if you are reading this, thank YOU.
ben bishop - 103 monument st. apt.1, portland me. 04101 - ben.bishart@gmail.com www.bishart.net- all rights reserved. copyright 2008 BEN BISHOPno part of this book may be reproduced without permission, except for small purposes of review. this copy printed february 2015.
A FOOTPRINT...
ONLY IN SUCH A DESOLATE PLACE COULD SOMEONE BEGIN TO BELIEVE THEY ARE THE FIRST TO LEAVE THEIRS.
SPADE! how we doin’ CARL?
jack, we’ve been looking all over for you...
actually , there isn’t any. in fact its quite the opposite...
late night, you know how it goes. what’s the good news?
i’ve been going over these numbers, and well, they don’t look good jack. oh yeah?
YEAH, the money is gone, we’ve been here too long. tell me about it.
jack, without the grant money NONE of these men will be getting paid... you or i... no one is getting paid.
we are NOT leaving until we get PAID. and we DON’T get PAID until we FIND something!
let me tell YOU something CARL...
so i suggest we START DIGGING.
YOU HEAR THAT BOYS!? NOBODY’S GOING HOME UNTIL WE’RE ALL RICH!
it’s going to be a long day.
THE WORLD TODAY IS COVERED WITH BILLIONS OF PEOPLE LEAVING THEIR MARK IN THE SAND EVERYDAY.
jack?
IT’S UNREALISTIC TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE FIRST, AND EVEN MORE UNBELIEVABLE TO THINK THAT YOU MAY BE THE LAST.
AT THE EDGE OF THE EARTH, IN SEEMINGLY UNINHABITABLE TERRITORY...
IT ISN’T THE DESIRE TO STAND WHERE NO MAN HAS STOOD BEFORE THAT MOTIVATES THESE MEN.
BUT JUST THE OPPOSITE.
YEARS OF RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION HAVE LED MANY MEN TO THIS DESERT TIME AND TIME BEFORE.
THEir DISCOVERIES HAVE BEEN SLIGHT, JUST PIECES TO THE BIG PICTURE...
PIECES TO THE MOST AMAZING PUZZLE.
THE DEEPER WE DIG TO UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF OUR PAST THE MORE LIGHT WE CAN SHED ON OUR PRESENT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... OUR FUTURE. SOMETIMES THE WEIGHT OF TIME BEARS DOWN ON US...
AND WE BEGIN TO LOSE HOPE.
FOR ONLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS ARE FOUND AFTER ALL HOPE IS LOST.
here we go DUDE. now remember what we talked about... we’re gonna look both ways, and -
WAIT!
get BACK HERE!
just chasing my dog...
SORRY!
WHOAH!
GOTCHA!
you’re engaged!?
it’s NOT an engagment GLORIA...
why?
because im only 24.
so what is it then dear? because it looks like an ENGAGMENT ring to me...
it’s just a ring, thats all.
it’s not like HANK got down on one knee and asked me the question... really... he and i have talked about this...
ah yes, talked about your fear of commitment, how you’re so SCARED of settling down...
it just seems to me that hank isn’t too SCARED of showing JUST how commited he is to you... looks a bit serious. i would just make sure you’re both on the same page about what exactly it is you’re looking for in your relationship.
gloria, for the last time, im not scared. and settling down? im only 24!
and what is THAT supposed to mean?
well, you’re NOT getting any younger ADRIANNA
i am 24!
loud.
indeed.
what? yelling in a museum? i’ve always wanted to yell here...
i apologize for that mr. burling.
PLUS i was 24 once. sometimes you just feel like telling everyone. ...nothing to be embarassed about...
ok.
yeah...
just a SCARY age i guess...
mr. Burling?
oh. right.
sir? yeah...
unfortunatly, along with the no yelling, we STILL have a no DOGS allowed policy as well.
dude? WAIT.
dude...
DUDE, you wait here with gloria, and you be good, she’s a VERY sweet lady.
looks as though we are STUCK with eachother now DUDE...
what kind of name IS that anyway?
wow.
hey boy, what’s your problem, huh?
OH, i forgot to feed you again... im sorry.
i have an idea... i’ll just give you everything we’ve got, you can eat it all now, or save some for next time... it’s up to you. you’re in charge. WHAT? now you’re not hungry?
i said i was sorry...
i miss her too.
CHAPTER
HANK!?
hey babe.
how did YOU get IN here? WELL, i thought i’d suprise you, and show up every NOW and THEN, so i copied YOUR key! i know how you did’nt exactly WANT to live together yet, so this way, were NOT REALLY living together, but we can still get to see eachother as MUCH as we’d LIKE.
pretty awesome right?
oh.
yeah... awesome.
well i don’t know about you, but i’ve had a pretty long day. what do you say we get to bed?
ok.
night babe.
goodnight HANK.
adrianna?
hi.
i just want to have something strong... well what’s the difference between that and a cafe au lait?
no, i guess i don’t want that...
wait, im sorry, let me start over.
I DON’T know... no, not iced. ...serious, i NEVER drink coffee.
maybe SOMETHING with chocolate?
...your small is called a TALL? that does’nt make any sense...
americano?
HOT milk? and people like that? a LATTE?
what’s in a macchiato?
what do you like? im sorry. double shot? is THAT enough?
so, a LARGE cappucino,that is... why is everything so complicated?
OK, excuse me, maybe i can help move things ALONG here...
Hey MAN, you cant just cut in LINE. what?
it’s alright, im NOT cutting. Oh ok, so you two are together?
NO.
can i JUST get someone something?
WE will take two large BLACK coffee’s PLEASE.
i just thought i’d introduce myself. usually when i do that the other person tends to tell me their name...its do you weird, i know. USUALLY go ahead and order coffee for people you DON’T know?
NATHAN... what?
no, not USUALLY, but this was a SPECIAL case, you had no idea what you wanted, and that guy’s goinna be here until like NINE AM or something... so he was in no rush to HELP you figure it out.
BLACK coffee’s the way to go anyway,...
