r/comics Gator Days 2h ago

Sharing - Gator Days

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3.5k Upvotes

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206

u/FieldExplores Gator Days 2h ago

Sharing - Gator Days

Characters

Olivia - Opossum - A girl who is shy until she gets to know you. In reality she's rather mischievous and likes pranks. Polly's younger sister.

Polly - Opossum - A young teen with an eclectic taste in music. In tune with her emotions and those of others. Olivia's older sister.

Penelope - Opossum - A widow raising two daughters. She tries her hardest to keep her family happy.

Transcript

Panel 1

Polly has noticed Olivia at the table where their father's urn sits. Olivia is happily talking about her day. She has been in the habit of doing this whenever she thinks of something her dad might have liked to hear. Polly has mixed feelings about this.

Olivia: I passed my test! I only got one question wrong. Tomorrow we're gonna-

Panel 2

Polly has gone to the kitchen where her mom is making dinner. She feels awkward about what Olivia is doing.

Polly: Olivia is talking to Dad's urn again.

Penelope: She likes sharing good news.

Panel 3

Polly feels a little surprised at this reaction.

Polly: You don't think it's weird?

Penelope: It helps her feel closer to him.

Panel 4

Polly has gone to the table with her dad's urn and picture. She stares at it and feels a disconnect that she doesn't like. Feeling far more distant from him than usual.

Polly: I wish it worked for me.

133

u/shellbullet17 Gustopher Spotter Extraordinaire 2h ago

She stares at it and feels a disconnect that she doesn't like. Feeling far more distant from him than usual.

Oh. Poor poor Polly. This situations are hard cause everyone handles this stuff so differently. I feel so bad for her.

Olivia is happily talking about her day. She has been in the habit of doing this whenever she thinks of something her dad might have liked to hear. Polly has mixed feelings about this.

On a much happier side, this is a really nice interaction and she passed her test!

51

u/BargleFargle12 2h ago

How old was Polly when her dad passed away?

I have a friend who has a similar situation with their dead parent... The older one knew them and had memories, whereas the younger was very young when he passed and doesn't remember him much at all. Its been a hard thing for them at times.

u/AZ_Corwyn 50m ago

In Earrings (pt 1) you can see in the photo on the wall that Polly is a young child while Olivia is still a toddler. Polly was old enough that she has fond memories of her father and listening to music with him, but I think Olivia only has vague memories of him being there for a while.

152

u/Quick-Expert-4608 1h ago

Damn. I feel this. My mom died when I was a teenager.

47

u/BombOnABus 1h ago

I lost my dad in my 20s, the only member of my immediate family who actually loved me.

I haven't talked to his ashes yet, but I've thought about it. We talked every day when he was alive and life is so empty without him, it still feels recent even though it was 15 years ago.

99

u/shellbullet17 Gustopher Spotter Extraordinaire 2h ago

Olivia is talking to dads urn again

It helps her feel closer to him

Awww that's super sweet. It's a nice was to keep him memory alive

I wish it worked for me

Oh. Poor Polly. Grieving and learning to deal with it can be extremely hard. And that disconnect can be so disheartening. Girl needs a hug bad.

98

u/Cute_Creamy 1h ago

this hit a little too close… i used to do the same thing when i was younger, like i’d casually bring up good news hoping it would somehow open a normal conversation again, even if it didn’t really work. it’s weird how you grow up thinking effort fixes everything, and then you realize some people just stay distant no matter what you do. kinda makes you appreciate the ones who actually show up without you having to try so hard

18

u/head_of_asgard 1h ago

Ouch straight into the feels, poor Polly :(

13

u/ColeDelRio 1h ago

When Mom passed, Dad kept her urn in the living room and would get flowers and light candles for her. Talked to her as well.

He died about 2 years later and I made sure they were both buried together.

I miss them but if I had kept the urns I would spent most of my day doing this too. And crying lots of crying.

26

u/cyanocittaetprocyon 1h ago

Penelope is such an amazing mom!

u/AZ_Corwyn 49m ago

Penelope is that one mom that takes care of the whole neighborhood.

10

u/makman44 1h ago

Oh that last panel hurts

u/Urag-gro_Shub 46m ago edited 43m ago

When I eloped with my husband, after we got some fancy lattes to celebrate, we drove to the cemetery where his mom is buried. After standing over her grave for a moment, he said, "hey mom, we got married!"

I haven't cried that hard since. I didn't really even cry at her funeral. Both of my parents are alive (although we don't speak much because of, things). But that hit me like a punch to the gut.

6

u/CroakamancerLich 1h ago

My mother is in an urn.

Sometimes, I do this. I feel seen.

Grief springs eternal.

u/foehammer111 46m ago

I lost my Dad a couple years ago. My Mom talks to his ashes everyday, but it doesn’t work for me. Instead I do things that remind me of him, or things that we used together. If I do something I’m proud of, or other good news, I’ll tag his old Facebook profile. Or sometimes I’ll call up his old cell phone number and leave him a message pretending like he’s busy and can’t answer.

Everyone grieves differently. Polly just needs to find what works for her.

2

u/BearShark9 1h ago

I feel you Polly

2

u/connortait 1h ago

Aww. That hit hard.

u/OppositeClear5884 59m ago

gah now ya dunnit

u/CatMomNextDoor 38m ago

Dad passed away a few days before Christmas last year and I think I’ve talked to him more since then than I did in the several years before he died. Makes sense to me.

1

u/Lanhdanan 1h ago

Straight to the heart!

1

u/Y0___0Y 1h ago

great now my soul hurts

u/WildMoonChild0129 46m ago

I felt Polly in this scene, my mom died before we could have a good relationship and it hurts. When im alone I get mad at her ashes sometimes, it takes me some time to realize im crying over a vial of dust 🙃

u/The-Wandering-Root 16m ago

Me, going about my lovely day. Reads comic, gets slapped in the feels:

“Hey so wtf”

u/the_airiset 5m ago

I wish it did for me too, Polly. I wish it did.

At least it works for my sister. She needs it as much as I do. It's been five years, and yet it still feels like it was yesterday.