PAGES TWENTY-SEVEN & TWENTY-EIGHT
(Double-spread.)
Panel 1
Jean Grey sitting down with Cerebro again, transmitting to all mutants.
CAPTION: It’s been a long road. For a long time we were told that we weren’t a part of humankind. That we were separate. We even told ourselves the same things.
Panel 2
Xorn healing Professor Xavier.
Panel 3
Jean with Cerebro.
CAPTION: Now, I think, we can begin to see that this was a mistake. When we reached our greatest crisis, it wasn’t a fight, which those of us who are X-Men have experienced so many times in the past, those of the Brotherhood, those of every label we have given ourselves, and have been given.
Panel 4
Xorn healing Mystique.
Panel 5
Jean with Cerebro.
CAPTION: We faced an extinction that was nothing more than a virus, one that targeted the x-gene, and it didn’t discriminate between factions, it didn’t pick sides. And to forestall the inevitable we were forced into isolation, cut off from each other.
Panel 6
Xorn healing Jubilee.
Panel 7
Jean with Cerebro.
CAPTION: And the rest of humanity responded much as they always had. There was fear, of course, but I realized something else about the reaction, too. The isolation went both ways.
Panel 8
Xorn heals Multiple Man.
Panel 9
Jean with Cerebro.
CAPTION: I went to the Avengers with my plan in the first place, not because I wanted their help, but to hear what they would say about it. They said it was crazy. Not one of them offered to help. And I thought to myself, that’s the problem right there.
Panel 10
Xorn stands in front of Multiple Man as he creates a duplicate.
Panel 11
Jean with Cerebro
CAPTION: Why does it have to be that way?
Panel 12
Xorn surrounded by dozen of Multiple Men.
PAGE TWENTY-NINE
Panel 1 (splash)
Jean Grey stands in front of the Avengers (the same set I’ve been presenting all along, Sue Storm among them).
JEAN GREY: I’d like to join.
PAGE THIRTY
Panel 1
Jean Grey and Jenny Storm in front of an apartment door, which is closed.
JENNY STORM: I don’t know. You really think so?
Panel 2
Jenny is knocking on the door.
JENNY STORM: “The Human Torch.” It’d take some getting used to.
JENNY STORM: I mean, I only just got used to the powers.
JENNY STORM: And the idea of knowing who my dad is.
Panel 3
The door opens. Johnny Storm is on the other side.
Panel 4
Johnny and Jenny are hugging.
Panel 5
Close- up of Jean, looking wistful.
Panel 6
Looking down, now outside on the street, as Jean looks upward as twin streaks of flame shoot toward the reader.
JOHNNY & JENNY: Flame on!
Panel 7
Jean, alone in the panel except random New Yorkers streaming around her, not paying any attention to her, same shot as before otherwise, from a distance.
JEAN GREY: ...Rise.
END
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 26
PAGE TWENTY-SIX
Panel 1
The Avengers arrive, represented by Iron Man,Thor and Wasp, swooping downward from the sky.
IRON MAN: Thought it over.
IRON MAN: Yeah, not really keen on a homicidal maniac being loose, Jean.
Panel 2
The rest of the Avengers (Captain America, Spider-Man and Wolverine) arriving at the field (I know it’s tradition for a whole team to somehow show up together despite widely disparate modes of travel, but that’s not gonna happen, regardless of how cool it looks, here).
SPIDER-MAN: Wow! She really did it! Points for psychopathic bravery!
CAPTAIN AMERICA: Jean, are you absolutely sure about this?
WOLVERINE: Told you it was a tough sell, darlin’.
Panel 3
Jean Grey, her contingent of Xorn, Jenny Storm, Kali and Chamber still surrounding her, stands up to the Avengers, now assembled together, defiantly.
JEAN GREY: I told you I had this.
JEAN GREY: The matter is entirely under control.
Panel 4
Spotlight on Xorn, placing his hands in the air.
XORN: It’s all right Jean. They have every reason to doubt me.
XORN: That is why, as a gesture of good faith, I will surrender myself to them.
XORN: And then we can get on with it.
Panel 5
Sue Storm is arriving, sort of between the two parties, as Thor walks Xorn to the Avengers side. Jenny is looking anxiously at Sue.
SUE STORM: There.
SUE STORM: This nonsense is finished. Time to worry about real problems.
Panel 6
Sue and Jenny are embracing in this group shot encompassing everyone from a distance.
Panel 1
The Avengers arrive, represented by Iron Man,Thor and Wasp, swooping downward from the sky.
IRON MAN: Thought it over.
IRON MAN: Yeah, not really keen on a homicidal maniac being loose, Jean.
Panel 2
The rest of the Avengers (Captain America, Spider-Man and Wolverine) arriving at the field (I know it’s tradition for a whole team to somehow show up together despite widely disparate modes of travel, but that’s not gonna happen, regardless of how cool it looks, here).
SPIDER-MAN: Wow! She really did it! Points for psychopathic bravery!
CAPTAIN AMERICA: Jean, are you absolutely sure about this?
WOLVERINE: Told you it was a tough sell, darlin’.
Panel 3
Jean Grey, her contingent of Xorn, Jenny Storm, Kali and Chamber still surrounding her, stands up to the Avengers, now assembled together, defiantly.
JEAN GREY: I told you I had this.
JEAN GREY: The matter is entirely under control.
Panel 4
Spotlight on Xorn, placing his hands in the air.
XORN: It’s all right Jean. They have every reason to doubt me.
XORN: That is why, as a gesture of good faith, I will surrender myself to them.
XORN: And then we can get on with it.
Panel 5
Sue Storm is arriving, sort of between the two parties, as Thor walks Xorn to the Avengers side. Jenny is looking anxiously at Sue.
SUE STORM: There.
SUE STORM: This nonsense is finished. Time to worry about real problems.
Panel 6
Sue and Jenny are embracing in this group shot encompassing everyone from a distance.
Monday, May 25, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, pages 23-25
PAGE TWENTY-THREE
Panel 1
A huge burst of light as Kali infuses life back into Magneto, his body jolting.
Panel 2
Gray-scale as we and Jean Grey enter Magneto’s mind. In this frame Magneto is depicted as the small boy he was at Auschwitz. Jean’s comforting hand in on his shoulder.
JEAN GREY: Erik?
Panel 3
Gray-scale continues. Magneto has reverted to his usual appearance, as we last saw him. No helmet. Jean is not fazed by the sudden shift. Her hand remains on his shoulder, as he peers at it, sneering.
MAGNETO: You did it, didn’t you?
MAGNETO: You killed me. And then you brought me back.
MAGNETO: And now you’re inside my mind, hoping you can talk me out of my revenge.
Panel 4
Gray-scale continues. Jean and Magneto are now dressed in civilian clothing. Jean’s hand is no longer on Magneto’s shoulder.
JEAN GREY: I’m here, Erik, because I want to talk.
JEAN GREY: All these years, all this violence, what has it really gotten you?
Panel 5
Gray-scale continues. Close-up on Jean.
JEAN GREY: What if you tried a different way?
JEAN GREY: What if you were the man you once imagined yourself to be?
Panel 6
Gray-scale continues. Close-up of Magneto.
MAGNETO: Dear child...
MAGNETO: I was never allowed to become that man.
Panel 7
Gray-scale continues. A distant shot of Jean and Magneto.
JEAN GREY: That doesn’t mean you can’t try.
PAGE TWENTY-FOUR
Panel 1
Back in the real world, Magneto is sitting up. We see that Jean Grey has collapsed in the field not far away.
Panel 2
Magneto is holding his helmet.
Panel 3
We see the helmet changing shape as he stares at it in seeming anger.
Panel 4
He has placed the helmet back on. But it is a totally different helmet now. He is Xorn once again...!
XORN: Well, then.
PAGE TWENTY-FIVE
Panel 1
Xorn walks over to the prone Jean Grey.
XORN: Jean...
Panel 2
As Kali watches anxiously from the side, Xorn places his hands on Jean, who looks back at him in concern. She’s still not sure the plan worked.
Panel 3
Xorn’s healing touch is causing Jean’s body to jerk.
XORN: You gambled that you could find the good in me. You risked everything. This Phoenix gambit of yours had finally stretched too thin. If you hadn’t been right...
Panel 4
Jean sitting up on her own, Xorn stepping back.
JEAN GREY: I’d be dead. Permanently.
Panel 5
A group shot of Xorn, Jean, Kali, Chamber and Jenny Storm, standing in the field together. A triumphant moment. But Jean is looking off in the distant sky.
JEAN GREY: It’s not over yet.
Panel 1
A huge burst of light as Kali infuses life back into Magneto, his body jolting.
Panel 2
Gray-scale as we and Jean Grey enter Magneto’s mind. In this frame Magneto is depicted as the small boy he was at Auschwitz. Jean’s comforting hand in on his shoulder.
JEAN GREY: Erik?
Panel 3
Gray-scale continues. Magneto has reverted to his usual appearance, as we last saw him. No helmet. Jean is not fazed by the sudden shift. Her hand remains on his shoulder, as he peers at it, sneering.
MAGNETO: You did it, didn’t you?
MAGNETO: You killed me. And then you brought me back.
MAGNETO: And now you’re inside my mind, hoping you can talk me out of my revenge.
Panel 4
Gray-scale continues. Jean and Magneto are now dressed in civilian clothing. Jean’s hand is no longer on Magneto’s shoulder.
JEAN GREY: I’m here, Erik, because I want to talk.
JEAN GREY: All these years, all this violence, what has it really gotten you?
Panel 5
Gray-scale continues. Close-up on Jean.
JEAN GREY: What if you tried a different way?
JEAN GREY: What if you were the man you once imagined yourself to be?
Panel 6
Gray-scale continues. Close-up of Magneto.
MAGNETO: Dear child...
MAGNETO: I was never allowed to become that man.
