Comic 1037 - Holding Up

19th Mar 2018, 11:50 AM in Ch. 34 - Promise
Holding Up
Average Rating: 5 (8 votes)
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Author Notes:

Jocelyn 19th Mar 2018, 11:50 AM edit delete
Jocelyn
To start off, I don't know if I've actually said this yet, but thank you so much for not ditching me even though the comic's gotten a bit heavy recently. As I've said in the past, my heroes/protagonists - in like everything I write - will struggle and suffer sometimes. And that means they have to persevere and overcome hardship and earn their happy endings (just like in real life, it doesn't come easy). And my ultimate goal is - and always has been - that reaching that happy end will hopefully feel like a major victory for the readers too.

Onward to the page. Immediately following the last page, Maria is left directly outside Father Quenton's office to wait for her parents. Normally, she might be a little more feisty and combative through all this, but very suddenly being expelled over basically nothing probably comes as kind of a shock (needless to say).

On the plus side, she gets a visitor and doesn't have to be alone now. But where is this all going...?

Also, Father Quenton's receptionist fellow is not really going to be that important, but you will see a bit more of him in the coming pages, so I decided to give him a little color as opposed to most background characters. I don't think he'll ever be named in the story, but I've been calling him Pete. (Just in case anyone wanted to know.)


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Comments:

Erica-Jane 19th Mar 2018, 12:17 PM edit delete reply
I think that Maria needs to use some social media and embarrass the school/Father Quenton. Other students who see the story would respond with their own encounters with Todd. Go full bore and state that she's being expelled for being gay and standing up to a bully that has the school's approval. She could even embarrass her parents with the implication that they didn't complain about what Todd had done to Rudy in the past. It's a pretty safe bet that Todd has done similar things to other students. This is the worst kind of discrimination and should be exposed in as big a shitstorm as possible with the media.
Kyle 19th Mar 2018, 12:29 PM edit delete reply
I agree, Maria needs to fight back, and if not her than the rest of her friends could launch a campaign against Todd. Rudy would be the best bet to spearhead it all, he's been bullied by Todd, Quinton, and his parents. If they can get the support they need from social media. I'm just worried that in the midst of it all Debbie is gonna slither up like a snake in the grass and expose Rain.
MildlyMilquetoast 20th Mar 2018, 10:31 AM edit delete reply
I totally agree. Unlike being gay, everybody in the school shares the same opinion about Todd. If Maria makes a fuss she could potentially get the entire school (sans one person, of course) on her side.
Kyle 19th Mar 2018, 12:17 PM edit delete reply
Glad Maria's gonna have a shoulder to cry on through this.

You weren't lying when you said your characters were gonna struggle and face some rough patches Jocelyn. Rain losing her hair, Ky dumping Drew, Emily's pregnancy, Todd assaulting Chanel, and now this. I cant imagine how hard it is for YOU, the writer, to make these choices. Maria is a strong girl, but what gonna happen when her parents arrive, how they'll react with what they already know from her phone, what that shit-faced Quinton will do with that information terrifies me beyond belief.

P.S: The secretary looks like a tool imo, for calling Emily "young lady," lol!
Ciary 19th Mar 2018, 12:23 PM edit delete reply
Just to be sure:
Expelled means that she would have to change schools right? it's not like a timed thing where she gets back after some time?
Guest 19th Mar 2018, 12:30 PM edit delete reply
Yeah, expelled is for an indefinite time period, so a new school would be needed (unless it was revoked). Suspension is where someone can get back in after a set amount of time (usually how long the suspension is)
Guest 19th Mar 2018, 10:29 PM edit delete reply
So, like, suspension is short term. You'll never get suspended for more than 6 months. Expulsion is a long term suspension, meaning unless it's revoked Maria couldn't go into any public school during the expulsion period and private schools would get to choose but they generally don't want to have an expelled student on their student roster. An alternative school would generally accept her but even though she's 18 she lives with her parents so they would have to enroll her and alternative schools get a bad rep cause they get all delinquents, exdelinquents, and people with various mental and/or learning disorders (basically alternative schools get the kids no one else wants). So, unless her parents are the matyring type they probably would die before they put her in one.
Kyle 19th Mar 2018, 12:32 PM edit delete reply
Not sure about changing schools. Her parents sent her and Rudy to this place thinking it'd be a "better enviroment" for them. Idk if there is another Catholic school in the area that meets their standards, which could mean that they'll be shipping Maria off to conversion therapy next. 😓
Homura 19th Mar 2018, 1:02 PM edit delete reply
What state is Rain in
Because that would be illegal in California and NJ
SIlentNight 19th Mar 2018, 1:51 PM edit delete reply
New York
William 19th Mar 2018, 9:02 PM edit delete reply
Maria is 18. Pretty sure that would be illegal in a lot of places.
Emily 19th Mar 2018, 1:03 PM edit delete reply
*waves hi to Pete*

