Although the artist is honestly selling beautiful, downtown Santa Royale short; just ask any resident:
Yeah, like Tommy’s in any mood to have a conversation.
Tommy meets up with Vin, an old friend from the “Royale”. What could possibly go wrong?
…is usually really, really messed up.
Poor Tommy thought this relationship was a shoe-in…
And then, there’s ALWAYS the ride home (but not before a turgid Sunday strip!).
Now the ride home…
…the ride home…
…the insufferable ride home.
…even if it’s only for a Sunday.
With Madi out of the picture, and Saul setting his gaze on a new tenant at Charterstone, we spent two. long. years. decades. weeks with Tommy the ex-druggie and his equally boring girlfriend. This is how the world ends, I began to think.
And then! We’re back to Mary and her minion Toby! It might not be high drama or any sort of good literature, but the time is ripe for some good ol’ snark!
And in the midst of a week of baking a single pan of muffins, Mary divulges a secret to Toby (not that Toby would ever remember it):
The horror continues (hey, it’s October…you gotta expect it).
…but I’d be lying.
…but not before a formal invitation:
Suddenly, Madi is a 13-year-old girl, thinking of her future, and one that doesn’t revolve around Charterstone.
At the pool:
And a few more hours at the pool (like there’s somewhere else to go….):
And finally, the final day of a Worthy-ness summer arrives:
But not before a Greta send-off:
I’m Fairly sue that Saul is going to die of old age before Lyle and Madi get out of the driveway.
And as Madi and Lyle drive off into the sunset…
Too bad she’s not getting it at Toby’s…
Everyone gets to play!
You just know that Mary and Madi have a good laugh back at Mary’s condo…
The Holy Trinity? Unlikely. The three weird sisters? Much closer…
Giving thanks where thanks is due…
The self-admiration teeters on the sick-making…
And let us speak no more of banana bread!
…but HOW?!??
When you can’t even snark at a comic strip (or at least, not much):
And just when you think things might be getting better…
You know it’s true…Toby is going to meet Madi! And how the Platitudes will flow, like tears in the rain…
On our way to see Toby and her cooking disaster…
Of course, Facebook’s Alan Fisher suddenly complicates the matter…
“That wasn’t the deal!”
“I am altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further.”
And for those following along in their “Empire Strikes Out” coloring book:
…which is looking suspiciously like a number of previous ones.
As if we didn’t know…introducing Mary Worth, Crappy Guidance Counselor!
Mary continues her blathering, bu t even she realizes that sometimes a different tack ought to be tried…
Come ON! What we all need is a little recreation as we all lounge poolside! And Mary’s on board with it!
And if we’re NOT going to have an honest-to-God pool party, but just splash in the pool, then the heck with you, says I! You don’t even deserve a whole Sunday comic!
Someone over at Facebook’s Comics Readers of the Comics Curmudgeon (yes, it was Fritz Goebel) suggested that Madi needed a love interest to take her mind off her problems…he even suggested the perfect paramour!
I dunno…
This may not be as easy as Mary expects…but she’s always been up to challenge!
Mary 1 Madi 0…Mary’s got the little brat crying!
And we’re up to Mary 2 Madi 0…plus a trip to the Emergency Room!
And it’s a sweep….Mary takes the tourney!
Time to head back into the condo, so Madi can hurl on Mary’s priceless Oriental Rug…
Please be the end. Please.