Panel 7
Gray-scale continues. A distant shot of Jean and Magneto.
JEAN GREY: That doesn’t mean you can’t try.
PAGE TWENTY-FOUR
Panel 1
Back in the real world, Magneto is sitting up. We see that Jean Grey has collapsed in the field not far away.
Panel 2
Magneto is holding his helmet.
Panel 3
We see the helmet changing shape as he stares at it in seeming anger.
Panel 4
He has placed the helmet back on. But it is a totally different helmet now. He is Xorn once again...!
XORN: Well, then.
PAGE TWENTY-FIVE
Panel 1
Xorn walks over to the prone Jean Grey.
XORN: Jean...
Panel 2
As Kali watches anxiously from the side, Xorn places his hands on Jean, who looks back at him in concern. She’s still not sure the plan worked.
Panel 3
Xorn’s healing touch is causing Jean’s body to jerk.
XORN: You gambled that you could find the good in me. You risked everything. This Phoenix gambit of yours had finally stretched too thin. If you hadn’t been right...
Panel 4
Jean sitting up on her own, Xorn stepping back.
JEAN GREY: I’d be dead. Permanently.
Panel 5
A group shot of Xorn, Jean, Kali, Chamber and Jenny Storm, standing in the field together. A triumphant moment. But Jean is looking off in the distant sky.
JEAN GREY: It’s not over yet.
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 22
PAGE TWENTY-TWO
Panel 1
Kali is crouched next to Magneto’s body as Jean Grey continues to float above them.
KALI: You know, it’s one thing to know the plan. It’s quite another to be here now, enacting it.
KALI: This man was a bastard.
Panel 2
Close-up of Dead Magneto’s face.
KALI (o.p.): I say let him stay dead.
Panel 3
Close-up of Kali, looking grim.
KALI: Plus, no matter how much I think about it, how long it’s been since you first came to me, I revive him and I am convinced he’s going to come back as crazy as ever. Crazier.
Panel 4
Close-up of Jean, resolved.
JEAN GREY: I can handle this man.
Panel 5
Panning back out, we see Magneto’s helmet sliding off his head.
Panel 6
The helmet is now within Jean’s reach. We see the whole tableau again.
JEAN GREY: Do it.
Panel 7
Close-up of Kali placing her hands on Magneto’s body.
KALI: Right...
Panel 1
Kali is crouched next to Magneto’s body as Jean Grey continues to float above them.
KALI: You know, it’s one thing to know the plan. It’s quite another to be here now, enacting it.
KALI: This man was a bastard.
Panel 2
Close-up of Dead Magneto’s face.
KALI (o.p.): I say let him stay dead.
Panel 3
Close-up of Kali, looking grim.
KALI: Plus, no matter how much I think about it, how long it’s been since you first came to me, I revive him and I am convinced he’s going to come back as crazy as ever. Crazier.
Panel 4
Close-up of Jean, resolved.
JEAN GREY: I can handle this man.
Panel 5
Panning back out, we see Magneto’s helmet sliding off his head.
Panel 6
The helmet is now within Jean’s reach. We see the whole tableau again.
JEAN GREY: Do it.
Panel 7
Close-up of Kali placing her hands on Magneto’s body.
KALI: Right...
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 21
PAGE TWENTY-ONE
Panel 1
We’ve panned out again. Jean Grey and Magneto have landed in a field with a crater around them.
Panel 2
Jean is standing while Magneto remains prone. We can see Kali in the distance, walking toward them.
Panel 3
Jean is floating above as Kali approaches.
KALI: Wish I could say I wish things hadn’t worked out like we planned.
Panel 4
Kali is bending toward Magneto.
KALI: But he’s dead, isn’t he?
Panel 5
Jean, above. Kali has craned her head to look up at her.
JEAN GREY: He left me no choice.
JEAN GREY: But we will be in a far better position to talk reasonably now.
Panel 6
Kali looks back down grimly.
KALI: Let’s hope.
KALI: It’ll still be Magneto.
KALI: Right?
Panel 1
We’ve panned out again. Jean Grey and Magneto have landed in a field with a crater around them.
Panel 2
Jean is standing while Magneto remains prone. We can see Kali in the distance, walking toward them.
Panel 3
Jean is floating above as Kali approaches.
KALI: Wish I could say I wish things hadn’t worked out like we planned.
Panel 4
Kali is bending toward Magneto.
KALI: But he’s dead, isn’t he?
Panel 5
Jean, above. Kali has craned her head to look up at her.
JEAN GREY: He left me no choice.
JEAN GREY: But we will be in a far better position to talk reasonably now.
Panel 6
Kali looks back down grimly.
KALI: Let’s hope.
KALI: It’ll still be Magneto.
KALI: Right?
Friday, May 22, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, pages 18-20
PAGE EIGHTEEN
Panel 1
Magneto’s chaos continues. We see people knocked down and bloodied everywhere as metal objects continue to fly, although in this wide shot we see Magneto gesturing to move them and Jean Grey gesturing to divert them, and various people reacting accordingly.
Panel 2
Tighten in on Jean so we see over her shoulder, where we see Chamber and Jenny in the distance.
Panel 3
Chamber has rushed to the scene ahead of Jenny and is unleashing his flames.
Panel 4
Magneto has already seen him and sent a large assortment of flying metal objects his way, too many for Jean to completely divert or Chamber to handle. There is a smug look on Magneto’s face.
Panel 5
Jenny has arrived. She looks scared. Chamber has fallen in the meantime.
Panel 6
Jean Grey smirking as she looks toward Jenny.
JEAN GREY: Jenny?
JEAN GREY: It’s showtime.
PAGE NINETEEN
Panel 1 (splash)
Jenny bursts into flame.
JENNY STORM: Flame on!
PAGE TWENTY
Panel 1
Jenny and Jean Grey have tackled Magneto and are flying him away from the scene. There is a surprised look on his face. Various metal objects are melting around them.
Panel 2
A wide shot as the trio continues to hurtle into the air. In the distant we can see that Chamber has recovered and is once again unleashing his flames from a distance.
MAGNETO: This is madness!
Panel 3
Jenny is separating herself from the pack.
JEAN GREY: It hurts like hell every time I have to do this. Lately it can’t be helped, but in this instance I figured it could be put to good use.
Panel 4
Jean bursts into flame as her Phoenix resurrection is once again triggered.
Panel 1
Magneto’s chaos continues. We see people knocked down and bloodied everywhere as metal objects continue to fly, although in this wide shot we see Magneto gesturing to move them and Jean Grey gesturing to divert them, and various people reacting accordingly.
Panel 2
Tighten in on Jean so we see over her shoulder, where we see Chamber and Jenny in the distance.
Panel 3
Chamber has rushed to the scene ahead of Jenny and is unleashing his flames.
Panel 4
Magneto has already seen him and sent a large assortment of flying metal objects his way, too many for Jean to completely divert or Chamber to handle. There is a smug look on Magneto’s face.
Panel 5
Jenny has arrived. She looks scared. Chamber has fallen in the meantime.
Panel 6
Jean Grey smirking as she looks toward Jenny.
JEAN GREY: Jenny?
JEAN GREY: It’s showtime.
PAGE NINETEEN
Panel 1 (splash)
Jenny bursts into flame.
JENNY STORM: Flame on!
PAGE TWENTY
Panel 1
Jenny and Jean Grey have tackled Magneto and are flying him away from the scene. There is a surprised look on his face. Various metal objects are melting around them.
Panel 2
A wide shot as the trio continues to hurtle into the air. In the distant we can see that Chamber has recovered and is once again unleashing his flames from a distance.
MAGNETO: This is madness!
Panel 3
Jenny is separating herself from the pack.
JEAN GREY: It hurts like hell every time I have to do this. Lately it can’t be helped, but in this instance I figured it could be put to good use.
Panel 4
Jean bursts into flame as her Phoenix resurrection is once again triggered.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 17
PAGE SEVENTEEN
Panel 1
Metal spikes impaling Larry at nonlethal points.
Panel 2
Magneto, various metal objects spinning around him.
MAGNETO: I do so hope my point has not been made yet.
Panel 3
Metal objects hurling at the rally-goers.
Panel 4
Metal object ramming into someone’s face. Feel free to add obligatory teeth sailing out of mouth.
Panel 5
Close-up of Magneto, smiling.
Panel 6
Fleeing rally-goers, metal objects pursuing them.
Panel 7
Jean Grey has appeared on the scene. At the moment she seems to be alone.
JEAN GREY: Magneto, stop this.
Panel 8
Magneto, if anything looking happier, or smug. Judgment call.
MAGNETO: My dear, I’m just getting warmed up.
Panel 9
Close-up of Jean.
JEAN GREY: Funny you should say that.
Panel 1
Metal spikes impaling Larry at nonlethal points.
Panel 2
Magneto, various metal objects spinning around him.
MAGNETO: I do so hope my point has not been made yet.
Panel 3
Metal objects hurling at the rally-goers.
Panel 4
Metal object ramming into someone’s face. Feel free to add obligatory teeth sailing out of mouth.
Panel 5
Close-up of Magneto, smiling.
Panel 6
Fleeing rally-goers, metal objects pursuing them.
Panel 7
Jean Grey has appeared on the scene. At the moment she seems to be alone.
JEAN GREY: Magneto, stop this.
Panel 8
Magneto, if anything looking happier, or smug. Judgment call.
MAGNETO: My dear, I’m just getting warmed up.
Panel 9
Close-up of Jean.
JEAN GREY: Funny you should say that.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 16
PAGE SIXTEEN
Panel 1
Close-up of staples flying out of one of the signs.
Panel 2
Tracking the staples through the air.
Panel 3
These staples join more staples.
Panel 4
The staples start to lose shape as they merge together.
Panel 5
They are now in the shape of a bullet.
