For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for June 24, 2021

The sign that Michael is destined to be a writer.

Michael is incorrectly equating great poets and authors with being famous. Oh, Michael. It’s about the art, not about the fame.

Ah, here’s our future author in the making.

A fulfilled content life has ruined many authors.

Now I wonder what the original impetus was for him to become a writer.

In my youth, I wrote tons of poems about the anguish of unrequited love. Teachers praised my ability. Now that I am a senior citizen, I have no well from which to draw that angst from. Must have to do with hormones. Or lack thereof. LOL. Poor Michael. I DO remember those feelings!

It’s in cursive! The kids won’t be able to read it!

AND this i s how he became a writer!

Kids today don’t learn cursive…… oh, wait… I forgot… This is the Re-Foob…

I’ve written out my frustrations in a diary since 1978. It is very helpful, although the kind of agony Michael has is foreign to me.

SA; if I remember correctly Michael does grow up to be an author

“Save Martha!!!”

And Michael goes into writing later on.

Lynn’s Comments:

This is a bit of foreshadowing…the suggestion that Michael’s career might be in journalism.

They’ll send you all of theirs, Doc McStuffins.

NOPE

Happy and famous at the same time —well, by all accounts, Leonardo Da Vinci was a very happy man. Friendly to everyone, liked by just about everyone, invited to all kinds of parties because he was so much fun to be around, and just genuinely a fun person. Also a genius painter/sculptor/inventor who was well-known in his own time.

You will find out in a 10 more years.

I still say that teen aged Mike writes like a middle aged woman.

Michael is articulate and eloquent.

Pain not only inspires poets and authors, it also inspires comedians.

The allure of the enchanting Martha. It can turn a teen guy into a poet.

Ask Vincent.

No Michael, to answer your question, no.

……..Spoiler alert….. …….. ……. ……. ……. ..This is when Lynn Johnston starts trying to convince everyone that St. Michael is some sort of high-level intellectual..

A classic example of pandering to the lowest common denominator battling against suffering for one’s art. For my money, the latter option wins out every time.

“‘Martha!?’ Why did you say that name!?”

Famous and happy do not seem to mix well.

Or Michael meets a man who looks a lot like him in 60 years:

Martha: “I would not marry you if you had a million dollars!”

Martha leaves

Michael: “You will be my girl, Martha! You and I were meant to be!”

Michael goes to the car only to see his older self in the driver’s seat

Old Michael: “You always did have a way with women, Michael.”

Michael: “Get the hell out of my car, old man!”

Old Michael: “Do you believe God has meant for you to marry Martha? If you do, I can make it happen.”

Michael: “Oh ho, yeah right! Who are you, Miss Lonelyhearts?”

Old Michael: “Just get in the car, butthead!”

Michael: “Who are you calling butthead, Butthead?”

Old Michael starts car

Michael: “How the hell did you do that? Nobody can start that car except me!”

Old Michael: “I said get in the car, Patterson. Today is your lucky day.”

Drives to Patterson residence

Michael: “Who are you anyway?”

Old Michael: “Let us just say you and I are related. How would you like to be rich? Now I want to give you this.”

Book: Gray’s Sports Almanac 2000-2050

Old Michael: “This book will provide you with all information on sports until 2050. All you need to do is pick the winner, and you will never lose.”

Turns on radio

Sportscaster{over radio}: “Well, the clock is running out for the Army-Navy game. The score is 13-12 and Navy has possession of the ball. Chalk this one up to another string of Navy victories, a baker’s dozen!”

Old Michael: “Bet you a million bucks Army wins it, 14-13.”

Michael: “What are you, deaf, old man. He just said it was over. You lose!”

Sportscaster: “What is this, a blitz? Whoa, Skip Carter got tackled at the goal line, it’s a safety! Army wins, 14-13!”

Michael: “All right pops, what the gag? How did you know what the score was going to be?”

I have always found writing to be cathartic. Maybe that’s part of why I do it professionally.

Fame is fleeting.

It’s easier to be rich and happy.

Not in that particular genre. Try scifi.

Steps for him: 1. burn that drivel, if you mail it you will be the laughingstock of school.2. Cast about the school for a replacement, probably fine a superior model with all the latest upgrades.

Now start playing some Cure and Joy Division.