Maybe Grandma SPECIFICALLY told her NOT to tell her… unless certain conditions were met… which they have been, after all you don’t want Brenda to disobey her on MOTHER now, do you?
You’re absolutely right. Screw the book. Go to your room and figure it out on your own. You’re not ready for the book. The nincompoops are far ahead of you in this game.
Not warranted? She wasn’t a fan of this club idea in the first place, and she walked into what she expected to be a normal classroom and found a haunted house setting instead. She had a conversation with someone she thought was her boyfriend, only it wasn’t, and NO ONE believes her or will listen to her. Not warranted? The only thing surprising about it is that she hasn’t completely melted down.
This is a very normal reaction for someone who’s been in an emotional tornado, finding that someone had information which could have spared them a lot of pain and self doubt. No, it’s not pretty, but emotions rarely are. This is absolutely, spot on, normal.
We’ve had some conjectures on Scarlet’s species. She may have referred to “vulpine” hair color, but their profiles, especially in this bottom panel, are positively leonine. Their muzzles are much too stubbed and squared off for foxes.
Yep, just what I was thinking. If she’d been raised with the expectation that some day she’d be able to talk to ghosts, and then it skipped her generation — well, she *might* be relieved, but she might also wonder why the ability skipped over her and whether that meant something was wrong with her. Because teenagers.
Or would just chalk it up to one of those family “stories”.. you know.. “Grandma was special”.. and either it was untrue, or people were misinterpreting something ELSE.. you know.
Well, I mean.. it could pretty easily escape the mind. one of those “oh yeah, mom said this might happen” things. I think Mom probably just decided to go on living life as normal, until life showed that something was abnormal.
Told her after how many years …
was she still a kid in school?
was she out of school living on her own?
was she about to get married and thoughts of having a family?
was she 3-4 months pregnant with Brenda ?
and in all those year Scarlet didn’t say anything about seeing ghost. But grandma cared enough to tell her (and have a book, too) to explain – if it happened after so many years or if Brenda shows the trait.
Because there was no reason to worry and possibly terrify a child, tween or teenager with something that may not affect them. Imagine going through like thinking you might hear or see ghosts and worrying that every odd noise is a spirit trying to reach out. I think the mother did exactly the right thing by waiting until the ability/talent manifested before bringing it up.
There has to be a way to prepare someone for this that doesn’t leave them paranoid, but still keeps them from walking face-first into a surprise revelation.
I honestly can’t think of any way to prepare someone for the possibility of talking to and possibly seeing spirits without it creating some level of paranoia in a child. Maybe as a teen but even then their brains are mush still congealing.
Come to think of it, who do we know around Wapsi Square who’s dead and gone? They’re either up and around (Tina), or turn up later (Shelly’s Mom). There was Roy, who ran Monica’s antique store…but he was only referred to, we never met him…
As Corwin said: “To paraphrase Oedipus, Hamlet, Lear, and all those guys, I wish I had known this some time ago.”
+1
I usually end up going with “That would’ve been nice to’ve known sooner.”
Father John Misty – Things It Would Have Been Helpful To Know Before The Revolution
Hey! Hey there! Show some respect for your mother, Scarlet.
Maybe her mother should have shown a bit of respect to her at some point and told her about Grandma.
Maybe Grandma SPECIFICALLY told her NOT to tell her… unless certain conditions were met… which they have been, after all you don’t want Brenda to disobey her on MOTHER now, do you?
You’re absolutely right. Screw the book. Go to your room and figure it out on your own. You’re not ready for the book. The nincompoops are far ahead of you in this game.
Scarlet seriously needs to chill out a bit. She’s been completely freaking out for the last few comics and I’m not completely sure it’s warranted.
Not warranted? She wasn’t a fan of this club idea in the first place, and she walked into what she expected to be a normal classroom and found a haunted house setting instead. She had a conversation with someone she thought was her boyfriend, only it wasn’t, and NO ONE believes her or will listen to her. Not warranted? The only thing surprising about it is that she hasn’t completely melted down.
I think she’s in the process of it right now. Melting down’s a process, not an all-at-once event.
@Iceburgh69: that’s usually true, but Scarlet might be a eutectic. 😀
It would be a pretty boring story if all the characters kept their cool all the time.
This is a very normal reaction for someone who’s been in an emotional tornado, finding that someone had information which could have spared them a lot of pain and self doubt. No, it’s not pretty, but emotions rarely are. This is absolutely, spot on, normal.
We’ve had some conjectures on Scarlet’s species. She may have referred to “vulpine” hair color, but their profiles, especially in this bottom panel, are positively leonine. Their muzzles are much too stubbed and squared off for foxes.
↑This!↑
Questions are answered!
well, Scarlet, when exactly IS is a good time to bring up “Oh, Grandma could talk to ghosts, and YOU might be able to as well”?
Yep, just what I was thinking. If she’d been raised with the expectation that some day she’d be able to talk to ghosts, and then it skipped her generation — well, she *might* be relieved, but she might also wonder why the ability skipped over her and whether that meant something was wrong with her. Because teenagers.
Or would just chalk it up to one of those family “stories”.. you know.. “Grandma was special”.. and either it was untrue, or people were misinterpreting something ELSE.. you know.
How about when she’s younger has had time to process it, not after she has had an encounter with a ghost
If it skips a generation, and granny had it but mom didn’t… you do the math
PLUS … It could skip this (a second) generation!
Meaning, your kid(s) could be the one to see/hear ghosts.
Well, I mean.. it could pretty easily escape the mind. one of those “oh yeah, mom said this might happen” things. I think Mom probably just decided to go on living life as normal, until life showed that something was abnormal.
Because it’s the first time your mom is hearing about it from you, ya dink.
But her mother told her, and specifically left a book for Scar to help her deal with it, yeah, Scar is totally in the wrong about this :rolleyes:
Told her after how many years …
was she still a kid in school?
was she out of school living on her own?
was she about to get married and thoughts of having a family?
was she 3-4 months pregnant with Brenda ?
and in all those year Scarlet didn’t say anything about seeing ghost. But grandma cared enough to tell her (and have a book, too) to explain – if it happened after so many years or if Brenda shows the trait.
Because there was no reason to worry and possibly terrify a child, tween or teenager with something that may not affect them. Imagine going through like thinking you might hear or see ghosts and worrying that every odd noise is a spirit trying to reach out. I think the mother did exactly the right thing by waiting until the ability/talent manifested before bringing it up.
There has to be a way to prepare someone for this that doesn’t leave them paranoid, but still keeps them from walking face-first into a surprise revelation.
But hey, that’s no good for drama, I guess.
I honestly can’t think of any way to prepare someone for the possibility of talking to and possibly seeing spirits without it creating some level of paranoia in a child. Maybe as a teen but even then their brains are mush still congealing.
Kids are more resilient than teens, and if you tell them to come to you if anything seems ‘off’ then they are less likely to become paranoid
Inherited family traits? Teenage progeny freaking out after a sudden reveal? Nobody’s made a Teen Wolf joke yet?
Why is this the first ghost that she’s heard? I’m sure she’s been in haunted locations before. The school itself probably has dozens.
We don’t know when in life it typically manifests.
Come to think of it, who do we know around Wapsi Square who’s dead and gone? They’re either up and around (Tina), or turn up later (Shelly’s Mom). There was Roy, who ran Monica’s antique store…but he was only referred to, we never met him…
Yay, she has a name now: not just “Scarlet’s mom”!
Well, somebody has to be the last to know…
And it’s always the first one who should know