#253 – It’s late
Friday, July 3rd, 2009Hey guys! I was in and out of the hospital all last week. (Don’t worry, nothing serious) So here is Wednesday’s and Friday’s strip from last week. I will try get Monday’s done tonight. It’s all scripted so it shouldn’t be a problem.





July 6th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Oh my goodness, she looks so young. Beautiful, as always. Sad, as always. I still love reading it, though.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:07 am
Poor little Maria.
Bjorn seems pretty pitiful here, too.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Maria is such a wonderfully thought out character, so rich with motivation and pathos, it is a real treat to get to read her.
I really get the sense from the back story that has been told to us about Maria, that she has a real longing to be loved unconditionally, something she didn’t necessarily get as a child, and I am really curious to see what happens now that she is having Anders child. I only say this because I get the feeling the child has been given a job before they were born, and that doesn’t always go well.
Sorry to ramble…
July 6th, 2009 at 7:58 am
get well, rene!
July 6th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Would most stories work if it weren’t for a very significant misunderstanding of someone else’s intentions?
July 6th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Also, I’m happy to hear it wasn’t anything serious. Will you separate these in the archives? While I do like seeing them side by side it does stretch my resolution a little.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:49 am
@john k: that’s a really interesting thought! i’m not sure i’d go so far as to think it’s needing to be loved unconditionally, but i do think you’re on to something. i think it’s that she wants desperately for someone to simply BE there, you know? clearly it’s not going to be her parents, and for a while it was johan until he starting bumping uglies with tina. this is probably the straw that broke the camel’s back.
i dunno, maybe this is just the same thing in different words. and maybe you’re right, the baby does have a bit of a job before it is born, but who’s to say how her motivations will change upon seeing its face?
and even when he makes maria angry, i freaking love bjorn. i mean, the naked guitar playing, it’s just to perfect… oh sorry, was something emotional happening?
July 6th, 2009 at 8:51 am
oh and i’m glad you’re feeling better rene! NOW GET BACK TO WORK
July 6th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Huh, it seems Maria hasn’t noticed it’s her dumb fault that she got knocked up, and that if she hadn’t been knocked up, this would be like, the greatest thing to happen to her.
I wonder what Bjorn sees in her…
July 6th, 2009 at 10:55 am
it’s not only her fault. it takes two to make a baby.
it’s sad that she took it the wrong way, i’m sure Bjorn only wanted the best for her, though he should have realized that raising a child and going to uni cann’t happen at the same time.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:05 am
@nick Yeah she got knocked up all by herself o_O
July 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
“though he should have realized that raising a child and going to uni cann’t happen at the same time.”
Uh, it can and does happen all the time.
Take me for example: I got pregnant my junior year of high school and am now in my sophomore year at UCLA. I have a 3.8 average and my daughter is happy, loved, and well cared for. Things are going perfectly and have been for the past four years.
So I believe your statement (more of a generality, really) is incorrect.
I’m glad your family is feeling better Rene!
Can’t wait for the next bit.
July 6th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Hehe I like how often Björn is lounging around in the nude. Reminds me of a friend of mine O.o except minus the musical talent!
July 6th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Good health to Rene and family.
Bjorn is learning one of life’s harshest lessons. No good deed goes unpunished.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Every character in this comic is extremely complex! Just like real life people. They’re very complex. Just when you think you have them figured out they throw you for loops!
July 6th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Kiley: I’m not disagreeing with you (because how could I say that what you’re living proof of cannot happen?), but I think what Helena was saying was more that Bjorn should have realized that “raising a FAMILY and going AWAY to uni can’t happen at the same time,” that is, Maria could not both stay in Norrland with Bjorn and the baby AND go off to be a big city girl artist at Konstfack at the same time.
And of course those choices and options are totally situational. But anyway, no matter what choices could have been made, Maria is reading into his gesture a little bit too much…
July 6th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
the girl is pregnant…reading too much into it is basically a given.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
This comic is great, but it often makes my heart hurt a bit.
July 7th, 2009 at 3:14 am
Bjorn loves to be naked doesn’t he?
July 7th, 2009 at 4:25 am
Precia, what’s your definition of family? Because it sounds to me like Kiley and her daughter are very much a healthy family, regardless of whether or not the father is there with her. Also, Bjorn could move with her. He’s older, he could probably support a baby while Maria goes to school. It would be very similar to a family unit where both parents work. Maybe not ideal, or easy, but very possible.
Also, Kiley, I think that’s very brave and tough of you to go through that and still come out so well. I don’t have kids, but I know they’re like a full time job in themselves, so to be able to go to school and do well while raising one is very impressive.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:20 am
@ Rach: But Bjorn already said he didn’t want to move with Maria once she got into uni.
I love this comic
I wish it updated three times A DAY, but I understand that you have a life
keep the wonderful work up though, as long as you’re feeling well.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:38 am
o_o waah, Rene. D: now you were ill? > <
I hope you’re entirely better and it isn’t a recurring occurrence. ó.o
July 8th, 2009 at 9:53 am
“Also, Kiley, I think that’s very brave and tough of you to go through that and still come out so well. I don’t have kids, but I know they’re like a full time job in themselves, so to be able to go to school and do well while raising one is very impressive.”
Thank you.
I’m actually really lucky because my daughter is very intelligent and capable. While Mommy studies, Prue is either watching her Rosetta Stone tutorials on the computer or drawing at the table. She knows when Mommy needs quiet time.
Sometimes I give her the choice of coming to class with me or going to Grandma’s, and she’ll always choose to go with me. She’ll actually sit and listen to the professor and occasionally ask me what a word or phrase means. I’m amazed that she’s so smart at such a young age.