Panel 6
Largest panel on the page. Wide shot of Magneto arriving at the rally, holding his hand up, the bullet floating just above it.
MAGNETO: Is that what they’re saying?
Panel 1
Close-up of staples flying out of one of the signs.
Panel 2
Tracking the staples through the air.
Panel 3
These staples join more staples.
Panel 4
The staples start to lose shape as they merge together.
Panel 5
They are now in the shape of a bullet.
Panel 6
Largest panel on the page. Wide shot of Magneto arriving at the rally, holding his hand up, the bullet floating just above it.
MAGNETO: Is that what they’re saying?
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 15
PAGE FIFTEEN
Panel 1
The main speaker at the rally is the father of Fish, the “I was watching sports!” guy, who turns out to be a forty-year-old overweight balding guy named Larry.
LARRY: My son died because of this.
Panel 2
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: My home was broken into by a mutant, my sanctuary violated. The kid thought it was just some stupid prank. This mutant bullied my son at school every day. That’s the kind of people they are, folks. Bullies. And they want our sympathy!
Panel 3
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: This mutant had the ability to make small inconveniences happen. I know, it sounds ridiculous. But it’s true. I am not a careless man, folks. I am master of my domain. The night my son died, everything went wrong. My television randomly switched off CourtCenter and started playing An Everyday Affair, which I can guarantee you I had never watched a day in my life until that night. Maybe my wife did. But never again, not after that night, folks.
Panel 4
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: My son was special.
Panel 5
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: He excelled at everything he did. He was an Olympic caliber swimmer. I swear he was amphibious, as comfortable underwater as he was in a classroom, where he was an A student, in everything he pursued. His classmates were in awe of him, and not a day goes by since his murder that one of them doesn’t come up to me with another precious anecdote about him.
Panel 6
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: And a mutant took him from me.
Panel 7
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: Now, the irony of all this is that God had finally passed judgment on them. God had finally seen fit to wipe their scourge from the face of the planet. God had sent a plague upon them. And they went into their homes to finally die, in private.
Panel 8
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: But of course they weren’t satisfied with that. They weren’t satisfied with the almighty judgment leveled against them. They still couldn’t behave themselves! They still had to unleash their plague against us!
Panel 9
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: And it was my son, this time, who paid the price. This is what we are fighting, folks. Never forget.
Panel 1
The main speaker at the rally is the father of Fish, the “I was watching sports!” guy, who turns out to be a forty-year-old overweight balding guy named Larry.
LARRY: My son died because of this.
Panel 2
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: My home was broken into by a mutant, my sanctuary violated. The kid thought it was just some stupid prank. This mutant bullied my son at school every day. That’s the kind of people they are, folks. Bullies. And they want our sympathy!
Panel 3
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: This mutant had the ability to make small inconveniences happen. I know, it sounds ridiculous. But it’s true. I am not a careless man, folks. I am master of my domain. The night my son died, everything went wrong. My television randomly switched off CourtCenter and started playing An Everyday Affair, which I can guarantee you I had never watched a day in my life until that night. Maybe my wife did. But never again, not after that night, folks.
Panel 4
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: My son was special.
Panel 5
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: He excelled at everything he did. He was an Olympic caliber swimmer. I swear he was amphibious, as comfortable underwater as he was in a classroom, where he was an A student, in everything he pursued. His classmates were in awe of him, and not a day goes by since his murder that one of them doesn’t come up to me with another precious anecdote about him.
Panel 6
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: And a mutant took him from me.
Panel 7
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: Now, the irony of all this is that God had finally passed judgment on them. God had finally seen fit to wipe their scourge from the face of the planet. God had sent a plague upon them. And they went into their homes to finally die, in private.
Panel 8
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: But of course they weren’t satisfied with that. They weren’t satisfied with the almighty judgment leveled against them. They still couldn’t behave themselves! They still had to unleash their plague against us!
Panel 9
Larry continues to talk.
LARRY: And it was my son, this time, who paid the price. This is what we are fighting, folks. Never forget.
Monday, May 18, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 14
PAGE FOURTEEN
Panel 1
A middle-aged couple in a car. These are the parents of Fish from a few pages ago. The mom is crying, the dad looks angry.
CAPTION: Having the ability to get inside someone’s head isn’t always as great as it seems.
Panel 2
Focus on the dad.
CAPTION: It’s not always about the handy ability to learn something valuable. Sometimes, and it’s as true when you’re learning about this ability and just trying to control it, as it is later, that you’re exposed to things you’d rather not hear.
CAPTION: Anger, for instance.
Panel 3
Focus on the mom.
CAPTION: And sadness.
CAPTION: There’s no way to prepare for that. The depth of human emotion is always the toughest thing to handle because in many way, it’s the most real thing about us, and the most essential. There’s no way to separate it from the rest of our thought processes. And it dominates.
Panel 4
The mom and dad are getting out of their car.
CAPTION: That’s something I try to remind myself, as often as I can.
Panel 5
We watch as they approach a mass gathering from behind. We can see the backs of signs.
CAPTION: You can’t blame people for their reactions. They can only base them off what they know. Ignorance comes in many forms. I would know.
Panel 6
The parents standing in the crowd. Signs are now visible, reading slogans like “Mutants Deserve To Die,” “No More Mutants,” “The World Belongs To Humans.”
CAPTION: The challenge is to help them understand things better, even when they’re adamant they already know everything they need to know.
CAPTION: Even when they participate in something like this.
CAPTION: And you know with absolute certainty that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
Panel 1
A middle-aged couple in a car. These are the parents of Fish from a few pages ago. The mom is crying, the dad looks angry.
CAPTION: Having the ability to get inside someone’s head isn’t always as great as it seems.
Panel 2
Focus on the dad.
CAPTION: It’s not always about the handy ability to learn something valuable. Sometimes, and it’s as true when you’re learning about this ability and just trying to control it, as it is later, that you’re exposed to things you’d rather not hear.
CAPTION: Anger, for instance.
Panel 3
Focus on the mom.
CAPTION: And sadness.
CAPTION: There’s no way to prepare for that. The depth of human emotion is always the toughest thing to handle because in many way, it’s the most real thing about us, and the most essential. There’s no way to separate it from the rest of our thought processes. And it dominates.
Panel 4
The mom and dad are getting out of their car.
CAPTION: That’s something I try to remind myself, as often as I can.
Panel 5
We watch as they approach a mass gathering from behind. We can see the backs of signs.
CAPTION: You can’t blame people for their reactions. They can only base them off what they know. Ignorance comes in many forms. I would know.
Panel 6
The parents standing in the crowd. Signs are now visible, reading slogans like “Mutants Deserve To Die,” “No More Mutants,” “The World Belongs To Humans.”
CAPTION: The challenge is to help them understand things better, even when they’re adamant they already know everything they need to know.
CAPTION: Even when they participate in something like this.
CAPTION: And you know with absolute certainty that it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 13
PAGE THIRTEEN
Panel 1
Professor X sitting in an empty classroom at the Institute, staring out at all the empty seats.
CAPTION: It happened so suddenly, and quickly.
Panel 2
Professor X wheeling out of the classroom into an empty hall.
CAPTION: A mutant spontaneously burst into flames.
Panel 3
Professor X continues through the empty halls of the Institute.
CAPTION: After a few more reported instances, many of which occurred on our own grounds, naturally, we recognized the pattern.
Panel 4
Professor X sees a child, looking panicked, down the hall, running away from him.
CAPTION: Anytime there was more than one mutant in the room, this happened. We could find no culprit, no evil conspiracy. It was a mutant illness. And it was always deadly.
Panel 5
Professor X watches sadly as the child runs in the opposite direction.
CAPTION: We were forced into isolation.
Panel 6
Professor X, frozen in the same spot, crestfallen, the hallway empty again.
CAPTION: There were exceptions. Any mutant with a healing factor, or those with fire-based powers.
Panel 7
Professor X wheeling his way outside.
CAPTION: The public’s response was predictable. Less predictable was the fear we encountered in the greater superhero community.
Panel 8
Professor X looking into the sky, where there is a chaotic, massive gathering of birds.
CAPTION: We found ourselves once more backed into a corner. Magneto threatened to lash out. The Avengers assembled. I told them I would handle it.
Panel 9
Professor X has put his hands in front of his face to shield himself from a blinding light, at the center of which we can glimpse Jean Grey.
CAPTION: I had a plan. And I was determined to end the “mutant problem” once and for all...
Panel 1
Professor X sitting in an empty classroom at the Institute, staring out at all the empty seats.
CAPTION: It happened so suddenly, and quickly.
Panel 2
Professor X wheeling out of the classroom into an empty hall.
CAPTION: A mutant spontaneously burst into flames.
Panel 3
Professor X continues through the empty halls of the Institute.
CAPTION: After a few more reported instances, many of which occurred on our own grounds, naturally, we recognized the pattern.
Panel 4
Professor X sees a child, looking panicked, down the hall, running away from him.
CAPTION: Anytime there was more than one mutant in the room, this happened. We could find no culprit, no evil conspiracy. It was a mutant illness. And it was always deadly.
Panel 5
Professor X watches sadly as the child runs in the opposite direction.
CAPTION: We were forced into isolation.
Panel 6
Professor X, frozen in the same spot, crestfallen, the hallway empty again.
CAPTION: There were exceptions. Any mutant with a healing factor, or those with fire-based powers.
Panel 7
Professor X wheeling his way outside.
CAPTION: The public’s response was predictable. Less predictable was the fear we encountered in the greater superhero community.
Panel 8
Professor X looking into the sky, where there is a chaotic, massive gathering of birds.
CAPTION: We found ourselves once more backed into a corner. Magneto threatened to lash out. The Avengers assembled. I told them I would handle it.
Panel 9
Professor X has put his hands in front of his face to shield himself from a blinding light, at the center of which we can glimpse Jean Grey.