TRUST me, keep it simple, everything UP there on that menu is pretty much variations of the same drink. the thrill without the frill...
who ARE NATHAN.
ADRIANNA...
NICE to meet YOU.
you seem to know ALOT about coffee.
i know alot about staying AWAKE...
...good coffee...
so... THEN they finally call for help...
and the GOVERNMENT just BLOWS UP the entire state! WHAT!?
i know...
wow.
yeah, after that, BAM, the END.
hahaha.
oh man... how did we get to talking about ZOMBIES?
ah, i don’t know, im sorry. haha.
what time is it?
why? you got a hot DATE nathan?
yeah, a hot DATE at...what, SIX FIFTEEN in the morning?
SIX IN THE MORNING!? six fifteen...
CRAP! im late for work!
oh. OK. well, it was great talking to YOU.
YEAH, you too. maybe i’ll see you AGAIN sometime.
alright.
bye.
at least ONE of us still SLEEPS.
don’t let me WAKE you...
UH.
NO!
sorry dude...
CHAPTER
good MORNING mr. burling!
how are you TODAY nathan?
good morning gloria, you CAN call me NATHAN you know... i have told you that, haha.
good, JUST dropping off another painting.
i know, i know...
well i can’t wait to see it.
thank you GLORIA, i’ll make sure to let YOU know when this one’s up.
such a NICE young man, he always seems a bit RESERVED though. who?
nathan?
the ARTIST, nathan burling.
i’ll be RIGHT back...
do you two KNOW eachother?
i don’t know. maybe.
no. you look like a CRAZY person. MAYBE you should switch to decaf!
do i look OK?
very funny. i feel fine.
OOF!
HANK.
are you ok? what happened to your hand? it’s nothing. i missed you this morning?
yeah i LEFT a little early for work. had alot of stuff to do for the new exhibit...
oh, alright... well what are you doing right now?
maybe we could get some lunch?
sorry hank, now’s not really the BEST time...
im sorry.
yeah. its fine...
REALLY. some other time.
ok.
THANKS for understanding.
so i’ll SEE you later then? yeah, sounds good...
huh?
it IS him.
ADRIANNA?
HI!
hey. what’re you doing-
E!
HEEER
OH MY GOD!
it’s ALRIGHT!
hold on!
im ok.
you’re like FIVE inches above the floor.
nate, your feet...
what?
...right, well i KIND OF have this thing with HEIGHTS...
makes sense.
well, more like FALLING from them OFF of ladders.
so WHAT are YOU doing here? what am i doing here? you’re following me or something, trying to kill me. haha... i WORK here. really? nope... are you NEW? been here for YEARS. how come i’ve NEVER seen you here before? i don’t know, i guess im BEHIND the scenes alot, setting up different exhibits and that sort of thing. CRAZY. wicked.
so THIS is all you then? yep... you’re AMAZING... your PAINTINGS, they’re really great... well, thank you.
i didn’t know YOU were THE nathan burling... NATHAN BURLING the GREAT ARTIST...
come with me. i want to show you something.
wow.
it’s not QUITE finished yet, but i’ve been working REALLY hard to make sure its ready in TIME for the grand opening...
they’re calling him the FIRST artist... EVER.
i REMEMBER back in ART HISTORY class they would show us all these slides from different art periods, but when they came to CAVE PAINTINGS they had nothing to say. they didn’t know anything about it. no one could understand WHY, while all the other CAVEMEN were out hunting and whatever, someone would HIDE away and DRAW all these THINGS all over the walls...
the teacher would just SKIP right over it, right on to the NEXT lesson. NO explanation.
look at THEM, just LAYING there...
just WAITING underground, near perfect... the one who could have started it all... the FIRST artist.
and his girlfriend?
we ASSUME so...
how did THEY end up like this, holding eachother?
i don’t know, strange way to go...
all of this was literally under our feet the whole time, all these PAINTINGS, some sixty feet off the ground. the MOST ever found in one place.
all these STORIES we may never understand, stories we will spend the rest of our lives TRYING to understand.
this is HIM? i guess, haha... probably just some other artist’s interpretation.
kind of SCRUFFY looking isn’t he?
yeah, you’re one to talk... NATHAN THE CAVEMAN...
yeah, yeah... so im the OLDEST, HAIRIEST cave painter ever, what’s your story ADRIANNA?
i know there’s MORE to you than just hiding around this art museum and holding up the lines at coffee shops...
i don’t know, i dont REALLY have a story...
i was born in ALASKA, my parents moved me around with them ALOT, more than i can even remember, GERMANY, IRELAND, just about EVERY UNITED STATE... this is all before my eighteenth birthday, we were all over the place... the only reason i can even REMEMBER is because of the postcards. every new place, a new postcard... where are they now?
oh COME on...
ok. well...
i have no idea... i woke up on the morning of my eighteenth birthday here in portland MAINE to an EMPTY apartment and a shobox of postcards...
oh man... im sorry...
no, no... REALLY, it’s fine... all that moving around i never really got to know them anyway. they NEVER really made an effort to get to know ME either. to tell you the truth, im pretty sure i was never really part of their plan to begin with...
so after they left....
after they LEFT i just figured it was time for me to start LIVING my OWN life... i started reading, and writing A LOT, i fell in LOVE with art... with this place, and GLORIA. i was here so much she basically just started paying me to help out, then it turned into a full time thing.
i got so used to MOVING around so much, just ONE thing after the NEXT... it’s really nice to have something stable here... for now.
so what’s next?
i don’t know... i think i want to go to college... maybe teach? it’s just hard to see myself getting into the habit of doing JUST ONE thing for a long time. and i feel like i’ve been HERE a LONG time...
but you said you LOVED it here...
i know. i guess i try not to plan things out too much anymore.
yeah, you NEVER know with plans... sometimes things just don’ti don’t know... you should just DO whatever makes YOU happy, i suppose.
so now that you KNOW my ENTIRE life story, what’s yours?
nathan?