Bro, get a better job!
Jessica Bright 19th Mar 2018, 1:58 PM edit delete reply
*gnawing on knuckles sweating*
RubyRuthNeal 19th Mar 2018, 2:33 PM edit delete reply
RubyRuthNeal
I still keep wondering if Father Quentin is gonna get caught with having had a long-running pedophile abuse relationship with Todd. That sure would explain Todd being such a disturbed bully, and Quentin's failure to ever discipline Todd for behaving so mean to other kids.
Morgy 19th Mar 2018, 2:41 PM edit delete reply
No I dont wanna feel bad for todd
j-eagle12212012 19th Mar 2018, 2:45 PM edit delete reply
j-eagle12212012
I don't think Jocelyn would take the story in that direction. I know that stuff does happen in real life but it seems a bit extreme for this story
Esper 19th Mar 2018, 2:52 PM edit delete reply
This comic can get very dark. So dark that you cannot see the light, and even forget what the light looks at. So dark that people have to promise that it gets better.

I suffer from depression. When I read or see stuff like this, I get more depressed and expect the worst. Where Maria is now is a very bad place. I would not be surprised if she ends up being disowned, or her family up and moves in the middle of the night, or even if Maria decides to take her own life.
Xiane 19th Mar 2018, 4:14 PM edit delete reply
*Gives ya a hug*

As a fellow sufferer of depression when shit gets dark ya need a hug.

Personally I see a shitstorm coming with Marias parents but then I see this expulsion as a GOOD thing for Maria. The road for her will be long but away from an environment that crushes who she is and supports injustice?

Nothing but good can come from this expulsion. The number one being as an expelled student she no longer has to watch her words and can tell Father Evil bastard to shove his head up his own self righteous arse. :)
mill 20th Mar 2018, 7:41 PM edit delete reply
I guess she didn't want to go to college anyway
FishEye18 19th Mar 2018, 4:41 PM edit delete reply
*Reassuring hugs*

Jocelyn certainly isn't afraid to show the harsh reality we live in. However, I think Maria is more likely to run off, possibly with her brother, and live with Rain or Emily. (And I think Emily might be a more likely case if that happens, having a larger home and financial resources to support Maria and possibly Rudy.)
Guest 19th Mar 2018, 10:39 PM edit delete reply
Don't let it get you down. Expulsion is not the end of the world. She can get past this. As a person who has been expelled and has pulled through I know it isn't the end. That doesn't mean it won't be hard or that it won't hurt but, as a person with depression, I know that in dark times you just have to look for that pinprick of light and fight your way to it.

My expulsion also canes with criminal charges and the face Maria makes in the first panel was the one I was making when I was waiting for my turn in court.

I was expelled and got criminal charges at 17. Since then I've gotten my GED and had my charges expunged(wiped from the record). Moved away from my abusive family. And I'm currently winning the lifelong battle with my various mental disorders.
Queen Wolfen 20th Mar 2018, 5:12 AM edit delete reply
Queen Wolfen
TT^TT

*huggles*
LucilleSphere 19th Mar 2018, 7:07 PM edit delete reply
I get that in a comic's universe the rules can be whatever the comic's author says they are, but in real schools the principal doesn't have the authority to expel a student, they can only recommend expulsion to the school board. Only the school board can expel students. Students are suspended in the meantime while the suggestion is deliberated.
Source: my aunt is a former nun who was principal of a Catholic school for 12 years.
William 19th Mar 2018, 8:54 PM edit delete reply
Rules on suspension vary by state, and whether the relevant institution is a public school or private school. In any case it is highly likely that Father Quenton has the right to suspend a pupil and may (rightly or wrongly) expect the board to rubber stamp his decision to expel.
Some Ed 21st Mar 2018, 10:00 AM edit delete reply
Regardless of what the rules are on whether the principal can expel a student, there's nothing that can stop him from declaring a student expelled. The question is, does that declaration have any force? It may require some push back to determine that for sure.
Anon 19th Mar 2018, 8:36 PM edit delete reply
The worst thing is, as far as I can tell, the best case scenario is the following. Maria, being a senior, is old enough to drop out of school, run away from home, and not be collected by the police. Maria is desperate enough to get her feet on the ground, find a job and "succeed" at being a runaway. I feel like, at least Aunt Fara couldn't take Maria in, because of her employment status at the school. Dark times ahead.
Queen Wolfen 20th Mar 2018, 5:11 AM edit delete reply
Queen Wolfen
I wonder if she won't feel grateful to have gotten out of this hell hole, in the long run.
Drake Zephyr 20th Mar 2018, 8:15 PM edit delete reply
Drake Zephyr
*Dabs*
rowie324 21st Mar 2018, 9:36 AM edit delete reply
I just caught up, I really love this webcomic. You've done a really good job developing your characters and I look forward to the future of Rain. thanks, Jocelyn!! :)
Mamukoot 23rd Mar 2018, 8:01 AM edit delete reply
I was happy for Brother Arthur’s return, then this happened, and now I’m hooked again.
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