Only Human

You don't understand, Ms. Dawkins. I haven't worked in 10 months. If I don't pay rent soon, Margo will require a sacrifice... and I've sunk way too much money in fawn formula and pee pads to let that happen.

A week of strips about talking about not working? Tell me this can go on forever!

Work Ethic

Tommie, you're not ready to come back to work.  You're just coming back from your post-vacation vacation, you can't rush into it.  You're just here so that we can say you have a job, but you never actually have to work.  Let's face it, Frank can't handle drawing a busy hospital seven days a week.  Think about the time it took to draw the blue man with the turtleneck!  Let the man go back to squiggle art, white walls and green lampshades.  It's for the best.

Ready to Go to Work

Whuh oh! Looks like someone went over their Paid Time Off allotment by 843 hours. Also there's a rumor that someone killed off another imaginary boyfriend during their 843 hours of PTO.

Thanks, NURSE

Man, see, this is where I really miss Tommie. It could've been her delivering this expository dialogue, instead of this anonymous Nurse Rachet stand-in. Think of how much that would've added to the plot!

P.S. According to Wikipedia, "nurses' caps can still be found in many developing nations."

Breathing Treatment

Wow. When did Apartment 3-G turn into a David Lynch movie? Suddenly they're in a completely different room, with a random nurse (who is NOT wearing her old timey cap, the horror!) who insists on some "breathing treatment." Margo just sits there, strangely, silently. Her "mama" flies at her from the background, before stopping short. Martin makes an obscure comment about breakfast. Does he expect Gabriella to make it for them? Does he expect her to watch? And in the background, a shirtless midget in body paint juggles fire. ....Okay, not that last part, but I have a feeling that's just because Mr. Bolle had trouble drawing it.

Critical Care

"If something happens to Margo, I won't know what to do with myself.  I've been following her orders to the letter for the last thirty years.  I'M INCAPABLE OF INDEPENDENT THOUGHT AND ACTION!  You have to save her Sylvia!"

Don't Sugarcoat It

Claire, this is Tommie you're talking to. Tommie Thompson. You know she can take it! This is her house, Claire! Don't mess with Tommie, or you're in for a world of hurt! Tommie doesn't play by the rules, she makes them up as she goes. She takes her purse wherever she pleases, she has no regard for your cubbies! And she doesn't wear your old timey starched hats, either!

Next of kin?? The reappearance of Bobbie the Bobble Merrill?? Yes please!

Interrobanged

"Other than this filing cabinet that has been following me around all morning?  You see it too right?!?! RIGHT?!?!?!  TELL ME THIS ISN'T HAPPENING AGAIN!!  I'm sorry, your old apartment burned down, but you don't care about that.  You live here with us now...Hey, why aren't you wearing your hat?"

Nurses' Quarters

Hmm, Ari just started showing early signs of a heart attack, I wonder why we suddenly changed perspectives to Tommie in the hospital? P.S. I love that Tommie works at the only hospital in New York where nurses still wear those paper hats. That must've factored into her decision to work there. Plus all the nurses get to wear white coats like the doctors! Very egalitarian.

Special Delivery

"Nina specifically said that she wanted the midwife that looks like Justin Bieber, and that she wants you to sing Baby while she's getting her epidural. Since you have no life outside the hospital, and since we let anyone from the donor families do whatever they want, we told the Blakes that you would be on call for the next 3-9 months to deliver the baby. I offered to do it myself, but Nina said she didn't want my man hands anywhere near that baby."

Tommie Made an Impression?

Ugh. I've been punished for posting late on Wednesday with more Tommie. Just when we were going shopping for hard-to-draw furniture, too. Although this strip is somewhat remarkable, as we learn that it's possible for Tommie to make an impression on anyone. Good for her!

Also, check out Nurse Rachet in the first panel! Do think she's thinking hard, or channeling Toddlers in Tiaras?