CHAPTER
WELCOME to PET-PALOOZA what kind of pet could you USE-A?
haha, a RHYME? are you serious?
hey, i have to say that.
do you have any GUM?
gum? no, we don’t really... i mean we have turtles, and hamsters, and fish, but notmaybe try next door?
ok thanks... i’ll be outside.
what?
NICOLE? right?
AH!
you DIDN’T really come in looking for GUM did you?
maybe...
maybe i knew i would NEED it.
maybe we could-
ok...
did YOU paint all of these?
yeah. ah... why?
NATHAN, what’re you doing WORKING at some lame pet store when you could be PAINTING for a living?
they’re beautiful...
these should be on display somewhere!
what the hell is THAT supposed to mean?
i don’t know... im kind of an IN HOUSE artist.
i guess it means that im only an artist, IN here...
then why paint them at all?
in MY house... and it’s not a LAME pet store...
nicole.
what?
why even paint them if you NEVER want anyone else to see them?
not NEVER i guess, just not now...
then when? a thousand years from now?
what’s the BIG deal?
nathan... yes NICOLE?
i want YOu to paint ME.
what? really?
why?
so that a thousand years from NOW you’ll still REMEMBER.
AH!
DON’T look at me like that...
you SLEEP all DAY unless you’re EATING.
i’ve gotta get OUT of here for a while DUDE...
...don’t wait up.
you’re expecting SOMEONE...
excuse ME?
you’re WAITING for somebody here, right?
no, NOT exactly... he MUST be running late.
he?
well, you sure SEEM like you’re waiting for SOMETHING. you’ve been here ALL night, he must really be something special!
you’ve got THE LOOK.
the look?
yep, THE LOOK, but what do i KNOW right? i only work the SAME shift EVERY night... ...meet the SAME kind of PEOPLE looking for the SAME kind of THING.
LOVE.
but WHAT do i know?
ADRIANNA?
hey!
here we ARE again...
what are you doing here this late? again.
well, you know, BLACK COFFEE. the THRILL without all the FRILL!
riiight... so THIS must be HIM.
what’s that?
it’s YOU man...
um...
you INVENTED the look.
what?
what the hell are youum, i DON’T know, lets just, lets go for a WALK or something.
no wait!
WAIT! i did’nt EVEN get my COFFEE!
so WHERE exactly are we going?
ANYWHERE.
wow.
you seem to be saying THAT alot around me lately.
you spend too MUCH time at that damn coffee shop.
i JUST can’t believe i’ve never come DOWN here before.
PROBABLY...
i LOVE it down here.
its where i GO to get away.
AWAY? away from what?
life.
you know, EVERYTHING... just... it’s like... you know that MOMENT when you’re LYING in bed. when you’re TRYING to fall asleep... but you can’t
that’s my LEAST favorite part of the day.
when you START going over EVERY thing you DIDN’T do that day, or have to DO the next day...all your worries, all your STRESS, it all just surfaces.
i don’t know what it is, but when i come down here... i can FORGET about all that stuff... maybe it’s the BOATS rocking back and forth in the waves, the BIRDS, the waves, the smell, i don’t know... whatever it IS, it gives me something ELSE to think about when i lay in bed.
it’s where i go to CLEAR my mind. i could use SOMETHING like that.
like what?
is that why YOU don’t sleep NATHAN? something to clear my head.
so you WERE counting on meeting me.
how do you kno- it’s NOT exactly that hard to tell. when i can pretty much count on meeting you a some UNGODLY hour of the night for a two nights cup of coffee... in a ROW.
HEY! don’t YOU turn this around on ME.
so WHAT is it then... what’s keeping you AWAKE nathan?
...all that SAME stuff you mentioned.
you know...
so when’s the BIG DAY adrianna?
oh. did GLORIA say something to-
is everything alright?
yeah... no...
the BIG day... when is the cave exhibit OPENING?
the exhibit! the caveman, yeah... sorry, it opens in less than three weeks... my HEAD’S just been SUCH a mess lately... i’ve been working SO hard.
come on.
so is it ready?
as ready as it ever WILL be i suppose.
NATHAN!?
nathan has been WAITING tens of thousands of years for his work to be shown to the WORLD.
just something GLORIA and i are calling him now... the CAVEMAN!? haha...
great. we’ve still got a little more re-arranging to do.
OH! and the archaeologist who DISCOVERED the cave is going to be there.
he is giving a speech.
so it’s one of THOSE EVENTS.
there’s going to be alot of people there...
well, it’s kind of formal. it’s a PRETTY BIG deal.
there IS still so much to do...
hey hey hey/ RELAX. it’s all going to be fine.
yeah, we will see how it goes...
you’ll have to let me know.
i AM?
you’re NOT?
im invited...
YES! what? you make it sound like you’re NOT going to be there.
it’s just...
you’re the ONE person i want to be there.
because YOU care, because when i saw you in there... when you looked at those CAVE WALLS... it means more to YOU than any of these ART snobs, or money hungry historians.
look, just PROMISE me you will be there. i really want you to be there...
i WANT to be there.
so...
so, do i have to get all dressed up?
alright, alright!
NATE...
i PROMISE i will be there.
CHAPTER
JUST what do you thinik you are doing...
what? last i heard, the coffee in the break room was FREE for us.
last i heard you were ENGAGED. once again, i have TOLD you, im NOT ENGAGand you DON’T EVEN like COFFEE!
what are YOU doing adrianna? this was never about the coffee.
you THINK i don’t know what’s going on? you THINK i don’t see that NEW LOOK on your face ? JUST because im OLD does NOT mean i don’t know when someone’s RUNNING around where they SHOULD NOT be RUNNING. ...because i know that BIG fellow of yours, HANK, isn’t responsible for your SUDDEN new ELECTRICITY!
and where is your...
