I've made this offer previously and I'll repeat it: for those of you who do not get this strip, I'm willing to snail mail you a copy. Send me a SASE and drop in a buck or so for copying costs if you want. There is another fellow making the same offer for Canadians. I'm game for outside the country as well, but you'll have to get ahold of an international postal order (or something like that) to get a valid SASE to me. My address is PO Box 4188 Irvine, CA 92716 So far, I have sent out copies to Dan, Brian, and Emily. I have had several people tell me via email that they planned to send me SASE's, but I have not yet gotten them. I have reduced them and copie them onto two pages, so standard postage is sufficient. Enjoy! Cast: El: main character, mother of family Mike: eldest son, 17 Liz: younger daughter, about 14 or 15 Connie: next door neighbor, good friend of El Lawrence: Connie's only son, good friend of Mike Greg: Connie's husband, Lawrence's step father (real father is dead) [Prelude to story, which I did not save, involves Connie getting a puppy on an impulse buy, after telling El how much she missed having children around. Lawrence tells Mike he's afraid his mother wants granchildren -- and she won't get any because he won't get married.] Mike: What do you mean, you're never going to get married?! Lawrence: I'm just not, Mike. It's not a decision I've consciously made...It's just the way I am. Mike: I don't get what you're saying, man! What if you, you know -- fall in love? Lawrence: I have fallen in love. ...But it's not with a girl. [Mike looks shocked] Mike: I don't wanna know what you're telling me, man! Lawrence: I had to say it, Mike! Mike: Look, you're not gay, OK? I mean, you dance with girls at school, you hang out with girls at the mall... This guy you've met...It's nothing special, see? -- You're just confused. Lawrence: Mike...my mind is crystal clear. Everyone *else* is confused!! Mike: [sullenly] I WON'T believe it, Lawrence. Lawrence: It's not like I WANT to be gay! Do you think I haven't TRIED to be like everyone else?!! Mike: Why are you looking at me like that? Lawrence: [looking at his face] Like what? Mike: [hand on forehead] Man, I can't even LOOK at you without thinking... Lawrence: You're my FRIEND, Mike! -- There's a big difference between friends and lovers!! [putting a hand on Mike's shoulder] ...and right now... I really need a friend. [Mike scootches away from his hand.] Lawrence: Where are you going? Mike: -- I want to be by myself for awhile. [thinking to himself] (It's not true! Lawrence is not gay! This is not happening!!!) [Kicks a fire hydrant] (None of this is REAL!!) [Slams fist into stop sign.] (On the other hand...maybe it IS!!) [nursing sore foot and hand] [Lawrence approaches Mike, who is sitting curbside.] Lawrence: Are you OK? Mike: Yeah, I'm OK now. [Lawrence sits down next to him] Lawrence, what I wanna know is -- when? Lawrence: I've known I was different for a couple of years. But it was always there. It's kind of interesting Mike! The aboriginal people considered us "mystics." They call us "two spirited" -- meaning we're blessed with both male and female spirits!! Mike: Like, half of you wants to shop -- and the other half wants to watch football?! [Lawrence slaps hand to forehead.] [They get up and start walking.] Mike: So, tell me about this, ..um...person. Lawrence: His name is Ben. I met him skiing! He is so neat, Mike! He's 20...and he's going to be a pharmacist! Wow! -- Being honest with you is such a relief!! Mike: Does this mean you're "out of the closet"? Lawrence: No...I've just opened the door enough so I can see outside. Lawrence: Michael...I wanna know how you feel about me. Mike: I don't know how I feel, man. [Hangs head.] All I know is...everything's different. It's never going to be the same, Lawrence. We'll always know each other...but, it will never be the same. [They look up at each other for a moment. Then with a small grin, Mike punches Lawrence on the arm.] [Mike is sitting on his bed, writing something. Liz pops into his bedroom.] Liz: We've narrowed down the names for Connie's puppy, Mike! It's Tawny or Amber or ... [stops] You're not listening to me. Mike: How do you know I'm not listening to you? Liz: You've got that "look." Mike: What "look"? Liz: Like when Mom or Dad is lecturing you. [Liz sits down on the bed next to Mike and asks of the notepad in his lap] Liz: What's that? Mike: It's a diary. Liz: You're writing in a diary? Get out!! -- My brother keeps a diary! -- Lemme see! [reaches for it] Mike: It's private, OK? Back off!! Liz: This is so amazing! -- I never thought that a *guy* would... Mike: What makes you think it's only girls who keep diaries?!! Liz: [smugly] ...It's a sign of intelligence. [Mike puts diary away] Liz: So, what if I found your diary sometime -- an' read all your secret stuff?! Mike: You wouldn't do that. Liz: You are so totally serious, Mike! -- What's bugging you? Mike: I can't tell you, Liz. I can't tell anyone. Liz: So, what's the point in telling stuff to a diary? -- It doesn't have any answers! Mike: I know...but it helps me understand the questions. [Connie and El are looking over the new puppy.] El: So, what are you going to call this puppy, Connie? Connie: I don't know, El. Nothing seems to fit. Barley's too close to Farley... Millie's too famous... I want something unique! Something nobody else has thought of! El: Why don't you call it Sara? You know, for "serendipity" -- like you first wanted to? Greg: [coming up] -- Or you could just call it quits! [Scene pans back to show two figures behind Connie, who is working in the yard. El and her husband are no longer around. The two figures are Mike and Lawrence.] Mike: She has to know, Lawrence. Lawrence: I can't, Mike. [Moves up close to the two of them] What do I do? Tell my mother I'm gay? Just like that? Mike: No! Tell her the truth! The way you told me! -- And, do it soon! Lawrence: [Hand over his face.] I'm afraid to. [Looks up.] It will be a shock if I tell her. Mike: It will be a lie if you don't. [Lawrence approaches his mother who is drying dishes in the kitchen.] Connie: You're awfully quiet, Lawrence. Lawrence: Mom...there's something I have to tell you. Connie: Well, if it's about the missing toolbox, we found it -- and don't worry about the scratch on the car... Lawrence: It's not about that -- it's about ME! [They sit down at the table.] This isn't going to be easy. Connie: Don't worry, honey. Whatever it is, we'll handle it together -- calmly and sensibly. Lawrence: I'm gay. Connie: Don't be *RIDICULOUS*! [Connie gets up and storms from the kitchen, Lawrence following.] Connie: I don't believe you! Lawrence: It's the truth, Mom! Connie: It's a phase! You'll pass through it! Lawrence: It isn't a phase, Mom! -- I've always been gay! It's the way I *am*!! Connie: It's my fault. -- I was too protective! -- I should have pushed you harder. Lawrence: It's nobody's fault. You can't blame yourself! Connie: I have to blame SOMEBODY! Connie: You are not gay! You are NOT! Lawrence: Mom -- listen to me! [She turns angrily away] Look, I've only just begun to understand it myself! -- I went to a lecture -- and, there are thousands of us!! -- One in ten!! We're not alone, Mom. There are other families who... Connie: GREG! [Lawrence's stepfather appears] -- Talk some SENSE into him!!! [Lawrence and Greg look at each other] Greg: [With a closed face] Get out. Get out of this house. [Connie looks rather dazed in the background.] Lawrence: But.... Greg: [Sweeping Lawrence's jacket into his arms] Don't talk to me! -- If that's the life you've chosen, I don't want you under this roof! Lawrence: [Out on the porch] It's late! Where should I go?!! Greg: Go wherever "your kind" hangs out!!! [Slams door shut.] Lawrence: [Yelling toward the door] What do you mean "my kind"?!! My name is Lawrence Poirier -- and I live here!!! telephone: *RING* El: Snork...snogg..uh? Hello? Connie? It's 2AM!! Connie: I'm sorry, El! Greg made Lawrence leave the house! I can't stand it any longer! Is he there?! El: Uh? (Snogg..zzz)...I dunno, I don't think so, but I'll check. [Gets up] Hang on. [Telephone clunks off nightstand behind her as she forgets to set the phone down.] El: Wake up, honey...Lawrence is missing! Mike: Uh? What? [sits up] Missing? I don't understand! El: Apparently he said something -- and Greg threw him out of the house! [sits down] Connie is ready to call the hospitals and the police. ...Greg feels awful! Mike: [thinks to himself] (Strange...and they accuse US of acting first and thinking afterward!) El: [to Connie on the phone] I let Mike have the car, Connie. He thinks he knows where Lawrence is. Connie: Tell him to be careful. Lawrence has been acting ... strangely. -- Who knows what sort of place he's gone...or what kind of people he's with! [Last two panels have no dialog. The first shows Michael in the car pulling up to a coffee & donut shop. The second shows him in the shop approaching a figure slumped over a table, head in arms.] Lawrence: Oh. Hi. Mike: Hi. [sits down across from L.] I'm sorry this happened to you, Lawrence. Lawrence: Yeah? Well, I'm not the first gay person to be thrown out onto the street...and I won't be the last. And I don't need anyone to feel sorry for me, OK? Mike: Fine. Is it OK if I feel angry for you? Lawrence: What are you doing here, Mike? Mike: I just thought I'd show up. Lawrence: It's 3 A.M. Go home to bed. Mike: And leave you here?...I don't think so. Lawrence: Leave me alone, OK? You can't help me -- I'm sick! Mike: You're not sick, man! Trust me! -- I'm more open-minded than you think!! Lawrence: Believe me! After 11 jelly donuts and 6 coffees, -- I'm SICK!! Mike: [arm around L.'s back] Come on. Let's go outside. The air will do you good. Look, the sun's up already. Lawrence: Yeah. [Looks at his watch] That means I've been officially outcast for 9 hours and 32 minutes exactly. Mike: It also means it's the start of a whole new day. Mike: I called your mom. She's waiting for us. Let's go home, OK? Lawrence: Mike...Remember when you said that nothing would ever be the same between us...that we'd probably always know each other -- but that's all? Mike: Yes. Lawrence: ...I'm glad I know you. [This strip has no dialog. It shows Mike leaving the house quietly as Connie and Lawrence hug each other fiercely. Greg is looking on, somewhat shamefacedly and apprehensively.] Connie: I don't think I'll ever understand, Lawrence. But I'll try. I'll do my best to accept your lifestyle...and your friends. Greg: Your mother has known you and loved you for 17 years. I've just been a small part of your life. -- I'm not going to judge you. As long as you're a *good* mand...and a *kind* man -- I'll respect you. ...As for the rest...what will be will be. Que sera sera. Connie: [later, holding her puppy up, thinking] (Now I know for sure. ...I'm calling you "Sera.") Dialogue copyright by Lynn Johnston. Reprinted without permission. Interjections mine. --Cindy