CAPTION: I had a plan. And I was determined to end the “mutant problem” once and for all...
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 12
PAGE TWELVE
Panel 1
Jenny waking up in her new bedroom. Currently still filled with Franklin’s “toys,” the kind of science projects you’d expect from the son of Reed Richards and Sue Storm.
CAPTION: I don’t envy her. Even if her circumstances have drastically improved.
Panel 2
Jenny looks around the room as if she still can’t believe this has happened.
CAPTION: She’s about to find out that even when the world finally gives her something, it’s still taking away from her, too.
Panel 3
Franklin, a few years younger than Jenny, is barging in happily with a breakfast tray. Jenny is surprised and astonished.
CAPTION: There’s so much she doesn’t know, and no one knows where to begin. Sue told her the basics. She knows who her father is, now. She thinks she knows everything. She doesn’t know the half of it.
Panel 4
Sue and Reed are standing at the door smiling proudly as Franklin sits on Jenny’s bed, watching her eat, a grateful expression on her face.
CAPTION: Yesterday she was alarmed at the possibility that she was a mutant. Today she’s not thinking about it at all. I don’t blame her. But she’s still in danger.
Panel 5
Sue and Reed have entered the room as Franklin and Jenny have started throwing toast at each other. Reed and Sue are still smiling.
CAPTION: I didn’t have the heart to tell Sue what I had in mind when I set this in motion. She alone among the Avengers trusted me, stood up for me when the whole world recoiled in horror, all over again, at the very thought of mutants.
Panel 6
Sue and Reed have joined Franklin and Jenny on the bed.
CAPTION: Because of the plague.
Panel 1
Jenny waking up in her new bedroom. Currently still filled with Franklin’s “toys,” the kind of science projects you’d expect from the son of Reed Richards and Sue Storm.
CAPTION: I don’t envy her. Even if her circumstances have drastically improved.
Panel 2
Jenny looks around the room as if she still can’t believe this has happened.
CAPTION: She’s about to find out that even when the world finally gives her something, it’s still taking away from her, too.
Panel 3
Franklin, a few years younger than Jenny, is barging in happily with a breakfast tray. Jenny is surprised and astonished.
CAPTION: There’s so much she doesn’t know, and no one knows where to begin. Sue told her the basics. She knows who her father is, now. She thinks she knows everything. She doesn’t know the half of it.
Panel 4
Sue and Reed are standing at the door smiling proudly as Franklin sits on Jenny’s bed, watching her eat, a grateful expression on her face.
CAPTION: Yesterday she was alarmed at the possibility that she was a mutant. Today she’s not thinking about it at all. I don’t blame her. But she’s still in danger.
Panel 5
Sue and Reed have entered the room as Franklin and Jenny have started throwing toast at each other. Reed and Sue are still smiling.
CAPTION: I didn’t have the heart to tell Sue what I had in mind when I set this in motion. She alone among the Avengers trusted me, stood up for me when the whole world recoiled in horror, all over again, at the very thought of mutants.
Panel 6
Sue and Reed have joined Franklin and Jenny on the bed.
CAPTION: Because of the plague.
Friday, May 15, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 11
PAGE ELEVEN
Panel 1
Magneto talking directly at the reader.
MAGNETO: My dear, do you know why mutants have engendered so much distrust?
Panel 2
Same as before.
MAGNETO: It’s because we refuse to play by their rules.
Panel 3
Same as before.
MAGNETO: And we don’t care what they say about us.
Panel 4
Same as before.
MAGNETO: So yes, I am going to attend that rally.
Panel 5
Same as before.
MAGNETO: They will hear exactly what I have to say.
Panel 6
Same as before.
MAGNETO: Anything that happens...
MAGNETO: Let’s just say I will respond in kind.
Panel 7
Magneto is holding his helmet in this panel.
MAGNETO: If you want to know more, you will simply have to be there yourself. Make it interesting. Bring along more of your X-Men.
Panel 8
Magneto is placing his helmet on.
MAGNETO: Now, if you would kindly go bother someone else in the meantime.
Panel 9
Black panel. Jean Grey’s telepathic conversation has been ended by Magneto’s helmet.
Panel 1
Magneto talking directly at the reader.
MAGNETO: My dear, do you know why mutants have engendered so much distrust?
Panel 2
Same as before.
MAGNETO: It’s because we refuse to play by their rules.
Panel 3
Same as before.
MAGNETO: And we don’t care what they say about us.
Panel 4
Same as before.
MAGNETO: So yes, I am going to attend that rally.
Panel 5
Same as before.
MAGNETO: They will hear exactly what I have to say.
Panel 6
Same as before.
MAGNETO: Anything that happens...
MAGNETO: Let’s just say I will respond in kind.
Panel 7
Magneto is holding his helmet in this panel.
MAGNETO: If you want to know more, you will simply have to be there yourself. Make it interesting. Bring along more of your X-Men.
Panel 8
Magneto is placing his helmet on.
MAGNETO: Now, if you would kindly go bother someone else in the meantime.
Panel 9
Black panel. Jean Grey’s telepathic conversation has been ended by Magneto’s helmet.
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 10
PAGE TEN
Panel 1
Here’s another ten-year-old, Vex, a boy, in a wide shot climbing out his bedroom window on the second floor, with a bedsheet rope. Included in the panel is the house next door, and the tree that’s going to help him next panel. It is nighttime.
Panel 2
Here’s Vex climbing the tree.
Panel 3
Here’s Vex climbing into the window of his best friend’s room.
Panel 4
Here’s Vex in the room with his best friend Fish, another ten-year-old boy. Clearly happy to see each other.
Panel 5
Here’s Vex holding his finger to his mouth, shushing Fish. They’re both fighting giggles. Vex is using his mutant abilities.
Panel 6
Vex is nearly losing it. Fish is turning into a liquid state. That’s his mutant ability.
VOICE (O.P.): Honey? Have you seen my phone? I swear it was here a second ago!
Panel 7
Here’s Vex stepping out of the puddle Fish has become.
VOICE (O.P.): Also, I thought I was watching sports? This is not sports. I don’t know what this is. Soap operas don’t even play at night.
Panel 8
Here’s Vex and Fish using towels to clean up whatever water Fish may have left behind. They’re still laughing, although they’re not trying to hide it now.
Panel 9
Here’s Vex and Fish, spontaneously combusting, surprised looks on their faces.
Panel 1
Here’s another ten-year-old, Vex, a boy, in a wide shot climbing out his bedroom window on the second floor, with a bedsheet rope. Included in the panel is the house next door, and the tree that’s going to help him next panel. It is nighttime.
Panel 2
Here’s Vex climbing the tree.
Panel 3
Here’s Vex climbing into the window of his best friend’s room.
Panel 4
Here’s Vex in the room with his best friend Fish, another ten-year-old boy. Clearly happy to see each other.
Panel 5
Here’s Vex holding his finger to his mouth, shushing Fish. They’re both fighting giggles. Vex is using his mutant abilities.
Panel 6
Vex is nearly losing it. Fish is turning into a liquid state. That’s his mutant ability.
VOICE (O.P.): Honey? Have you seen my phone? I swear it was here a second ago!
Panel 7
Here’s Vex stepping out of the puddle Fish has become.
VOICE (O.P.): Also, I thought I was watching sports? This is not sports. I don’t know what this is. Soap operas don’t even play at night.
Panel 8
Here’s Vex and Fish using towels to clean up whatever water Fish may have left behind. They’re still laughing, although they’re not trying to hide it now.
Panel 9
Here’s Vex and Fish, spontaneously combusting, surprised looks on their faces.
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 9
PAGE NINE
Panel 1
Jean Grey, using Cerebro, and Chamber, colored in shade to represent the fact that they’re being projected, are in the bedroom of an Indian girl, who’s also about ten, like Jenny earlier (it’ll be relevant later). This is Kali. Just to be clear, in projected form Jean is not wearing the Cerebro cap. Kali is lying down on her bed playing on her phone.
JEAN GREY: Kali.
JEAN GREY: Hello.
Panel 2
Kali is looking startled at Jean and Chamber.
KALI: Oh, wow!
Panel 3
Projected Jean is sitting herself down on Kali’s bed. Chamber stands aloof off to the side.
JEAN GREY: That’s my colleague, Chamber.
JEAN GREY: Kali, remember when I told you that I’d visit if things got out of hand?
JEAN GREY: I don’t want you worrying about this lockdown. That’s not why I’m here.
Panel 4
Kali is sitting up next to Projected Jean.
JEAN GREY: I told you that you were important, Kali.
JEAN GREY: There’s a lot of opposition to what I’m trying to do now. I just wanted to make sure you knew that.
JEAN GREY: But everything I told you before...
JEAN GREY: That’s what I’m here for now.
JEAN GREY: It’s time.
Panel 5
Close-up of Kali.
KALI: This is it, you mean, a certified, off-the-books X-Men adventure?
Panel 6
Close-up of Chamber.
CHAMBER: Don’t get too excited, kid.
CHAMBER: Just ‘cause you’re our get-out-of-jail-free card, doesn’t mean there isn’t risk involved.
CHAMBER: Believe me when I say, and Jean will back me up on this, the whole resurrection gig isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.
CHAMBER: Some of us will come back angry...
Panel 1
Jean Grey, using Cerebro, and Chamber, colored in shade to represent the fact that they’re being projected, are in the bedroom of an Indian girl, who’s also about ten, like Jenny earlier (it’ll be relevant later). This is Kali. Just to be clear, in projected form Jean is not wearing the Cerebro cap. Kali is lying down on her bed playing on her phone.
JEAN GREY: Kali.
JEAN GREY: Hello.
Panel 2
Kali is looking startled at Jean and Chamber.
KALI: Oh, wow!
Panel 3
Projected Jean is sitting herself down on Kali’s bed. Chamber stands aloof off to the side.
