What a nice story. I like to imagine that Bethany read this too, and she’s gathering her murderlust to find you. Or maybe it’ll be “Grew Up and Became A Monk” trope and she’ll show up on your door and hug you. Like, hug you to death. Either way, I’d invest in health insurance.
Great job with the Hero story. I know she was a total PITA, but I can’t help but feel just a little sorry for her. Makes me wonder what her life was like at home. But as a kid you don’t think about that. Your world is what you see in front of you, and anything beyond that doesn’t exist.
It’s funny… that’s pretty much exactly what I remember the firemen looking like during my third-grade trip to the firehouse, too! I think, the thin guy with the mullet, mustache and Popeye arms came to speak to our class once.
Speculation for what it’s worth: The fact that Bethany was just expelled and there was no investigation into who wrote the love note makes me think the teachers were already looking for an excuse to get rid of her – so you were perhaps more of a catalyst, not entirely to blame. :) Back in my analogue age, someone in my class wrote a fake love note and lavishly illustrated the “couple” kissing. When the teachers found out, it was a big deal. Me and the other artistic people in the class were interrogated and the culprit was eventually found. Granted, neither of the subjects of the love note went “Hulk smash” on anyone over it. But I still would’ve thought your teacher would try to find out who wrote the note.
Unless Jeremy got the blame… Did he disappear too? OH MY GOD HE’S NOT IN ANY OF THE COMICS AFTER BETHANY HAS GONE. You got him expelled too, didn’t you! The collateral damage of your actions is even worse than the story’s narration suggests! Shame on you! :O
Ha ha awesome! I believe that the note wasn’t he main reason for her expulsion either. I’m pretty sure that was just the last straw. I think that Jeremy got off scott free because he was about to die :)
Telling this story fir the firs time, in comic form after so many years has to have been very therapeutic for you. A big secret like that can really gain guilt weight over time! GOOD FOR YOU and thank you with sharing with everyone! I can’t help but wonder if you secretly hope that Bethany will stumble upon this and I wonder how she would react now to your retelling of her story. Gabe, you are awesome.
Thanks so much Marc! I was so worried about you guys hanging in there and waiting, but it seems like the plot moved fast enough. Maybe I’ll do some longer ones in the future.
This was a great story. This comic always take me back to my childhood and are almost always extremely relatable… Keep up the fabulous work. Love the teachers design in this… that shirt, man.
Curious, do you remember exactly how you felt when it happened? An overwhelming sense of guilt? Or did you just shrug it off the next week? Obviously you still think about it since you made a comic of it! Just wondering if it affected you then as it affects you now.
Wonderful flow and tension build up! What a great story too … I am just a bit sad that I didn’t hear of it until today, and promptly devoured it in all of ten minutes :( I would’ve loved to shiver in fear and anticipation along with the other readers over the last few months. I really enjoyed the range of emotion in this too, so well written. Also, I’m glad you were able to finally get this story out of your system, it must’ve been cathartic … character flaws are so much more interesting than character positives in most cases (especially in storytelling) :D Anyway, excellent work, it was a true joy to read, thank you for sharing it with us!
Thank you so much for the positive review! It’s ok if you didn’t get to follow it from the beginning, I’m just glad you read it!
This was cathartic, it needed to be done. It’s a story I wrote when I first started Life In The Anlog Age, and I finally felt it was a good time to share it.
This is really odd, because I did something similar in middle school – not with a love note, but by betting the bully he doesn’t have the guts to go into an empty classroom and take a dump on the teacher’s desk and then slipping a note under the door of the teacher’s room informing them of the fact.
He was caught red-handed (ahem) and transferred to another school.
I got called into the principal’s office one year later, in the last days of middle school, and the principal asked me flat out wherever i was the one who wrote the note. By this time I was feeling mighty guilty, so I simply nodded.The principal said “I see”, rubbed his chin, then told me to get back to class and that was it, the incident was never mentioned again.
Years later I met the guy again – he was an English major and an A student and he told me getting expelled made him re-think his priorities in life. He still didn’t knew who ratted him out, and as I was still feeling very guilty never told him, but besides the guilt I’m also glad it ended up all right for all of us.
What a nice story. I like to imagine that Bethany read this too, and she’s gathering her murderlust to find you. Or maybe it’ll be “Grew Up and Became A Monk” trope and she’ll show up on your door and hug you. Like, hug you to death. Either way, I’d invest in health insurance.
Trust me, I’ve thought about it a lot over the years, I’m ready to get my punishment!
This is lovely. Its the kind of child story that sticks with you your whole life.
…and it did too :)
“This is exactly what I remeber those guys looked like.”
They were…. dog people?!
Yep, exactly.
…. and then her lawyer showed up on your doorstep one day after you won the lotto
I hope that epilogue never happens!
Great job with the Hero story. I know she was a total PITA, but I can’t help but feel just a little sorry for her. Makes me wonder what her life was like at home. But as a kid you don’t think about that. Your world is what you see in front of you, and anything beyond that doesn’t exist.
I feel really sorry for her. I hope she’s ok out there somewhere.
