy Bowl

37. A Different Side, original chapter posted 7/4/07

Page 9 of 16

Transcript

*The choir gathers around the microphone stand, singing harmoniously.*

*Jessica, Stacy, Katie and Daisy, in their cheer uniforms, sing along too.*

*Lucy, Mike, Abbey and Yashy are in the stands. Mike, Abbey and Yashy are singing. Lucy stands with her arms folded defiantly. She isn’t singing.*
Lucy: …

*The gym teacher, standing in front of the stands, looks back.*

*Lucy sweats uncomfortably. The gym teacher glares at her.*
Gym teacher: (A-hem.)

*Lucy blushes and looks away.*

*Mike continues singing.*

*Mike is startled by the sound of a beautiful voice. He glances to his side.*

*Paulo, Mike and Yashy stare in surprise as Lucy sings. Yashy beams with pride.*

*Sue, David and the Three Weird Girls, in the row behind Paulo, all notice what’s happening.*

*Abbey, David and one of the Weird Girls are the only ones singing with Lucy now. Everyone’s looking at her.*

*Everyone stops singing and listens.*

*The choir slowly stops singing, too, looking confused.*
Choir: ..?

*Lucy has her eyes closed as she finishes, her face surrounded by sparkles.*

*Lucy’s eyes pop open.*
Lucy: ..?

*Paulo and Mike are staring at Lucy, blushing.*
Lucy: …

*Lucy rapidly looks from side to side.*

*Lucy sinks down below the railing, deeply embarrassed. Paulo scratches the back of his head, grinning. Mike frantically gestures for Lucy to calm down. Yashy smirks at him.*

Author commentary

Veronica: I was originally gonna make up a song for Roseville High School.. but I didn’t feel like writing something like that :( SONGS/POETRY ARE JUST NOT MY THING, SORRY. They’d probably be doing the pledge of allegiance anyway because they live in a fictional US that still indoctrinates their children lmao

Lucy doesn’t want to sing, but you can see the gym teacher forcing her in panel four. That used to happen to students who didn’t want to recite the pledge of allegiance back when I used to go to High School. The teacher would glare at them or even stop and order them to go along.. so that’s what’s happening to Lucy in the pep rally. Gym teachers are the worst, aren’t they?

I still remember one kid refusing to stand up because they were against the Iraq War. Man, I hope that person is doing well out there. The gym teacher got them in trouble, I think? But the kid remained sitting, sticking to their morals. What a chad. Meanwhile I got up because I didn’t wanna be in trouble and wasn’t very conscious about what was going on with the world ;__; No convictions, no braincells.