What it is... ain't exactly too clear

[brigid]

2-22-2023

I don't fully understand the time line of this particular story.

Mary purchased a recording of Amos' music and has it on her when she encounters Edda. Did they plan to meet? Was it a coincidence? Was it a planned coincidence? Edda infodumps at her, making it clear they haven't spoken in at least five years.

After Edda's quick summary of her life, Mary reveals some more emotional yet vague details of her own (does she have a job? children? pets? where does she live?). The two discuss Amos and how rad and sexy he is.

The two women encounter Amos (accidentally? on purpose?) who does not recognize Mary. Edda refuses to share Mary's identity. Mary has "a recording" which is... an enormous CD? A 7" album? She asks Amos to sign it. He doesn't remember who she is, which is embarrassing for him and mortifying for her.

The mortification seems to be the point.

Mary walks away. Amos recognizes her back, even though they spent years together speaking face to face, in addition to meeting twice as adults in New York (once at his instigation).

Edda and Amos, now dressed in formal wear, discuss Mary. There is no background or any sort of context clue other than their garb as to where they are. They dance in one strip, Amos plays the piano while Edda crouches on said piano in another strip, then in the third strip they are dancing (?) as Mary applies make up.

Mary slinks toward the "camera" only to be nearly "accidentally" kicked by Edda. She is in the same vague location they are, dressed in a formal yet incredibly revealing gown (like Edda is).

It's unclear how she got there. Did she follow them? Ask mutual friends? Come upon them accidentally?

Mary asks to cut in. Amos responds by bending Edda backward in a deep kiss and then picking her up and carrying her away.

Mary, alone, sits at a table. Seth, who doesn't recognize her, sits with her while he waits for his wife Fernanda. This is, apparently, a public place where strangers feel comfortable interacting.

The two realize they do know each other after all, via Edda. Seth mentions that he's gay, as cis men who marry cis women so very often mention. There's "witty banter" and then Fernanda appears. Mary finds her sexy (?). Fernanda sits in Seth's lap. Seth and Fernanda make out (in this public place) while Mary watches. Seth points out that Mary has never known True Love. ("True Love" is "sitting on someone's lap in public directly in front of a stranger making out hot and heavy" I guess)

Seth and Fernanda leave to dance. Mary remains at the table, lacking a dance partner.

Hugh approaches the table, stating he was meant to meet Seth and Fernanda there. I guess... tables... are assigned? Reserved? Mary has been there long enough that a glass of wine has appeared. We see that the table is fairly large, actually, with seating for 6. After announcing that they are horny and want to fuck Seth and Fernanda walk away, heading home, apparently without greeting or speaking to Hugh? We don't actually see them interact.

After striking out with gay, married Seth Mary tries flirting with Hugh who casually mentions his wife. Xiulan shows up, still massively pregnant. Like Amos, he's in a tuxedo. Edda, Fernanda, and Mary are all dressed in clingy, revealing, "sexy" evening gowns. Xiulan is in a baggy turtleneck and loose jumper (sleeveless dress worn over a shirt/pinafore).

Edda and Amos pop by (where did Amos carry Edda off to, exactly? and why?) to say hello to Hugh and Xiulan and say they are going home to... eat home made spaghetti. It's set up like Edda's going to announce their plans to flee and fuck, of course. No, no. It's spaghetti. The fucking comes later.

Edda... invites Mary home to eat spaghetti with them?

Everyone else leaves, with Hugh and Xiulan remaining at a large table... in a dance hall?

I mean, I'm assuming this is one of their much-beloved Tango Salons since McEldowney established fifteen or twenty years ago that these folks attend them regularly. However there is literally no way any recent and/or casual reader would ever know that.

Mary and Edda ran into each other in a white void, discussed Amos in a white void, talked to Amos in a white void.

Edda and Amos, in different clothing, danced in a multicolored void. Mary, similarly attired, joined them in the colorful void. More characters joined them. The only furniture? A piano, a large table, some dining chairs, and a glass of wine. Ok, a glass of wine isn't furniture. Set piece.

It remains unclear how Mary found them there. Did they plan to go there together? Did the three couples plan to meet there? Did all seven of them plan to dance together? Why on earth would you get dressed up, travel to a place, dance one dance, then go home? Why on earth would you get dressed up, travel to a place, dance one dance, then go home to eat spaghetti?

This kind of... feels like Mary was ritually humiliated and now that she's been torn down to mud she can be permitted in their home. Assuming she wasn't in their home before. They may have all been standing on a street corner, or in a cafe, or in their living room. Waiting for a bus. At the zoo. At a different dance hall.

Tomorrow's Thursday. What will the strip bring? More Mary? Some kind of flash back to toddler-aged Amos and Edda discussing conceiving children? Edda and Amos as adults eating ice cream and riding ponies without their children? Mark proclaiming his finally-realized love for Janice or some other girl? A talking cat being wrong about grammar?

I'm tired.