SPILL IT adrianna...
well.
who is he!?
i lost it...
oh no... it’s JUST a ring gloria... and now it’s missing... what about HANK?
what about hank? well, what does he think of this new MAN in your life... and your misplaced enga-... ring. whatever it is... he doesn’t know DOES he? no... i don’t know what he knows right now... it’s NOT like i’m keeping it from HIM. nothing has happened... but you HAVEN’T told him... anything.
i haven’t had a CHANCE, everything is happening so fast, and i’ve been so busy, with WORK, and the EXHIBIT...life. i’ve just been so overwhelmed, it’s no wonder i lost the damn RING... maybe it’s a SIGN.
ADRIANNA, dear... i’m not going to try to tell you how to live your life. you ARE still young, and have a long TIME left to live, you don’t ALWAYS have to make the RIGHT decisions the first TIME around. but it’s when you know something is wrong... and you choose to do nothing about it, that is the real mistake, THAT is when people get HURT.
gloria... how do you tell someone you CAN’T stop thinking about THEM.
and someone else you DON’T want anything to do with them anymore...
what am i doing dude?
what am i DOING gloria? sweetheart, im sorry, i didn’t mean to... no, you’re right... i think... SOMEHOW... i love him. who?
HANK.
hey stranger... you’re out of food...
have you been here all day again? nevermind... it does’nt matter.
where have YOU been? hank, i can’t do THIS anymore.
can’t do WHAT anymore? where were you?
hank, im sorry, JUST give me the key you made.
can’t DO WHAT anymore?
HANK, just give me my KEY! sneak around!? LIE!? disappear in the MIDDLE of the NIGHT!? hank, you need to leave! you need to leave MY HOUSE.
NO! why don’t you tell me what’s going on? why don’t you tell me WHAT exactly you CAN’T do anymore ADRIANNA! hank, calm down. no, tell me TELL ME! hank, IF you DON’T leave... THEN WHAT!? then i will.
why are you doing THIS? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!? GET OUT OF HERE NOW!
babe...
are you absolutley OUT of your mind...
just tell me why you took your RING off...
i almost didn’t recognize you without your glasses on...
are you ok?
i went to the coffee shop first, i knew you would be awake.
i didn’t know what else to do... i didn’t know WHERE else to go.
adrianna, you’re soaking wet... you should come inside... its raining.
it’s ALWAYS raining.
you asked me if i was ok... you didn’t ask what i was doing here... why i was standing out in the rain on your doorstep in the middle of the night... or HOW i even knew where you lived...
so are you ok?
yes, now...
so THIS is your place...
and this is YOUR bed. it’s exactly how i pictured it.
NO, i mean your walls! your place, not your BED! your apartment... hey... not your bed...
no?
you’re hilarious.
NATE! im not ALWAYS this CRAZY.
everytime i see you...
hmmm... ah, MOCHA...latte? i don;t know...
oh my... THE EXHIBIT! there’s going to be A LOT of people there.
that’s not funny.
COFFEE of SOME kind.
it’s kind of FUNNY.
kind of.
no.
im glad we met... yeah, so am i.
you’re soaked. i look like hell... haha, no, you don’t.
so... so what now? you can take your coat off... if you want. um, doam i staying?
is it alright if i stYEAH.
ok...
ok.
adrianna i...
you have a dog?
nate...
dude!
DUDE?
HEY THERE! i bet you’re hungry boy, aren’t you!
dude the dog...
hey, you hungry adrianna?
nope. i’ve got...frozen PIZZA, ice, peanut butter...
ranch dressing?
no thanks NATE.
you’re sure? yeah, im tempted, but im sure...
i mean you could ALWAYS have what dude’s having.
hey NATE? you change your mind in there? haha, no im good thanks...
would it be alright if i took a shower?
nate?
yeah... come on, i’ll get you all set up.
wow.
there’s that WORD again...
what?
what? nothing... i almost threw that shirt away... it looks, GOOD on you...
i like it...
i don’t know how you ever FIT into this.
me too... i MEAN, it WAS my favorite...
you look different... maybe it’s because i’m not wearing my hat.
well i haven’t worn it... in a LONG time.
maybe it’s just cause you don’t have your glasses on?
no... that’s not it...
i don’t think so... it’s like for a MOMENT everything was clear foryou... you have this look usually, i don’t know what, but when you’re looking at ME, i feel like there’s something else there...
something getting in the way, something distracting you. and right now, it’s not there. right NOW, you’re JUST seeing ME.
THERE it is again... what is it nathan...
talk to me.
i don’t...
i don’t know what you’re talking about.
is that MY towel?
CHAPTER
ARE YOU SLEEPING?
wake up.
NICOLE...
i just talked with the doctor... he said, you’re going to be FINE.
he said i should go home... said i should get some rest.
he said it doesn’t HURT anymore.
wake up nicole...
i’m not going anywhere.
you’ll LOVE me for this one day.
i can’t believe you did THIS.
what happened to man’s BEST friend?
oh my god.
hahaha.
this is really happening?
JUST shut up and HOLD him!
haha, WHOA dude EASY there... we just MET.
DUDE! ...huh?
that’s what you’re naming him?
dude.
i told myself, i SAID, i pick the DOG, and nate picks the NAME... so that’s what YOU are naming him.
it’s perfect. YOU’RE perfect.
so we’re keeping him!?
of course...
who else would take him in with a name like THAT anyway?
nicole... i also have a... a suprise... well, less hairy, but... NICOLE?
i have something for you.
a gift?
yeah?
haha, i think he’s HUNGRY nate.
well, YEAH, more of a question...
a question? oh my...
what kind of GIFT that’s a SUPRISE... is a QUESTION...
nicole, will you...
YES.
WAKE UP!
wake up nate...
nicole.
hey do you have any gum?
you watching me PAINT again?
don’t you have anything else to do?
yes.
THIS.
this? and WHAT is THIS nicole?
this?
this is...
LOVE.
mr. burling...
...i’m sorry.
nicole.
NICOLE! it’s ok, i GOT him, i got him.
NURSE!
get him outside.
NICOLE! no WAKE up!
NO, THAT’S MY WIFE! wait NICOLE! wait!