JEAN GREY: That’s my colleague, Chamber.
JEAN GREY: Kali, remember when I told you that I’d visit if things got out of hand?
JEAN GREY: I don’t want you worrying about this lockdown. That’s not why I’m here.
Panel 4
Kali is sitting up next to Projected Jean.
JEAN GREY: I told you that you were important, Kali.
JEAN GREY: There’s a lot of opposition to what I’m trying to do now. I just wanted to make sure you knew that.
JEAN GREY: But everything I told you before...
JEAN GREY: That’s what I’m here for now.
JEAN GREY: It’s time.
Panel 5
Close-up of Kali.
KALI: This is it, you mean, a certified, off-the-books X-Men adventure?
Panel 6
Close-up of Chamber.
CHAMBER: Don’t get too excited, kid.
CHAMBER: Just ‘cause you’re our get-out-of-jail-free card, doesn’t mean there isn’t risk involved.
CHAMBER: Believe me when I say, and Jean will back me up on this, the whole resurrection gig isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.
CHAMBER: Some of us will come back angry...
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 8
PAGE EIGHT
Panel 1
Close-up of Chamber. Word bubble is ordinary white.
CHAMBER: Jean.
Panel 2
Close-up of Jean Grey, looking a little annoyed.
JEAN GREY: Voice changed a little, there, Chamber.
JEAN GREY: Or should I say, Charles.
Panel 3
Close-up of Chamber. White word bubbling remains.
CHAMBER: Jean, I need you to reconsider your current course of action.
CHAMBER: You need to decide what’s more important...
CHAMBER: What’s best for all mutants?
CHAMBER: What’s best for Jean?
Panel 4
Close-up of Jean.
JEAN GREY: I already did, Charles.
JEAN GREY: I think we already had this conversation, with Scott.
JEAN GREY: If I didn’t listen when it was Scott talking, what makes you think I would change my mind now?
JEAN GREY: But thanks for the vote of confidence.
Panel 5
Close-up of Chamber. White word bubbling continues.
CHAMBER: I had to try.
Panel 6
Close-up of Jean, placing the Cerebro cap on her head. Her face is a mask of grim determination. No dialogue.
Panel 7
Close-up of Chamber. Normal Chamber word bubbling resumes.
CHAMBER: Damn. I hate when he does that.
Panel 8
Close-up of Jean, her eyes closed, ready to plunge in.
JEAN GREY: Yeah.
JEAN GREY: That is not going to be the end of it.
Panel 1
Close-up of Chamber. Word bubble is ordinary white.
CHAMBER: Jean.
Panel 2
Close-up of Jean Grey, looking a little annoyed.
JEAN GREY: Voice changed a little, there, Chamber.
JEAN GREY: Or should I say, Charles.
Panel 3
Close-up of Chamber. White word bubbling remains.
CHAMBER: Jean, I need you to reconsider your current course of action.
CHAMBER: You need to decide what’s more important...
CHAMBER: What’s best for all mutants?
CHAMBER: What’s best for Jean?
Panel 4
Close-up of Jean.
JEAN GREY: I already did, Charles.
JEAN GREY: I think we already had this conversation, with Scott.
JEAN GREY: If I didn’t listen when it was Scott talking, what makes you think I would change my mind now?
JEAN GREY: But thanks for the vote of confidence.
Panel 5
Close-up of Chamber. White word bubbling continues.
CHAMBER: I had to try.
Panel 6
Close-up of Jean, placing the Cerebro cap on her head. Her face is a mask of grim determination. No dialogue.
Panel 7
Close-up of Chamber. Normal Chamber word bubbling resumes.
CHAMBER: Damn. I hate when he does that.
Panel 8
Close-up of Jean, her eyes closed, ready to plunge in.
JEAN GREY: Yeah.
JEAN GREY: That is not going to be the end of it.
Monday, May 11, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 7
PAGE SEVEN
Panel 1
Jean Grey walking into the Cerebro room with Chamber.
CAPTION: Jenny’s settling in with Sue and the rest of her new family. Franklin, at least, seems to be having fun with the situation.
Panel 2
Jean has sat down and is holding the Cerebro cap. Chamber is standing off to the side. Please remember that Chamber has distinct word bubbles.
CHAMBER: Ironic.
CHAMBER: I’m the one mutant even other mutants can’t stand.
CHAMBER: And trust even less, now.
Panel 3
Close-up on Jean.
JEAN GREY: Jubilee always speaks highly of you.
Panel 4
Close-up of Chamber.
CHAMBER: Jubilee is cute.
CHAMBER: Insufferably naive, though.
Panel 5
Close-up of Jean.
JEAN GREY: Sometimes you don’t have the luxury of choosing your friends.
Panel 6
Close-up of Chamber.
CHAMBER: Fills me with confidence concerning your motives for choosing me as your new best friend.
Panel 7
Close-up of Jean.
JEAN GREY: It’s not like that and you know it.
Panel 8
Close-up of Chamber.
CHAMBER: Well, let’s just say, you’re gonna have to prove it.
Panel 1
Jean Grey walking into the Cerebro room with Chamber.
CAPTION: Jenny’s settling in with Sue and the rest of her new family. Franklin, at least, seems to be having fun with the situation.
Panel 2
Jean has sat down and is holding the Cerebro cap. Chamber is standing off to the side. Please remember that Chamber has distinct word bubbles.
CHAMBER: Ironic.
CHAMBER: I’m the one mutant even other mutants can’t stand.
CHAMBER: And trust even less, now.
Panel 3
Close-up on Jean.
JEAN GREY: Jubilee always speaks highly of you.
Panel 4
Close-up of Chamber.
CHAMBER: Jubilee is cute.
CHAMBER: Insufferably naive, though.
Panel 5
Close-up of Jean.
JEAN GREY: Sometimes you don’t have the luxury of choosing your friends.
Panel 6
Close-up of Chamber.
CHAMBER: Fills me with confidence concerning your motives for choosing me as your new best friend.
Panel 7
Close-up of Jean.
JEAN GREY: It’s not like that and you know it.
Panel 8
Close-up of Chamber.
CHAMBER: Well, let’s just say, you’re gonna have to prove it.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 6
PAGE SIX
Panel 1
Outside Saint Maggie’s again as Jean Grey, Sue Storm, and Jenny are being loaded into a taxi. Jean is acknowledging the driver, who’s holding Jenny’s meager suitcase. The driver, a Latino male in his thirties, is holding the front passenger door open for Jean.
JEAN GREY: Thanks, Karma.
KARMA: My pleasure, ma’am.
Panel 2
Inside the taxi now as they’ve gotten on the road. Jean has turned around, addressing Jenny.
JEAN GREY: You’ve heard of the Terrigen Mists, Jenny?
JEAN GREY: A few years ago they were circling the globe. Caused a lot of problems.
JENNY: I guess?
Panel 3
Jean continues to address Jenny from the front seat. We see that Sue has taken Jenny’s hand, smiling to reassure her, although Jenny looks uncomfortable.
JEAN GREY: The mutant populations in particular felt threatened.
Panel 4
Close-up on Jenny, looking even more concerned.
JENNY: Are you saying I’m a mutant? Does that explain everything?
JENNY: Oh, god!
Panel 5
Sue is placing her other hand over Jenny’s.
SUE STORM: There’s nothing wrong with being a mutant, Jenny. Just another way to have powers. Just another thing someone can do.
SUE STORM: But, no, you are not a mutant.
Panel 6
Focus on Jean, still looking backwards, her expression compassionate.
JEAN GREY: Something has happened very much like the Mists, Jenny.
JEAN GREY: I’m sorry your life has been so difficult. It was about to get worse. That’s why we decided to make things right, Jenny.
JEAN GREY: You are no longer alone.
Panel 1
Outside Saint Maggie’s again as Jean Grey, Sue Storm, and Jenny are being loaded into a taxi. Jean is acknowledging the driver, who’s holding Jenny’s meager suitcase. The driver, a Latino male in his thirties, is holding the front passenger door open for Jean.
JEAN GREY: Thanks, Karma.
KARMA: My pleasure, ma’am.
Panel 2
Inside the taxi now as they’ve gotten on the road. Jean has turned around, addressing Jenny.
JEAN GREY: You’ve heard of the Terrigen Mists, Jenny?
JEAN GREY: A few years ago they were circling the globe. Caused a lot of problems.
JENNY: I guess?
Panel 3
Jean continues to address Jenny from the front seat. We see that Sue has taken Jenny’s hand, smiling to reassure her, although Jenny looks uncomfortable.
JEAN GREY: The mutant populations in particular felt threatened.
Panel 4
Close-up on Jenny, looking even more concerned.
JENNY: Are you saying I’m a mutant? Does that explain everything?
JENNY: Oh, god!
Panel 5
Sue is placing her other hand over Jenny’s.
SUE STORM: There’s nothing wrong with being a mutant, Jenny. Just another way to have powers. Just another thing someone can do.
SUE STORM: But, no, you are not a mutant.
Panel 6
Focus on Jean, still looking backwards, her expression compassionate.
JEAN GREY: Something has happened very much like the Mists, Jenny.
JEAN GREY: I’m sorry your life has been so difficult. It was about to get worse. That’s why we decided to make things right, Jenny.
JEAN GREY: You are no longer alone.
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 5
PAGE FIVE
Panel 1
Jean Grey and Sue Storm have reached a room with the door cracked open. Jean is knocking on the frame.
JEAN GREY: Jenny?
Panel 2
Jean and Sue are walking into the room. We do not yet see Jenny.
JEAN GREY: Jenny? I’ve brought a friend. The one I was telling you about. Sue.
Panel 3
Jean and Sue are now fully in the room and standing at the foot of a bed, with a ten-year-old girl sitting on it, staring at them impassively. She’s got dirty blonde hair, closer to brown than blonde.
