Bittersweet Candy Bowl

20. Hot Pursuit, original chapter posted 9/6/06

Page 12 of 14

Transcript

[Caption: Later]
*Mike pushes open a door, looking tired. Lucy walks in behind him, yawning.*
Mike: I’m home.
Lucy: (yawn)

*Mike’s mom stands inside with a broom, smiling.*
Mike’s mom: Welcome back, Michael! How was your day?
Mike: Okay, I guess..

*Mike’s mom smiles kindly.*
Mike’s mom: You had a visitor today, you know.
Mike: Huh?

Mike’s mom: That little girl with the dark hair! Sally, wasn’t it?
*Mike’s eyes go wide in shock.*
Mike: …!!!

Mike: When was she here?!
*Mike’s mom holds her finger to her chin in thought.*
Mike’s mom: Oh, about two hours ago! She said she was on the way back to the airport..
*Mike looks devastated.*

Mike: She was here.. She was here..
*Lucy looks at him, concerned.*
Lucy: …

*Mike begins to cry.*
Mike: I was looking for her all day long, and yet.. I just..
*Mike’s mom looks at him sadly.*
Mike’s mom: …

*Mike’s mom hugs Mike as he sobs.*
Mike’s mom: Aww, honey.. don’t cry.. you didn’t even see what she left you!
*Mike covers his face with his hands.*
Mike: But..

Mike’s mom: Let me go get it..
*Mike looks up as his mom walks away, tears in his eyes.*
Mike: Huh?

*Lucy and Mike look on with curious, concerned expressions.*
Mike: ..?

*Mike’s mom reappears, holding a bonsai tree.*
Mike’s mom: Here you are!
Mike: ..?

Mike’s mom: Isn’t it thoughtful? It’s a cute little bonsai!
*Mike takes the tree. He stares at it, teary-eyed and speechless.*

*Mike recalls an image of him and Sandy sitting under a tree together. He is looking away, blushing. Sandy smiles at him.*
Mike: It looks like.. Back in third grade..

*Mike looks down sadly at the tree.*
Mike: She remembers.. just like I do..

Mike: Thanks, Mom.
*Mike’s mom looks at him with concern.*
Mike’s mom : I’m sorry you missed her. She said she’ll be back again some other time.

*Mike continues to look at the tree, disappointed. Lucy looks at him with a tired expression.*
Mike: Maybe that’s so.

*Mike closes his eyes, looking miserable.*
Mike: I can’t believe it.. I wasted my first chance in years.. All because I couldn’t wait to see her.

*Lucy looks away blankly.*
Lucy: I think we’ve all had enough irony for today.

Author commentary

Veronica: Parents? In my comic?

Yeah, isn’t it weird that this comic is meant to be about teenagers yet we haven’t seen the parents play a part in their upbringing? I really haven’t had a need to focus on the parents.. but it’s not like the characters are living alone at home. WE ARE NOT IN AN ANIME

I have to say, this makes me wince so much, like Mike you coulda STAYED HOME. And you coulda STILL WON. Why did you need to be watching TV at the time Sandy appeared on the news! What a terrible, sad situation. How nice of Sandy to remember!!

Reader comments

Comment ID #2787

I really like panel seven and eight. Poor Mike it looks like he is going to start crying uncontrolably he just looks so cute when he does that while being conforted by his mother.

Philllip April 6, 2010, 9:14 PM EDT.