Creeped out by Mary's stalking Tom, Toby tries desperately to change the subject by asking about the soup. She's probably afraid Mary will start talking about Tom's robe.
What a 180 by Toby, going from fake sympathy to food. For a nanosecond, I wondered if Toby could actually be uncomfortable with Mary's gossiping. However, this IS Toby, who was angling for some of that soup last week.
All right, people: How many days until Mary dredges up some female acquaintance we've never seen before who has been looking for love in all the wrong places? Mary will introduce that woman to the hapless Tom Harpman and BINGO! true love. Love birds will fly over, and Mary will beam with one of her insufferable smirks.
I wonder whatever happened to Adrian and Scott....
@KitKat: I think you nailed it. There will be some hitherto unseen hospital employee, or a new waitress at Diner (Mary has an affinity for them) who will become the perfect consort for Tom.
It's probably too much to hope for that she'll fix him up with Liza Colby or (please!) Nola Wolvenson.
As to Adrian and Scott, they got married, and will never be seen or heard from again. That's why Mary keeps saying "no" to Dr. Jeff's entreaties.
Mary has work to do - she suspect she will bring over a kelk casserole (under false pretense) to dig out more info including what Tom's "dream" is. It may be that Tom wants a girl who is chained to the stove. Maybe Dawn could fill that role?
Obviously, Toby couldn't care less about Tom's problems and would rather talk about Mary' soup.
@fauxprof: I also was thinking Nola Wolvenson would be a good prospect for Tom, if Mary decides to play matchmaker. But sadly, Nola might be one of those characters that is good for one Worthiverse plot and is never seen or heard from again.
Giella may not be able to draw a hand holding a kitchen utensil to save his life, but boy, can he draw a wicked "that's too bad" gesture. We're looking at hand model quality here! Also, I read Toby's remark as totally sarcastic. "Yeah, too bad. Maybe if the loser got out once in a while he’d meet people and wouldn't be forced to eat food items random people just bring to his place! So, Mary, he liked your soup?”
Yes, please, Toby. Change the subject. Do what you can to change the direction of this story. We and Uncle Joe will thank you. By the way, is that Chin Napkin filling in for a neck scarf? If so, he is still plagued by that horrible pink dye which may threaten his career is a formal serviette, hence his moonlighting.
@Dave in Parma, 1:40 Monday--Oh, yes, Jill Black! How about this scenario? Unbeknownst to Mary, Tom Harpman is the very cad who left Jill at the altar for the floozie who later broke his heart and deserted him in turn. When Mary invites Tom and Jill over for a nice vegetable terrine dinner (green glop), they face off with a dramatic, finger-pointing "You!"
@ 12:16 pm, Tuesday, Toby and Mary are judging Tom ("he doesn't have much else in his life besides grieving from his divorce") because he didn't bubble over with scintillating news about his work and hobbies while he was so sick he gulped down Mary's chicken soup without a thought? And I noticed that glint in Toby's eye when she realized there was some fresh man meat in Charterstone! Trouble in paradise, indeed!
1. This is Tom Harpman's ex and her crabby mother. Mary tries to meddle a reconciliation, but has to soften up the cranky mom, who was at the heart of the initial breakup.
2. This is Tom Harpman's new love interest, who is settling her mom in at Charterstone. Helpful Harpman becomes instrumental in assisting the mother, and wins the heart of this woman, but the mother is suspicious and generally crabby, and must be meddled with significantly by Mary.
Either way, Mary has to meddle, and Toby will talk about unrelated food preferences since her husband is marginalized.
Wednesday: now this plot development has some potential. The new neighbors certainly look nice, at least the passenger. I don't know about Dawn Weston in her Clark Kent glasses driving the car though; she looks a little tough.
I can't wait for Mary to poke her nose into Grandmama's business.
31 comments:
Creeped out by Mary's stalking Tom, Toby tries desperately to change the subject by asking about the soup. She's probably afraid Mary will start talking about Tom's robe.
Nothing like having some old biddy blab the details of your personal life all over the compound.
When will Toby learn that "exercising" with Mary is like sitting in the bathroom with the National Enquirer?
What a 180 by Toby, going from fake sympathy to food. For a nanosecond, I wondered if Toby could actually be uncomfortable with Mary's gossiping. However, this IS Toby, who was angling for some of that soup last week.
All right, people: How many days until Mary dredges up some female acquaintance we've never seen before who has been looking for love in all the wrong places? Mary will introduce that woman to the hapless Tom Harpman and BINGO! true love. Love birds will fly over, and Mary will beam with one of her insufferable smirks.
I wonder whatever happened to Adrian and Scott....
@KitKat: I think you nailed it. There will be some hitherto unseen hospital employee, or a new waitress at Diner (Mary has an affinity for them) who will become the perfect consort for Tom.
It's probably too much to hope for that she'll fix him up with Liza Colby or (please!) Nola Wolvenson.
