The Stolen Child — Page 17
Hot off the presses. This page comes a day late due to last week’s winter storm and the ways such things can throw you off your routine. I’m safe, everyone I know has made it through safe and sound. I hope you have, too. Like the pandemic isn’t enough? Or the random attempts by fascists to take over my country, your country, so many countries? We can overcome these problems. We can make a better world. It’s a slog, tho.
↓ Transcript
PANEL 1: Fernis sits at a table with pamphlets and a sign. He has a name tag.
FERNIS: I’m a refugee myself, I know how I might help people.
If they need food, I give ‘em a chit for the evening meal and a box lunch.
For health care, I send ‘em to Brian. For shelter, we got tents and wood and tools.
We’re working on a plumbing system.
FETCH: Er, what?
FERNIS: See Hob.
PANEL 2: Hob and Izzy sit at a booth with boxes of pipes and plumbing tools. They also have name tags.
HOB: Bein’ a house Fae, I know me way around the jacks.
So I handle all our sanitation needs, see?
IZZY: Then how come I’m the one always covered in filth?
HOB: Cuz I’m the boss.
PANEL 3: Fetch and Owen talk to Bridget (wearing a name tag), who flutters in front of her library.
FETCH: Nice library. Where did you get the books?
BRIDGET: From the human world.
I collect all the books they forget to return to their library, or misplace, or lend to a friend and never get back.
OWEN: No wonder I can never find mine.
PANEL 4: Bridget flutters over to Mary, who is reading to a group of children. One of them speaks up.
BRIDGET: I lend lots of books to the witch Mary’s school for refugee and homeless kids.
MARY: Right now is story time. Today we’re on Lady Chatterley's Lover.
CHILD: I’m learning so much!
PANEL 5: Fetch talks to Mary while Owen looks on.
FETCH: Nice! What do you teach ‘em.
MARY: Oh, the basics. Witchcraft, dark magic, demonic possession, and baking pies.
OWEN: Mmm, what’s in the pies?
PANEL 6: Mary smiles wickedly at Owen.
MARY: Hee, hee. Don’t sweat, sweetie. Not children.
OWEN: Oh. Um, good.
MARY: For now.
FERNIS: I’m a refugee myself, I know how I might help people.
If they need food, I give ‘em a chit for the evening meal and a box lunch.
For health care, I send ‘em to Brian. For shelter, we got tents and wood and tools.
We’re working on a plumbing system.
FETCH: Er, what?
FERNIS: See Hob.
PANEL 2: Hob and Izzy sit at a booth with boxes of pipes and plumbing tools. They also have name tags.
HOB: Bein’ a house Fae, I know me way around the jacks.
So I handle all our sanitation needs, see?
IZZY: Then how come I’m the one always covered in filth?
HOB: Cuz I’m the boss.
PANEL 3: Fetch and Owen talk to Bridget (wearing a name tag), who flutters in front of her library.
FETCH: Nice library. Where did you get the books?
BRIDGET: From the human world.
I collect all the books they forget to return to their library, or misplace, or lend to a friend and never get back.
OWEN: No wonder I can never find mine.
PANEL 4: Bridget flutters over to Mary, who is reading to a group of children. One of them speaks up.
BRIDGET: I lend lots of books to the witch Mary’s school for refugee and homeless kids.
MARY: Right now is story time. Today we’re on Lady Chatterley's Lover.
CHILD: I’m learning so much!
PANEL 5: Fetch talks to Mary while Owen looks on.
FETCH: Nice! What do you teach ‘em.
MARY: Oh, the basics. Witchcraft, dark magic, demonic possession, and baking pies.
OWEN: Mmm, what’s in the pies?
PANEL 6: Mary smiles wickedly at Owen.
MARY: Hee, hee. Don’t sweat, sweetie. Not children.
OWEN: Oh. Um, good.
MARY: For now.
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