NO! you CHECK again!
wait...
that’s MY wife in that room!
nathan?
i can’t... i can’t do THIS without her...
nathan... it’s adrianna.
nathan, wake up.
you’re having a nightmare.
do not stand at my grave and weep... i am not there, i do not sleep.
i am a thousand winds that blow. i am the ivy that rises to grow. i am the falling rain.
when you awaken in the morning’s hush, i am the swift uprising rush...
i am the soft star left to shine.
to last for all of time...
do not stand at my grave and cry. for i am not there... ...i did not die.
do not be sad. do not regret. nicole would want us all to remember.
as we leave here today...
even those who seem to be gone stay with you as long as you remember them.
we could never forget...
sleep well mrs. burling.
hey! you ok?
we fell asleep...
we...
I... was sleeping...
you had a nightmare. but you’re awake now, it’s OVER.
right? nathan.
...you’re ok.
nathan...
YEAH. yeah. im fine, i just need to go get some COFFEE.
whatever it is. you can’t avoid it forever... if you want to talk...
just come back, come lay down...
it’s ok.
...i’ll make you breakfast in the morning?
...i don’t have ANY food...
you have frozen pizza.
haha... are you ok? yeah...
are you... you’re breathing so heavy...
I... so are you.
im really glad we met.
...so am i.
CHAPTER
i can FEEL your eyes burning a HOLE in my back... you’d BETTER be here to HELP.
are you in NEED of help?
im not worried about the boxes. you shouldn’t be either...
i have to get ALL these boxes upstairs. and, well... there’s still a FEW things to clean up here and there...
someone ELSE can take care of that you know.
ADRIANNA, dear, that’s days away. it will be taken care of...
JUST want to make sure everything’s all set in TIME.
GLORIA, really, i do need toadrianna. how are things with HANK?
...i just love these talks we have gloria. i’m sorry i’m JUST WORRIED about you is all.
i broke up with him LAST night... or, well, i TRIED at least... he’s crazy...
what? how so? did something HAPPEN? did he HURT you?
no, no... but he COULD have...
i don’t know... one minute it’s like he will LITERALLY do ANYTHING for me, and i can tell that he truly, truly DOES care for me... but then, when he’s ANGRY, if something is’nt going his way, he just LOSES control.
he doesn’t THINK. you should have called me...
im fine.
well, it’s a good thing you had a PLACE to go... but if you EVER tire of wearing BOYS t-shirts to work, you can always call me.
how do... you? it’s NATHAN’S... nathan burling.
i know... i figured that out.
we spent the WHOLE night TOGETHER! and? i felt... safe. it’s hard to explain, but after the entire MESS with HANK, when i was in nathan’s apartment, in his bed, in his ARMS... everything that happened before he opened the door just went away.
you didn’t tell him?
no... i didn’t see the need... HANK is out of the picture, and like i said, i felt SAFE, and i was OK... nothing else mattered to him. are you ok? i am. and nathan? i think he feels the same... HAPPY.
i think you ought to talk with him, be HONEST, about everything... ask him what he thinks...
i will...
i haven’t been this HAPPY in... i can’t even remember when.
well im glad.
we will talk. i’ll tell him everything. i’ve just got to get through until the OPENING... after that my mind will settle and i can START to think straight again.
he is EXACTLY what i need right now.
oh, i know... you should SEE all the paintings on his WALLS. gloria... his SMILE, his EYES... i can’t get them out of my head...
he is CUTE too... and very talented.
and let’s NOT forget that BUTT of his... GLORIA! in those jeans! it would be WRONG not to at least MENTION it... ok, ok, ok... its pretty good. you’re right.
haha. oh dear... i do want to know every detail. all he’s been through? you don’t? he didn’t tell you...
the dog.
and i’m glad you are BOTH happy... after all he’s been through...
tell me wha- DUDE!
gloria, how long do you think he’s been standing there behind...
just smile and wave, dear, SMILE and WAVE.
how much do you think he heard? did he hear us talking about his butt?
good morning gloria!
adrianna, hi.
hello mr. burNATHAN.
how’s it going?
OH! and my favorite LITTLE MONSTER! hello there!
are you JUST now getting up?
haha, what? have you been sleeping this WHOLE time? well, i thought... no! its good, it’s GREAT, it’s past noon. very un-nate like...
riiight...
yeah... well, every passing moment is a new chance to turn it all around...
im impressed.
...it’s from well it sounds a movie. like it must have been a veryim pretty sure it was a cartoon.
PROFOUND!
well. the LION KING made me cry. are you serious?
LUNCH?
ok, lets go. YES.
um... me too...
it’s on me, i owe you for breakfast...
and everything, thank you.
like, LOTS of guys i know cried...
...it was a SAD cartoon. oh! i know...
alright.
nate, really, it’s ok...
OK.
did i lose you?
was it something dreaming? i said? haha, no, i’m still awake. i’d better NOT be.
i’m not sleeping. i promise. haha. damn straight!
open your eyes then...
no... i just wanted to see... i LOVE it when you look at me.
do you ever wonder why we met?
a LONG so i guess time... it’s fate... and everything up until NOW... has all happened for a reason...
um...
i mean, at THIS point in our lives...
...how long have you worked at the museum?
right...
i am happy. i am. i’ve just always had a HARD time buying into the whole DESTINY, everything happens for a reason, way of thinking...
hey, look at me... maybe we should STOP thinking so much and just be HAPPY about where we are and WHAT we are doing. and who we are with. YES.
i don’t really like the idea that the REST of MY LIFE is already planned out either... and the JOKE is on me, because i have NO IDEA what that PLAN is. would you REALLY want to know?
you ok?
yeah. it’s just weird to think about... that we wouldn’t be here tonight, together, without DOING everything we’ve ever it’s hard done... or NOT done. NOT to believe in DESTINY or whatever... oh, LISTEN to me...sorry. haha, what happened to not thinking so much and this? JUST being happy about THIS. this is... either way, destiny or not, we’re HERE, and we don’t have to think about the future... not right NOW.
no, not tonight, tonight we just are... adrianna and NATHAN the CAVEMAN!
haha, and TOMORROW’S YOUR big opening!