As to Adrian and Scott, they got married, and will never be seen or heard from again. That's why Mary keeps saying "no" to Dr. Jeff's entreaties.
If you want to keep to yourself, or if you feel that love is not for you, you don't want to move into Chatterstone.
Nobody ever calls them on the evils of gossip? Or is gossip good if it comes from a pure heart?
A story line where a Wise Hobo hears her gossiping and tells her off would be fun.
Mary has work to do - she suspect she will bring over a kelk casserole (under false pretense) to dig out more info including what Tom's "dream" is. It may be that Tom wants a girl who is chained to the stove. Maybe Dawn could fill that role?
Obviously, Toby couldn't care less about Tom's problems and would rather talk about Mary' soup.
@fauxprof: I also was thinking Nola Wolvenson would be a good prospect for Tom, if Mary decides to play matchmaker. But sadly, Nola might be one of those characters that is good for one Worthiverse plot and is never seen or heard from again.
Toby is awfully quick to change the subject when Mary mentions divorce. Problems in the Camoron (intentionally spelled incorrectly) household?
Giella may not be able to draw a hand holding a kitchen utensil to save his life, but boy, can he draw a wicked "that's too bad" gesture. We're looking at hand model quality here! Also, I read Toby's remark as totally sarcastic. "Yeah, too bad. Maybe if the loser got out once in a while he’d meet people and wouldn't be forced to eat food items random people just bring to his place! So, Mary, he liked your soup?”
The empathy oozes. I was just sharing the angst of my own personal travails with someone and they dropped an "That's too bad" line on me.
Now I haz a glad.
Yes, please, Toby. Change the subject. Do what you can to change the direction of this story. We and Uncle Joe will thank you. By the way, is that Chin Napkin filling in for a neck scarf? If so, he is still plagued by that horrible pink dye which may threaten his career is a formal serviette, hence his moonlighting.
Mary: "In addition, Tom Harpman was diagnosed with Liver cancer."
Toby: "But did he like your dinner rolls?"
___________
Personally I'm hoping Mary sets Tom Harpman up with Jill Black.
"How many days until Mary dredges up some female acquaintance we've never seen before who has been looking for love in all the wrong places?"
In this strip? A couple months.
I see Toby's reasoning; ever since she saw what Mary called "chicken soup" she's been dying to know if anyone would actually eat that concoction.
Nance's National Enquirer comment+ doubleplus bravo!
Uh oh, the pointed finger and gleam in Toby's eyes indicates that the something new Tom Harpman needs will be one of her clown paintings.
@Dave in Parma, 1:40 Monday--Oh, yes, Jill Black! How about this scenario? Unbeknownst to Mary, Tom Harpman is the very cad who left Jill at the altar for the floozie who later broke his heart and deserted him in turn. When Mary invites Tom and Jill over for a nice vegetable terrine dinner (green glop), they face off with a dramatic, finger-pointing "You!"
Way to meddle, Mary.
@ 12:16 pm, Tuesday, Toby and Mary are judging Tom ("he doesn't have much else in his life besides grieving from his divorce") because he didn't bubble over with scintillating news about his work and hobbies while he was so sick he gulped down Mary's chicken soup without a thought? And I noticed that glint in Toby's eye when she realized there was some fresh man meat in Charterstone! Trouble in paradise, indeed!
@Fauxprof: perhaps what Tom Harpman needs is a sandwich to go with that soup.
Wilbur!
Wednesday--March 6
Here comes Tom's love interest now! (it's up to you to guess which of those two it turns out to be!!)
Wednesday...
What luck for Mary - a meddling two-fer!
WEDNESDAY
So, this plot can go one of two ways:
1. This is Tom Harpman's ex and her crabby mother. Mary tries to meddle a reconciliation, but has to soften up the cranky mom, who was at the heart of the initial breakup.
2. This is Tom Harpman's new love interest, who is settling her mom in at Charterstone. Helpful Harpman becomes instrumental in assisting the mother, and wins the heart of this woman, but the mother is suspicious and generally crabby, and must be meddled with significantly by Mary.
Either way, Mary has to meddle, and Toby will talk about unrelated food preferences since her husband is marginalized.
Mary meets a new foe... Release the Kraken!
That's no woman holding a cane. It's Christopher Walken gripping a tire iron. Foreshadowing at its finest! This will be good!!!
Wednesday: now this plot development has some potential. The new neighbors certainly look nice, at least the passenger. I don't know about Dawn Weston in her Clark Kent glasses driving the car though; she looks a little tough.
I can't wait for Mary to poke her nose into Grandmama's business.
'She's a man, baby!'
'Austin, that's my Mother!'
Girls in tight chokers driving blue minivans
Cross-dressing codgers clinching canes in their hands
Lavender pantsuits in fashion this spring-
These are a few of the Worthiverse things.
Kudos, Meg! And thank you Shmoopie, for Christopher Walken!
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