It’s funny… that’s pretty much exactly what I remember the firemen looking like during my third-grade trip to the firehouse, too! I think, the thin guy with the mullet, mustache and Popeye arms came to speak to our class once.
LOL! I think we had a couple fireman type activities with different fire companies and there was a guy that looked like that at each one! :)
Great story! Thank you for sharing it with all of us :) I love the design work you posted, especially the running Bethany. That’s just terrifying!
Thanks! So glad you guys still like me! :)
Atonement makes for the best art ;)
I guess so? :)
That was a good read! Good job!
Thank you so much!
Amazing story!
And true too!
Speculation for what it’s worth: The fact that Bethany was just expelled and there was no investigation into who wrote the love note makes me think the teachers were already looking for an excuse to get rid of her – so you were perhaps more of a catalyst, not entirely to blame. :) Back in my analogue age, someone in my class wrote a fake love note and lavishly illustrated the “couple” kissing. When the teachers found out, it was a big deal. Me and the other artistic people in the class were interrogated and the culprit was eventually found. Granted, neither of the subjects of the love note went “Hulk smash” on anyone over it. But I still would’ve thought your teacher would try to find out who wrote the note.
Unless Jeremy got the blame… Did he disappear too? OH MY GOD HE’S NOT IN ANY OF THE COMICS AFTER BETHANY HAS GONE. You got him expelled too, didn’t you! The collateral damage of your actions is even worse than the story’s narration suggests! Shame on you! :O
Haha speculation is fun.
Ha ha awesome! I believe that the note wasn’t he main reason for her expulsion either. I’m pretty sure that was just the last straw. I think that Jeremy got off scott free because he was about to die :)
This is why fire departments shouldn’t hold colouring contests. Though I kind of hope Bethany grew up to be an automotive painter.
I liked this story. It comes off as downer instead of triumphant.
My thoughts exactly! LOL. Thanks so much. I love doing stories that start with the ending!
Telling this story fir the firs time, in comic form after so many years has to have been very therapeutic for you. A big secret like that can really gain guilt weight over time! GOOD FOR YOU and thank you with sharing with everyone! I can’t help but wonder if you secretly hope that Bethany will stumble upon this and I wonder how she would react now to your retelling of her story. Gabe, you are awesome.
Thanks for the kind words. I don’t know if I deserve such praise after what I did, but it was therapeutic! Thanks so much for reading.
Gripping storytelling, Gabe. Each week I couldn’t wait for the next installment. Bravo!
Thanks so much Marc! I was so worried about you guys hanging in there and waiting, but it seems like the plot moved fast enough. Maybe I’ll do some longer ones in the future.
This was a great story. This comic always take me back to my childhood and are almost always extremely relatable… Keep up the fabulous work. Love the teachers design in this… that shirt, man.
Curious, do you remember exactly how you felt when it happened? An overwhelming sense of guilt? Or did you just shrug it off the next week? Obviously you still think about it since you made a comic of it! Just wondering if it affected you then as it affects you now.
Tanks so much! Thanks for reading.
I can’t remember how I felt when it happened, but I do think it didn’t hit me until it was all over, a couple days later.
It still affects me, I still feel bad about it :(
Wonderful flow and tension build up! What a great story too … I am just a bit sad that I didn’t hear of it until today, and promptly devoured it in all of ten minutes :( I would’ve loved to shiver in fear and anticipation along with the other readers over the last few months. I really enjoyed the range of emotion in this too, so well written. Also, I’m glad you were able to finally get this story out of your system, it must’ve been cathartic … character flaws are so much more interesting than character positives in most cases (especially in storytelling) :D Anyway, excellent work, it was a true joy to read, thank you for sharing it with us!
Thank you so much for the positive review! It’s ok if you didn’t get to follow it from the beginning, I’m just glad you read it!
This was cathartic, it needed to be done. It’s a story I wrote when I first started Life In The Anlog Age, and I finally felt it was a good time to share it.
Thanks again, and stay tuned! :)
This is really odd, because I did something similar in middle school – not with a love note, but by betting the bully he doesn’t have the guts to go into an empty classroom and take a dump on the teacher’s desk and then slipping a note under the door of the teacher’s room informing them of the fact.
He was caught red-handed (ahem) and transferred to another school.
I got called into the principal’s office one year later, in the last days of middle school, and the principal asked me flat out wherever i was the one who wrote the note. By this time I was feeling mighty guilty, so I simply nodded.The principal said “I see”, rubbed his chin, then told me to get back to class and that was it, the incident was never mentioned again.
Years later I met the guy again – he was an English major and an A student and he told me getting expelled made him re-think his priorities in life. He still didn’t knew who ratted him out, and as I was still feeling very guilty never told him, but besides the guilt I’m also glad it ended up all right for all of us.
Wow! It actually turned his life around! That’s awesome! I wonder if he suspected?
That does take some balls to catch him!
this is a odd heroic story which makes it great
Thanks so much!
i like this story and ur design keep making these
With comments and readers like you, I will!
this was a great story and love your designs their funny and imaginative great job!!!
you should make a episode were he has to stop a bully from terrizing the other students