MY opening? i’m JUST the world’s MOST misunderstoood cave painter... the EXHIBIT of “my” art wouldn’t have ANY ground to stand on if it weren’t for you adrianna.
tomorrow night, after YOUR opening, let’s celebrate. celebrate? haha, we’ve been ;celebrating” every night for the PAST few WEEKS.
whoa! not that kind of celebrating, well maybe wewait, has it ONLY been a few weeks?
oh thanks!
yeah, i know... it seems so much longer... like years.
that’s GREAT... i can leave if you’d like some ALONE time with DUDE.
i’ve almost forgot what an EMPTY bed feels like!
haha, no, no. never leave. ok. or leave. hahaha. whatever you WANT to do. who knows where you’ll end up JUST because of the choices you make tonight right?
just because you met me.
im glad i met you.
i don’t want to think about where i will end up... where WE will end up. alright. no PLANNING.
but tomorrow night, AFTER the opening, i have a SURPRISE for you... ok? haha, ok.
that’s not TOO far into the FUTURE to think about is it?
i don’t NEED any more surprises...
CHAPTER
my men had all GIVEN up and gone home...
BUT I KEPT DIGGING.
you know what they call THAT?
and digging, and digging...
jack daniels?
persistence...
DRIVE...
PASSION!
quitter... OK! im out of here...
DRUNK.
i JUST may be...
but im NO quitter, i wouldn’t be HERE tonight if i was, would i? you know what im saying? no, not really... you’re no QUITTER, i DIG that about you... you don’t even know me... not yet im afraid, but i’d love totell me... have you ever BEEN with an what? archaeologist?
nevermind.
adrianna, dear, RELAX, everything’s going wonderfully... everyone else is having a GREAT time. i’m just looking for NATHAN.
he promised he’d be here.
OF COURSE he will be here, if he’s not here ALREADY.
try to enjoy yourself... ALL of this wouldn’t EVEN be here tonight if it weren’t for you dear.
wow...
you clean up well...
i THINK there’s a compliment somewhere in that LONG stare you just gave me...
adrianna... you look, i can’t even... AMAZING, breathtaking, outstanding, beautiful... AMAZING.
you said amazing twice.
i know.
you shaved...
you noticed...
of course.
yeah, well i had to...
i didn’t think there was room for two CAVEMEN at this party. you really did a GREAT job, look at this, it all worked out.
yeah, i guess it did. i”m glad you’re here, i thought you were going to MISS the speech. speech?
yeah. remember? i told you! JACK SPADE. the man who DISCOVERED the cave is speaking tonight.
SPADE? isn’t that some kind of SHOVEL? the irony... yeah, i don’t know. haha. oh WOW! have you seen THIS GUY!?
LOOK at that MUSTACHE! im glad i didn’t miss this speech! do you think we will even be able to HEAR what he is saying through that THING? NATHAN! he is an important man! ...even if he IS named after a gardening TOOL... you know... when i was talking about PASSION before... what i was getting at waSPADE!
CARL!
...like a thorn in my a-
carl... i’d like you to MEET... oh.
JACK!you’re supposed to be up there...
...lets go jack.
ok carl. ...are you? i have to find you some bread or something... fast. LETS go.
alright jack.
whoever SAID, money can’t make you happy...
obviously did NOT have as much MONEY as me carl...
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... the MAN who led the expedition to UNCOVER what JUST may be the GREATEST, most enlightening glimpse, we, the ART community, has ever had into the HISTORY before PICASSO of art... before monet, rembrandt, van gogh and da vinci... before there were even NAMES of artists or ANY explanation for CREATIVE expression... there were CAVE walls and CAVE hands to paint on them... we are graced with these mysterious masterpieces here tonight, thanks to THIS MAN...
ladies and gentlemen... MR. JACK SPADE!
hello, hello... thank you... thanks.
...stop laughing...
can you hear me back there? yes? you... can, ok? ok. i had some NOTE cards here... somewhere. hmmm, nope. im sorry...
ok! so, the GREATEST archaeological find EVER huh?
ever? is that what they’re saying?
i’ll tell you what i think...
...what is he talking about?
i don’t think im the most important GUY to ever DIG a hole, and fallFIND anything worth while... or worth millions.
NOTHING yet...
still nothing.
i think of myself as an EYE OPENER! i show YOU the past, what HAS been right? TO LEARN! to open your eyes to the rest of the world in some way...
oh my god, haha.
is he?
...stop laughing, haha.
drunk? yes. lately. well... USUALLY.
me? i don’t understand a DAMN thing this GUY was trying to say with these pictures here...
ALL I KNOW, is it’s IMPORTANT! nobody REALLY knows why... but hey.
OH my god...
i know! he’s hilarious...
whatever PAYS the bills!
i JUST don’t see it.
CHEERS. nathan, we have to go. wait, wait, he’s just getting no, come warmed up... on, there’s something i REALLY need to tell you.
now?
YES adrianna, why don’t you tell HIM what’s going on... hey, who i’d keep the hell... your mouth shut if i were YOU man...
oh man... THAT guy!
who knew you could laugh this HARD at an art museum...
nathan, listen to me... alright, i’m sorry, i’m listening, what’s going on?
what, DON’Tnate. adrianna, what is this? who is this GUY?
no idea? would you like me to tell him? or would you like to...BABE?
babe?
THERE’S nothing to TELL hank! what the HELL are you doing here!? you were NOT invited...
hank?
adrianna, what is happening?
you forgot this at home...
HONEY.
whoa, whoa... adrianna WHO is THIS GUY?
nathan... i’m...
WOW, you really didn’t tell him ANYTHING, that is interesting...
this whole time i thought maybe NATHAN just didn’t have ANY respect for someone else’s girlfriend.
girlfriend? FIANCE. HANK!
I TOLD YOU TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!