JEAN GREY: Sue is going to be your new guardian. Everything’s been arranged. You’re leaving this place today. Forever.
Panel 4
Sue is bending toward Jenny expectantly. Jenny has not changed her expression or moved.
SUE STORM: Jenny?
SUE STORM: We have a lot to talk about!
Panel 5
Sue is in the same position as before. Jenny is in the same position as before. No dialogue.
Panel 6
Sue remains as before, except now she’s smiling broadly. Jenny is pulling a teddy bear out by the leg from under the sheets. The teddy bear is orange. Jenny is speaking with a serious expression on her face.
JENNY: Mandarin is coming too, right?
Panel 1
Jean Grey and Sue Storm have reached a room with the door cracked open. Jean is knocking on the frame.
JEAN GREY: Jenny?
Panel 2
Jean and Sue are walking into the room. We do not yet see Jenny.
JEAN GREY: Jenny? I’ve brought a friend. The one I was telling you about. Sue.
Panel 3
Jean and Sue are now fully in the room and standing at the foot of a bed, with a ten-year-old girl sitting on it, staring at them impassively. She’s got dirty blonde hair, closer to brown than blonde.
JEAN GREY: Sue is going to be your new guardian. Everything’s been arranged. You’re leaving this place today. Forever.
Panel 4
Sue is bending toward Jenny expectantly. Jenny has not changed her expression or moved.
SUE STORM: Jenny?
SUE STORM: We have a lot to talk about!
Panel 5
Sue is in the same position as before. Jenny is in the same position as before. No dialogue.
Panel 6
Sue remains as before, except now she’s smiling broadly. Jenny is pulling a teddy bear out by the leg from under the sheets. The teddy bear is orange. Jenny is speaking with a serious expression on her face.
JENNY: Mandarin is coming too, right?
Friday, May 8, 2020
Intentions (A Star Trek Mirror Universe Tale)
The thing about Vulcan logic is that it’s as true here as anywhere. We don’t believe in time travel, but we always knew there were alternate realities. Logic dictates eliminating all possible outcomes until you have reached the most rational one, but by that we understand that there were always other ways things could have turned out.
For instance, we hesitated to visit Earth for so long not merely because humans were considered too primitive, but because we couldn’t be certain that the result would be favorable to us. It was as likely that we would find them amenable as truculent. Our scans showed, in the years before first contact, that they had engaged in a massive world war that devastated the entire population.
The best possible outcome had humans putting that aside when they had definitive proof they weren’t alone in the universe. But that’s not what happened.
We were greeted with death. The entire crew of the research vessel that touched down on Earth was slaughtered. As far as we could tell, humans spent the next few decades deconstructing our ship, learning all its secrets, and before we had decided on a response, they were at our doorstep, and we were made subjects of their empire.
In time things changed, but again, it was not for the better. On Vulcan we determined the most likely cause for the revolt my brother attempted from within the empire was due to interference from an alternate reality. When you eliminate the possibilities, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the solution. We smuggled records back to Vulcan, during the brief period where it seemed peace was possible, and confirmed it for ourselves.
Then the Klingons formed an alliance with the Cardassians, and we learned that things had been better than they had seemed. Far from ideal, but at least then we were still masters of our own destinies, or at least we could tell ourselves.
I endured this longer than my brother. He quickly became a martyr, butchered by a Klingon named Chang, a conspiracy that involved humans and Romulans, after the loss of Praxus caused a potential catastrophe for the Alliance. The humans gained nothing, and the Romulans less. No one heard from them for decades. No one knew if they in fact had been exterminated. Logic would dictate the need to eliminate such a dangerous threat. No doubt the Breen would have been used to accomplish it, as they’re often used for such dirty work.
What no one expected was a different kind of alliance to form, between a Trill named Curzon and three Klingons, Kor, Kang, and Koloth. They found common ground in the pursuit of a lunatic known as the Albino, the left hand of Duras, who had gone rogue with delusions of power. He sought to betray Duras, then Regent of the Alliance, until his throne was claimed by Worf, Son of Mogh. When they were forced back into the shadows, they found an unlikely ally in a human named Sisko, who had cozied up with the Bajorans, the administrators under the Cardassians. Sisko and Curzon became fast friends. I gave them what supplies Vulcan could afford, as little as my countrymen trusted me, still bothered by my religious beliefs, which were what had brought me to Bajor, where I had heard of the Prophets, though Bajoran belief itself had stagnated over the years. That was how I entered their circle.
It was also how I exited. I became caught up in the machinations of life aboard the space station Terok Nor. A Bajoran, the Intendant Kira, hatched a plan to steal orbs from the alternate universe that had so complicated ours. She didn’t know anymore about them than I did. By then Sisko was dead, Kang and Koloth were dead, Curzon was dead, and Kor no longer trusted me, but did not possess the bloodlust to betray me. He was old. So was I but I had always been fueled by a fire within. I was fueled by pain, and I was very cunning. I found a Cardassian named Dukat, who had been exiled after it became known that he had fathered a child with a human, a woman named Yar, but he had never stopped believing he would one day find power again. He was not above any method to help him reclaim it. We intended to double-cross the Intendant.
But when his daughter died after Intendant Kira had failed to claim her orb and looked for someone to blame, something snapped in Dukat. My knack for self-preservation saw me through again, but then the Alliance fell after one too many attempts to steal the secrets of the alternate universe.
I had remained aboard Terok Nor. I remembered the orbs. Logic dictated that they must exist here as well. I would not rest until I found them. My search for them, however, was sidetracked by further tumult.
As it turned out, the Romulans had survived, but not for long. Their planet had become unstable, and they didn’t have time to evacuate. Outraged, the new federation of planets that had emerged set about to find a scapegoat. They found one in a human named Picard, who had previously been championed as a savior when he had led the fight against mysterious cybernetic invaders. I knew this man would make a powerful new ally. I offered my services to him when he went in search of an old friend, an android named Data, who had been presumed lost in some previous adventure (I don’t know the details as yet). It was then Picard introduced me to his friend Guinan.
It is through her that I have found true peace, for the first time in my life. My brother had once told me that logic was only the beginning of wisdom. I don’t know if he understood it himself, then, but, after all these years, I think I do. At last my mind has quieted. It wasn’t the turmoil of the universe that had plagued me, but my own.
For instance, we hesitated to visit Earth for so long not merely because humans were considered too primitive, but because we couldn’t be certain that the result would be favorable to us. It was as likely that we would find them amenable as truculent. Our scans showed, in the years before first contact, that they had engaged in a massive world war that devastated the entire population.
The best possible outcome had humans putting that aside when they had definitive proof they weren’t alone in the universe. But that’s not what happened.
We were greeted with death. The entire crew of the research vessel that touched down on Earth was slaughtered. As far as we could tell, humans spent the next few decades deconstructing our ship, learning all its secrets, and before we had decided on a response, they were at our doorstep, and we were made subjects of their empire.
In time things changed, but again, it was not for the better. On Vulcan we determined the most likely cause for the revolt my brother attempted from within the empire was due to interference from an alternate reality. When you eliminate the possibilities, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the solution. We smuggled records back to Vulcan, during the brief period where it seemed peace was possible, and confirmed it for ourselves.
Then the Klingons formed an alliance with the Cardassians, and we learned that things had been better than they had seemed. Far from ideal, but at least then we were still masters of our own destinies, or at least we could tell ourselves.
I endured this longer than my brother. He quickly became a martyr, butchered by a Klingon named Chang, a conspiracy that involved humans and Romulans, after the loss of Praxus caused a potential catastrophe for the Alliance. The humans gained nothing, and the Romulans less. No one heard from them for decades. No one knew if they in fact had been exterminated. Logic would dictate the need to eliminate such a dangerous threat. No doubt the Breen would have been used to accomplish it, as they’re often used for such dirty work.
What no one expected was a different kind of alliance to form, between a Trill named Curzon and three Klingons, Kor, Kang, and Koloth. They found common ground in the pursuit of a lunatic known as the Albino, the left hand of Duras, who had gone rogue with delusions of power. He sought to betray Duras, then Regent of the Alliance, until his throne was claimed by Worf, Son of Mogh. When they were forced back into the shadows, they found an unlikely ally in a human named Sisko, who had cozied up with the Bajorans, the administrators under the Cardassians. Sisko and Curzon became fast friends. I gave them what supplies Vulcan could afford, as little as my countrymen trusted me, still bothered by my religious beliefs, which were what had brought me to Bajor, where I had heard of the Prophets, though Bajoran belief itself had stagnated over the years. That was how I entered their circle.
It was also how I exited. I became caught up in the machinations of life aboard the space station Terok Nor. A Bajoran, the Intendant Kira, hatched a plan to steal orbs from the alternate universe that had so complicated ours. She didn’t know anymore about them than I did. By then Sisko was dead, Kang and Koloth were dead, Curzon was dead, and Kor no longer trusted me, but did not possess the bloodlust to betray me. He was old. So was I but I had always been fueled by a fire within. I was fueled by pain, and I was very cunning. I found a Cardassian named Dukat, who had been exiled after it became known that he had fathered a child with a human, a woman named Yar, but he had never stopped believing he would one day find power again. He was not above any method to help him reclaim it. We intended to double-cross the Intendant.
But when his daughter died after Intendant Kira had failed to claim her orb and looked for someone to blame, something snapped in Dukat. My knack for self-preservation saw me through again, but then the Alliance fell after one too many attempts to steal the secrets of the alternate universe.
I had remained aboard Terok Nor. I remembered the orbs. Logic dictated that they must exist here as well. I would not rest until I found them. My search for them, however, was sidetracked by further tumult.
