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Link to full view: http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2.....de-d47nvsh.jpg
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Fruitless adj- useless; unproductive; without results or success..


Ray LaMontagne - "I'm just counting curtain calls, and waiting for the axe to fall.."


This is a pretty simple picture really, in fact some of you might find it a bit excessive. But I think once you see the picture that comes after this, my next big one quality-wise like the Storytime picture, you'll be happy that you had this to kind of ease you into it I think. Besides I'm about 96% done with the next picture anyway so it'll be up very soon as well, think of this as a warm-up.

This actually wasn't as much work as it looks, I was actually able to trace Pinky every additional time after the first panel, as well as copy her colors over as well. This picture is about 3 half-nights of work. :)

Once again, down to business:

So it's 1984 and fate has dealt Pinky a fatal blow, her engine has given out on her. Unable to be useful to her family and in fact more a burden, she's going through every appliance and machine's nightmare.. but something every since one faces eventually. But much like our own deaths, you never expect it and always assume it's years away.

The Brooks family managed to get Pinky towed back home, after 'bricking' at Violet's High School when it was time to go home. I'm taking an ambiguous approach as to the events that unfold next. Did Violet's father really not know anything about working on cars? The Ford Sunliner Manuel there seems to hint at it maybe. Could they not afford a professional? Were they not able to get Pinky to a shop? Or was it a case of the father being all manly, convinced he could fix her when he really couldn't.. eventually leading to procrastination and eventual forgetfulness. Something I want to make sure people know here, these panels take place over around a year-long time-span. So you're missing quite a lot, but it's enough to give you a taste.

Engine Starter Problem SoundFX for those who want it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew2HAmmk4dE

We finally get to see some more of 'dad' and I was happy to be able to be able to show him doing something other then smiling and smoking a pipe. Weather he knew what he was doing or not, the fact he was working in the hot Kansas summer heat surely didn't help his energy or focus I'm sure. We've all been there I'm sure, sweaty, stinky, sticky, drips of sweat runnin down your forehead into your eyes and burning them, the grass tickling your legs, while flies and mosquitoes buzz around and land on you making you itch... yeah not fun at all.. not to mention the humidity and sunburn.

We get a brief cameo of Violet. You guys are lucky I've grown attached to the characters myself as well. Originally the story would be much more dark and heartless by this point.. having Violet totally care less about Pinky. At least now, while not saying %100 she cares, I leave it vague and up to your feelings as to how she feels. I REALLY hope she doesn't look like a mullet youth. XD She's supposed to have just the big puffy curly 80s hair.. but it might not have translated well in my style.

So back to Pinky, her emotions during this have kind of moved on from what they used to be. It's been years since she and Violet talked, she's already accepted and learned to live with that. Like said above, she hates that she can't be useful to her Masters. It's good to point out that she DOES care about the mother and father as well. I mean they're her original Masters, they bought her before Violet was even born. But now she feels like shes worthless (no pun intended) and nothing but a bother now to the family she loves. She wishes she could say she was sorry but she can't even do that.. just leave them to think whatever they think about her 'behavior.'

The last panel takes the show in this piece, as it's the most heart-breaking at least to me. I looked up references for tears because I wanted to make sure I got it to look right.. Again I'm leaving it open to interpretation as to weather that was the day she was completely given up on, or if she in fact cried every day she was worked on and didn't get fixed, just depends how sad you want it to be I guess.

I will point out that her lack of emotional expression was on purpose. The point being that she's been so sad and depressed for SO long that even though she's brought to tears, she's so emotionally drained that she doesn't even express it.. just lets the drip out....

It's gettin' sad folks, and it's only gonna get more so from here.

PS- Did you notice that the grass is growing higher around her in every frame?

Pinky © TBLT
Dad, Violet Brooks © ME