STAY AWAY FROM HER! understand!?
she has never even MENTIONED me huh?
nathan, i can explain it ALL... there’s nothing... HANK, no!
so now that you know...
are you alright? i’m sorry i wanted to tell you...
oh my god, NATE are you...
tell me what? that you’re engaged to he-man?
nate, no, were not enthis whole TIME... the ENTIRE time i’ve known you...
some suprise. sure blew mine right out of the water...
nathan...
i’m going home adrianna. no, just wait... i really canplease DON’T follow me.
nathan, just let me explain.
no need. that’s just how it goes for me... no reason or explanation.
no... wait... nathan...
what have you DONE NOW you animal!?
adrianna, i’m sorOH NO...
i didn’t get a chance to explain.
adrianna? it will be ok dear, just try to relax...
are you hurt? are you alright?
YOU! i suggest YOU start running young man! the police ARE on their way...
this way...
STEP back!
...stay out of my life hank.
adrianna... i...
adrianna... i love you. don’t you... nice and slow big guy...
lets go pal.
babe?
no hank... i don’t.
IT’S NOT UP TO ME TO DECIPHER WHAT THESE SCRIBBLES MEAN...
...BUT IT IS UP TO US, TOGETHER, TO FIND THE CONNECTIONS, TO FIND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT ALL, AND SOMEHOW, APPLY IT TO OUR OWN LIVES.
AFTER ALL, THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT ISN’T IT? LIVING, LEARNING... SUCCESS?
WHILE THIS DISCOVERY IS AMAZING, THANK YOU, AND THESE PAINTINGS ARE GREAT... ALTHOUGH MOSTLY ILLEGIBLE TO US ALL... THERE IS NO DOUBTING THEIR IMPORTANCE.
THE PAST IS NEVER LOST, NO MATTER HOW DEEP YOU BURY IT. LUCKY FOR US, FOR MYSELF, IT CAN NEVER QUITE STAY BURIED...
NO MATTER HOW HARD THE COURSE OF TIME TRIES TO HIDE IT... IT WILL SURFACE... IT WILL.
IF THERE IS ONE THING HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US, IT’S THAT TIME HAS A CLEVER AND SOMETIMES CRUEL WAY OF REVEALING AND REPEATING ITSELF.
you’re going to have to start watching that temper of yours... sleep tight romeo.
...I JACK SPADE, stand here before you tonight to present you with a piece of our PAST... a piece of our PRESENT, that will hopefully ONE DAY shed some light on our FUTURE.
so we LEARN. so that in TIME we don’t all end up buried and ALONE in a dark place just waiting to be dicovered... to be FREED.
so that in TIME, we don’t end up... LIKE THESE TWO. a long, LOST, tragic MYSTERY.
CHAPTER
what the...
NICOLE! i thought you’d forgotten about me... what? no, i... nate, you’re dreaming of me again... is it a nightmare?
no.
well then STOP acting like i’m haunting you, ASS! WHAT!? i’m NOT... nicole, you have to underNATE, you’re afraid. you’re afraid to let yourself get attached to someone again... because you’re AFRAID you might lose them again...
you’re afraid you’ll get hurt again. WELL nathan, that IS life. don’t TURN me into some haunted memory that holds you back from EVER feeling happy again...
... i was happy again.
yeah, with adrianna... what happened? i don’t know... i didn’t really give her a chance...
right, you just WALKED away. what if you had just walked away from ME? where would you be now? happier? never would have had to deal with all the just some doctors, hospitals... “IN HOUSE” artist, or LOSS. content with working at some CRAPPY pet store.
ok, ok.... even in your death you STILL manage to give me shit.
don’t let her get away, otherwise, you have already LOST her.
but what about you?
what about me?
nate... i’m gone, and it’s no ones fault. you’re going to have to start ACCEPTING the FACT that you’re not in control of everything that happens in your life. and you haven’t LOST me.
this isn’t a memory...
this is strange... why are we flying kites?
and i’m not a ghost.
i don’t know, it’s your dream. so i’m actually... we never did this...
maybe you wish we had.
...talking to myself?
EXACTLY.
WAKE UP.
stop wasting do you really want to time. go through the rest of YOUR LIFE without ever knowing what could have been? or how it may have worked out?
... let this be the last dream nate. i’m not saying to forget me...
i would hate for that to happen...
what i’m saying is LEARN to...
LET GO.
hey boy.
i thought i might FIND YOU down here...
she said you left work early again... to clear your head.
got a HOt tip from a sweet old lady...
just that ONCE was enough to fall in LOVE i guess... that WAS an amazing night.
i love it down here. me too.
i NEVER see you down here.
i’m so sorry nathan,...
...things were over with HANK and i long before you came into my life... just not for him... and i was too afraid... hey. stop. it’s ok, i’m the one who should’ve given you a chance to explain... no, what i did was wrong...
i thought i NEEDED to be alone, but i just needed to be away from HIM. i’ve been coming down here just about every night since what happened and EVERY night i’ve hoped for this... that you’d show up. being ALONE is NOT what i need... i’ve been alone for MONTHS now, and all i’ve wanted was to BE with YOU. but i need to know what’s going on in your head nathan. you’re here. it MUST mean something. i think it’s TIME i gave YOU a chance to explain... i’m not the only one who was keeping something inside was i?
SO... how much has gloria ALREADY told you?
a couple weeks after the exhibit opening, i couldn’t understand why you hadn’t responded to my letters... gloria... she told me you were married once. i was... she told me NICOLE is the reason your paintings are in the museum...
nicole... she used to take my STUFF right off the wall...
sometimes before the PAINT was even dry. one after the next, my paintings just kept disappearing.
hahaha... for months she did this.
gloria told me she was really great... she said she could never understand why things happen the way they do... and to who they do... i’m so sorry nathan. i can’t even imagine...
when nicole was in the hospital, i spent every moment WONDERING what it would be like to LOSE her. you’re expected to not have thoughts like that... people kept saying, just HANG ON, she’s a fighter, she will beat this, everyone except for the doctors. they told me i should start preparing myself... then, when she died... when i what would did lose her, I FOUND that do to ME? OUT. i’ve spent every losing nicole, how moment since THAT day would i feel? making sure i NEVER felt that again.