As it turned out, the Romulans had survived, but not for long. Their planet had become unstable, and they didn’t have time to evacuate. Outraged, the new federation of planets that had emerged set about to find a scapegoat. They found one in a human named Picard, who had previously been championed as a savior when he had led the fight against mysterious cybernetic invaders. I knew this man would make a powerful new ally. I offered my services to him when he went in search of an old friend, an android named Data, who had been presumed lost in some previous adventure (I don’t know the details as yet). It was then Picard introduced me to his friend Guinan.
It is through her that I have found true peace, for the first time in my life. My brother had once told me that logic was only the beginning of wisdom. I don’t know if he understood it himself, then, but, after all these years, I think I do. At last my mind has quieted. It wasn’t the turmoil of the universe that had plagued me, but my own.
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 4
PAGE FOUR
Panel 1
Jean Grey and Sue Storm touch down at Saint Maggie’s Orphanage.
CAPTION: A large part of why this needed to happen was to fix a grievous error.
Panel 2
As Jean and Sue make their way through the foyer, excited children are reacting like they’re rock stars. Jean and Sue look amused.
CHILD #1: Invisible Girl! Invisible Girl!
CHILD #2: Marvel Girl! Marvel Girl!
Panel 3
Jean has stopped and is crouching down to spend a moment with the children. Now Sue, still standing, has a wry expression.
SUE STORM: “Invisible Girl.” Not awfully P.C.
JEAN GREY: They’re kids, Sue.
JEAN GREY: Actually, I kind of miss being called “Marvel Girl.”
Panel 4
Sue has suddenly realized she’s being a grump and is demonstrating her invisibility powers, holding up a disappearing hand as children around her cheer.
SUE STORM: It bothers me that Jenny isn’t down here with all of these kids.
Panel 5
Jean has made a surprised kid levitate as Sue continues to make parts of herself disappear.
JEAN GREY: It bothers me that you’re still focusing on what’s not happening rather than what is.
Panel 6
Jean is looking around trying to find Sue.
Panel 7
Jean sees Sue down a hall.
CAPTION: On the other hand, I couldn’t blame her impatience.
Panel 1
Jean Grey and Sue Storm touch down at Saint Maggie’s Orphanage.
CAPTION: A large part of why this needed to happen was to fix a grievous error.
Panel 2
As Jean and Sue make their way through the foyer, excited children are reacting like they’re rock stars. Jean and Sue look amused.
CHILD #1: Invisible Girl! Invisible Girl!
CHILD #2: Marvel Girl! Marvel Girl!
Panel 3
Jean has stopped and is crouching down to spend a moment with the children. Now Sue, still standing, has a wry expression.
SUE STORM: “Invisible Girl.” Not awfully P.C.
JEAN GREY: They’re kids, Sue.
JEAN GREY: Actually, I kind of miss being called “Marvel Girl.”
Panel 4
Sue has suddenly realized she’s being a grump and is demonstrating her invisibility powers, holding up a disappearing hand as children around her cheer.
SUE STORM: It bothers me that Jenny isn’t down here with all of these kids.
Panel 5
Jean has made a surprised kid levitate as Sue continues to make parts of herself disappear.
JEAN GREY: It bothers me that you’re still focusing on what’s not happening rather than what is.
Panel 6
Jean is looking around trying to find Sue.
Panel 7
Jean sees Sue down a hall.
CAPTION: On the other hand, I couldn’t blame her impatience.
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 3
PAGE THREE
Panel 1
Jean Grey flies off with Sue Storm, leaving the rest of the Avengers behind, though they’re still visible at this point.
IRON MAN: Uh, where are you going, Sue? Kind of in the middle of something, here?
Panel 2
Jean and Sue are alone in this shot, flying through the air.
CAPTION: What we couldn’t tell the Avengers at this point was just how...complicated things already were.
SUE STORM: Don’t mind Tony.
SUE STORM: Never met a story he didn’t automatically assume was about him.
Panel 3
Focus on Sue, looking worried.
SUE STORM: You’re sure you haven’t mentioned her to anyone?
SUE STORM: Even Johnny?
Panel 4
Focus on Jean, concentrating.
JEAN GREY: If there’s one thing telepaths know, it’s the value of discretion.
Panel 5
A shot of Jean and Sue from behind, shadowed.
CAPTION: Of course I hadn’t. But if anyone deserved to know, it was Johnny Storm. He was going to be the first. By then everyone else would have found out anyway. Johnny doesn’t keep secrets.
Panel 6
Jean and Sue flying off into the distance.
CAPTION: As it turns out, only from himself...
Panel 1
Jean Grey flies off with Sue Storm, leaving the rest of the Avengers behind, though they’re still visible at this point.
IRON MAN: Uh, where are you going, Sue? Kind of in the middle of something, here?
Panel 2
Jean and Sue are alone in this shot, flying through the air.
CAPTION: What we couldn’t tell the Avengers at this point was just how...complicated things already were.
SUE STORM: Don’t mind Tony.
SUE STORM: Never met a story he didn’t automatically assume was about him.
Panel 3
Focus on Sue, looking worried.
SUE STORM: You’re sure you haven’t mentioned her to anyone?
SUE STORM: Even Johnny?
Panel 4
Focus on Jean, concentrating.
JEAN GREY: If there’s one thing telepaths know, it’s the value of discretion.
Panel 5
A shot of Jean and Sue from behind, shadowed.
CAPTION: Of course I hadn’t. But if anyone deserved to know, it was Johnny Storm. He was going to be the first. By then everyone else would have found out anyway. Johnny doesn’t keep secrets.
Panel 6
Jean and Sue flying off into the distance.
CAPTION: As it turns out, only from himself...
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, pages 1-2
PAGE ONE
Panel 1 (splash)
A giant fireball with the vague Phoenix outline, with Jean Grey, nude, slightly visible in the center.
CAPTION: This part is never easy.
CAPTION: Death, and rebirth.
PAGE TWO
Panel 1
Jean Grey is covering herself as she looks around.
CAPTION: With an audience, no less.
Panel 2
We pan outward and see the Avengers surrounding her: Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Wolverine, Sue Storm, Wasp, and Spider-Man. Everyone’s pretty much as they always are. Wolverine is not in costume. He wears a jacket over civilian clothes.
THOR: Jean Grey.
THOR: We would have words with thee.
Panel 3
Wolverine is placing his jacket around Jean.
WOLVERINE: Not gonna lie, darlin’. It don’t look good.
Panel 4
Jean is standing up. The jacket covers what it needs to as she clutches it shut. Captain America has stepped forward.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: You don’t have anything to worry about, Miss Grey.
IRON MAN: She has plenty to worry about, Steve!
CAPTAIN AMERICA: The point is, no one is blaming you.
Panel 5
Sue Storm has stepped forward now and has wrapped her arms around Jean.
SUE STORM: There’s no reason to make this sound worse than it is!
SUE STORM: Everything’s fine, Jean. You’re not in any kind of trouble.
Panel 6
A shot taking in the whole group again.
WASP: But yeah, it’s serious.
SPIDER-MAN: This isn’t another mutant witch-hunt, is it? Anyone realize that anyone with powers is always being called the bad guy around here?
IRON MAN: People tend to fear what they can’t acquire, Webhead.
SPIDER-MAN: Says the guy who can buy whatever he wants. And invent the rest.
Panel 7
Focus on Jean.
JEAN GREY: No, I get it, guys.
JEAN GREY: And you’re probably right to be worried.
Panel 1 (splash)
A giant fireball with the vague Phoenix outline, with Jean Grey, nude, slightly visible in the center.
CAPTION: This part is never easy.
CAPTION: Death, and rebirth.
PAGE TWO
Panel 1
Jean Grey is covering herself as she looks around.
CAPTION: With an audience, no less.
Panel 2
We pan outward and see the Avengers surrounding her: Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Wolverine, Sue Storm, Wasp, and Spider-Man. Everyone’s pretty much as they always are. Wolverine is not in costume. He wears a jacket over civilian clothes.
THOR: Jean Grey.
THOR: We would have words with thee.
Panel 3
Wolverine is placing his jacket around Jean.
WOLVERINE: Not gonna lie, darlin’. It don’t look good.
Panel 4
Jean is standing up. The jacket covers what it needs to as she clutches it shut. Captain America has stepped forward.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: You don’t have anything to worry about, Miss Grey.
IRON MAN: She has plenty to worry about, Steve!
CAPTAIN AMERICA: The point is, no one is blaming you.
Panel 5
Sue Storm has stepped forward now and has wrapped her arms around Jean.
SUE STORM: There’s no reason to make this sound worse than it is!
SUE STORM: Everything’s fine, Jean. You’re not in any kind of trouble.
Panel 6
A shot taking in the whole group again.
WASP: But yeah, it’s serious.
SPIDER-MAN: This isn’t another mutant witch-hunt, is it? Anyone realize that anyone with powers is always being called the bad guy around here?
IRON MAN: People tend to fear what they can’t acquire, Webhead.
SPIDER-MAN: Says the guy who can buy whatever he wants. And invent the rest.
Panel 7
Focus on Jean.
JEAN GREY: No, I get it, guys.
JEAN GREY: And you’re probably right to be worried.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
The Cover Age, Chapter 24 (Conclusion)
She didn’t tell him, at first, out of kindness, which surprised her. She thought she no longer had room in her heart for him, and then she began to realize that wasn’t true, that she was actually starting to miss him.
She didn’t tell him, after a few days, because then she would feel like a monster for having withheld it earlier.
When a week had passed, when it was well past the point, in ordinary times, for their daughter to once again pass between homes, and she knew he’d be thinking about it, she nearly picked up the phone.
But she allowed life to continue getting in the way.
She still needed money. No job. Only grief keeping her company. She started looking around. So many jobs, like hers, now vacated, but some were merely vacant.
She took it because it was available. She’d never worked a job like it before, had never even considered side hustles like Uber, even when everyone was doing it. At first it was weird. Weird enough that she was hired so quickly, so easily. Desperate times all around.
Then came the fateful day. He never even looked at her. As they had become to each other, she was completely invisible to him. He was traveling with some lady. Wait, she recognized her! She told herself it didn’t matter. She told herself she didn’t care.
She kept telling herself all sorts of things.
Then they got off. They seem to have arranged a meeting with a strange individual in a fancy coat. Then it happened.
Georgia almost let out a scream. Clive lay bleeding out, and the lady and the strange man stood around talking as if everything were completely normal.
It wasn’t. Nothing was normal. Nothing would be normal again. She closed the doors of the bus and drove off. No more passengers. There was one, a teenager smoking at the stop, but Georgia kept driving. She saw the look of apathy on his face, as if to say, “I expected no better. Don’t even know what I was thinking.”
Later, at the station, she sat quietly in the employee lounge. Then she screamed. Then she went home. And waited for the pandemic to end.
She didn’t tell him, after a few days, because then she would feel like a monster for having withheld it earlier.
When a week had passed, when it was well past the point, in ordinary times, for their daughter to once again pass between homes, and she knew he’d be thinking about it, she nearly picked up the phone.
But she allowed life to continue getting in the way.
She still needed money. No job. Only grief keeping her company. She started looking around. So many jobs, like hers, now vacated, but some were merely vacant.
She took it because it was available. She’d never worked a job like it before, had never even considered side hustles like Uber, even when everyone was doing it. At first it was weird. Weird enough that she was hired so quickly, so easily. Desperate times all around.
Then came the fateful day. He never even looked at her. As they had become to each other, she was completely invisible to him. He was traveling with some lady. Wait, she recognized her! She told herself it didn’t matter. She told herself she didn’t care.
She kept telling herself all sorts of things.
Then they got off. They seem to have arranged a meeting with a strange individual in a fancy coat. Then it happened.
Georgia almost let out a scream. Clive lay bleeding out, and the lady and the strange man stood around talking as if everything were completely normal.
It wasn’t. Nothing was normal. Nothing would be normal again. She closed the doors of the bus and drove off. No more passengers. There was one, a teenager smoking at the stop, but Georgia kept driving. She saw the look of apathy on his face, as if to say, “I expected no better. Don’t even know what I was thinking.”
Later, at the station, she sat quietly in the employee lounge. Then she screamed. Then she went home. And waited for the pandemic to end.
Saturday, May 2, 2020
The Cover Age, Chapter 23
Numbly, she thinks over the short but long history of the pandemic in her life...
In February Georgia was working as a waitress in a restaurant. She was proud to work there, if only because she thought they had a particularly good brioche, which was something she hadn’t even known existed before starting there, but had tried once and fell in love with, and couldn’t stop recommending, couldn’t stop trying to get free examples of, couldn’t stop buying herself, wasting all her money on...Frivolous, she thinks now. Frivolous and savage, although why “savage” she’s only able to think and not comprehend, because her thought process is compromised...
The customers were still flowing in February. You wouldn’t know anything at all was different, but she remembers conversations, little chats, with the odd patron, the occasional angry retorts between diners, concerning this virus that was spreading, a particular favorite who had come in every week but who was suddenly absent, an elderly woman who would sometimes bring Georgia gifts. She remembers talking about it with coworkers, her friends, and thinking nothing of it. One of them, Becky, had a flight coming up in March. Then March came and her flight was cancelled and Becky was upset. Georgia tries to remember why Becky was flying, but can’t.
The customers had already started thinning by then. They slowed to a trickle mid-month, and then ceased altogether. Management pulled the staff together in the kitchen and informed them that the new state protocols meant the restaurant was going to have to shutter temporarily. They didn’t do delivery, management didn’t want to start now. No curbside pickup. No pay.
About a week into this Becky calls Georgia crying. She’s just been let go. Georgia gets her call next. No job, now. No real savings, either. None of this was in the plans when she was making those big life decisions, obviously. Georgia doesn’t call Becky. What’s she going to be able to do anyway? They’re all stuck in lockdown. Georgia’s afraid to leave her apartment. Doesn’t even know how much longer she’ll have an apartment.
All this before she gets Cover back, before...
And for the first time in her life, Georgia feels like a complete failure. She knows she should call Becky. Becky lives with her boyfriend, is stuck with him all day long now. Her boyfriend hits her. Georgia is afraid of what’s happening now. She feels like a failure at every level. She has a little food. She barely eats. She calls her dad. Her mom passed away a few years ago. Her dad is showing signs of dementia, and he’s all alone, too. She feels utterly helpless.
But things can’t possibly get worse, right?
In February Georgia was working as a waitress in a restaurant. She was proud to work there, if only because she thought they had a particularly good brioche, which was something she hadn’t even known existed before starting there, but had tried once and fell in love with, and couldn’t stop recommending, couldn’t stop trying to get free examples of, couldn’t stop buying herself, wasting all her money on...Frivolous, she thinks now. Frivolous and savage, although why “savage” she’s only able to think and not comprehend, because her thought process is compromised...
The customers were still flowing in February. You wouldn’t know anything at all was different, but she remembers conversations, little chats, with the odd patron, the occasional angry retorts between diners, concerning this virus that was spreading, a particular favorite who had come in every week but who was suddenly absent, an elderly woman who would sometimes bring Georgia gifts. She remembers talking about it with coworkers, her friends, and thinking nothing of it. One of them, Becky, had a flight coming up in March. Then March came and her flight was cancelled and Becky was upset. Georgia tries to remember why Becky was flying, but can’t.
The customers had already started thinning by then. They slowed to a trickle mid-month, and then ceased altogether. Management pulled the staff together in the kitchen and informed them that the new state protocols meant the restaurant was going to have to shutter temporarily. They didn’t do delivery, management didn’t want to start now. No curbside pickup. No pay.
About a week into this Becky calls Georgia crying. She’s just been let go. Georgia gets her call next. No job, now. No real savings, either. None of this was in the plans when she was making those big life decisions, obviously. Georgia doesn’t call Becky. What’s she going to be able to do anyway? They’re all stuck in lockdown. Georgia’s afraid to leave her apartment. Doesn’t even know how much longer she’ll have an apartment.
All this before she gets Cover back, before...
And for the first time in her life, Georgia feels like a complete failure. She knows she should call Becky. Becky lives with her boyfriend, is stuck with him all day long now. Her boyfriend hits her. Georgia is afraid of what’s happening now. She feels like a failure at every level. She has a little food. She barely eats. She calls her dad. Her mom passed away a few years ago. Her dad is showing signs of dementia, and he’s all alone, too. She feels utterly helpless.
But things can’t possibly get worse, right?
Friday, May 1, 2020
The Cover Age, Chapter 22
Georgia took Cover grocery shopping with her. That’s the memory that will torture her the rest of her life. She didn’t have a choice, right? But one of the things that will bother her are the many options she’d still had available to her...
Cover came down with a cold. That’s what Georgia thought. It was about a week after getting her back. She was able to get Cover admitted to the ER, and after waiting for what seemed an eternity, the doctor explained that there could be a problem.
Cover suffered from low-grade asthma, not something that needed to be treated, but it left her less able to run around all the time, the way toddlers do. Georgia had never thought anything of it. It would never have been a problem. But she began to worry now.
It took a few days to get the results back on the virus. They never left the hospital. Cover just kept getting worse. Georgia found herself on a first name basis with the nursing staff. It got to the point where Cover couldn’t breathe on her own at all. She was put on a ventilator. She never went off it.
Georgia never left her side. She sat and cried, and forgot everything else. She pleaded with God. She hadn’t been to church in years, wasn’t even sure she believed any of that anymore, but it no longer mattered. She didn’t have a choice. She didn’t eat. She didn’t sleep. And Cover only got worse.
Four years old...and every second of those four years, even the moments Georgia wasn’t there for, it came flooding back on her. Regret became her companion, sitting next to her at Cover’s bedside. She talked constantly, babbling. It didn’t matter if Cover understood any of it. Georgia imagined she did, believed she took in everything, and if her throat had been unobstructed, would have made a conversation of it. Georgia imagined every sound to mean Cover was trying to do just that, but most of the time, the sound came from elsewhere, often from her own stomach gurgling. But she pretended otherwise, adamantly.
“Sweety, my darling, my baby...”
She kept kept chanting these terms, in the end, at the end.
And then she was alone.
Cover came down with a cold. That’s what Georgia thought. It was about a week after getting her back. She was able to get Cover admitted to the ER, and after waiting for what seemed an eternity, the doctor explained that there could be a problem.
Cover suffered from low-grade asthma, not something that needed to be treated, but it left her less able to run around all the time, the way toddlers do. Georgia had never thought anything of it. It would never have been a problem. But she began to worry now.
It took a few days to get the results back on the virus. They never left the hospital. Cover just kept getting worse. Georgia found herself on a first name basis with the nursing staff. It got to the point where Cover couldn’t breathe on her own at all. She was put on a ventilator. She never went off it.
Georgia never left her side. She sat and cried, and forgot everything else. She pleaded with God. She hadn’t been to church in years, wasn’t even sure she believed any of that anymore, but it no longer mattered. She didn’t have a choice. She didn’t eat. She didn’t sleep. And Cover only got worse.
Four years old...and every second of those four years, even the moments Georgia wasn’t there for, it came flooding back on her. Regret became her companion, sitting next to her at Cover’s bedside. She talked constantly, babbling. It didn’t matter if Cover understood any of it. Georgia imagined she did, believed she took in everything, and if her throat had been unobstructed, would have made a conversation of it. Georgia imagined every sound to mean Cover was trying to do just that, but most of the time, the sound came from elsewhere, often from her own stomach gurgling. But she pretended otherwise, adamantly.
“Sweety, my darling, my baby...”
She kept kept chanting these terms, in the end, at the end.
And then she was alone.
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