... living with that pain, that loneliness, somedays- some NIGHTS i almost couldn’t handle it. whenever i would pick up a pen or a brush all these memories would come FLOODING back.
...some kind of bad joke, reminding me of HAPPINESS,
teasing me of a life i would never have again, because i ALWAYS woke up alone, i ALWAYS woke up, and she NEVER would.
and then i met you adrianna, it’s not something i meant for, or was EVEN looking for, but i met you. and i’m glad that i did. what i feel for you is something i NEVER thought i could feel again and that’s why i’m here. i’ve realized that THINGS JUST happen, and they aren’t always your fault, but somehow you end up paying for it... i’ve learned the ONLY thing i REALLY have a say in is how i handle it when those things happen to me. that is why i’m telling you this, that is why i’m here... i want you in my life adrianna... i don’t know if that’s something you want...
i began to get SO caught up in you.for the FIRST time, i wasn’t thinking about what could happen.
i wasn’t protecting myself because you WERE. you told me to come back to bed, and that i’d be ok... and i was... and i slept... and i woke up HAPPY.
nathan, why do you think i’m sitting here, listening to you? why do you think i’ve written you everyday for the past four months. except for sundays.
no, i wrote you on sundays, and just CONTINUED them for the mail first thing on monday morning... shut up. haha.
i thought i was afraid of commitment too. i was afraid of getting OLD i guess, and settling on ONE person.
i was afraid i was closing myself off, kind of like taking a seat and just PARKING it for the rest of TIME, while the world moves on without me.... but it wasn’t like that, and you showed me, it wasn’t about parking it and settling... it was about who i wanted to continue down that TIMELINE with.
i don’t know what’s down the line for me... but i’d like to find out with you by my side. i WANT to be with YOU.
well i mean, we are... WITH each other... i’m sitting here, two inches away from you...
i... i love YOU too.
i LOVE you nathan.
so what now? stop PLANNING so much!
oh, LISTEN to you now... all we can REALLY do is live everyday ONE day at a time... and know that when we go to SLEEP at night it all went exactly the way it was SUPPOSED to. i guess we have got to stop TRYING to control the course of things, because we can’t. we’re back HERE on these SAME docks because we’re supposed to be. lets let someone else DRIVE for a little while...
you mean?
all i know is the TIDES will still come in and go out, and the SUN will still rise and set at night... you can’t change that, so why try and change anything else... JUST LIVE.
haha, who knows, maybe...
i think you got THAT from another CARTOON...
want to get out of here?
and go where?
anywhere, STOP planning so much...
definitely, but i STILL think you stole it from something else. oh really? yeah, i’m just saying check it out, do some leg work or something before you PUBLISH your next bOOK.
no no... that WAS an original. why? should i write it down? was it that good?
alright funny guy...
ohhh NATHAN... i missed you.
CHAPTER
well, what do you think is going on HERE?
hard to say...
how about this one?
well, if i had to GUESS, i’d say he was drawing an alien INVASION!
and this is an ARMY of UFO’s... oh stop... those are STARS nathan.
i knew they were stars...
mhmm.
i did! it’s like another language, but i’ve pretty much got it all figured out...
nobody knows WHY...
oh you do? and what’s that?
the why...
i DO. you know WHY he painted these? why he sat underground for the good part of his WHOLE life creating these paintings?
i think that’s just your CAVEBEARD talking...
well yeah!
you love it. i DO.
WHAT are you two on about AGAIN today? it’s been WEEKS of this! come this saturday, ALL this has to be on a truck headed for the NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM in NEW YORK!
i mean, once you figure out the WHAT...
you can begin to figure out the WHY...
sorry GLORIA. why is it that it always takes so MUCH longer to PACK things away than it does to un pack them in the FIRST place...
OK, like this one...
it took a LONG time to un pack this...
shhh, i know...
... it’s a GIANT...
...TURTLE.
ahhh, ok, alright, so i THINK i KNOW the WHY.
you do? yes... what is it? WHY?
OH, i can’t TELL you.
oh come on.
oh COME on!
“it’s like another language...”
ok...
“but i’ve pretty much got it ALL figured out.”
LETS see...
HEY! adrianna...
WHAT IS he trying to SAY here? here? here he is saying...
wow...
he is saying...
I LOVE YOU.
OH! the glasses are OFF the animal comes OUT of the CAGE.
i LOVE YOU.
i like your haircut... oh yeah? ok, i LOVE it...
ok...
i love YOU too. so much.
...lets go home...
is it? i shut it when we LEFT...
why is the door open?
...well it’s open now.
oh my god...
nathan... what happened...
HEY, it’s ok... we HAVE to find my DOG...
where’s DUDE? i’ll go look outside... maybe he got out. oh no...
just, be careful...
...it’s going to be ok.
nathan...
you know...
i used to SAY that SAME thing...
OVER, and OVER... it’s going to be ok. it’s going to be ok.
so you’re here to SHOW her how much you LOVE her? yeah, i THINK you made your POINT.
i’d say to myself, she’s probably just CONFUSED... i’ll give it some TIME... IT’S GOING TO BE OK.
where the hell is my DOG hank?
well i gave it time... it’s been a LONG time. and when i found out you TWO have been living TOGETHER now... WOW.
you’re not a part of it anymore, i’m SORRY.
why don’t you just GO home hank?
let us live our lives... let HER live her life.
you’re sorry? i’m never going to meet anyone like HER again... i’m never going to FEEL this way again, for ANYONE... it is NOT going to be OK.
it will... one day it gets better.
i don’t WANT it to GET BETTER!
i want it to be like it WAS...
i found DUDE, he’s alright. i tied him up down the street, i CALLED the police, they’reoh my god. what happened to YOU!?
i’m fine...
WHO-
it’s fine, lets go, lets JUST get out of HERE.
hey... no...
i’m so sorry... adrianna.
why CAN’T you JUST leave me alone!? no, this isn’t your fault, lets just go... so THAT’S it? that’s how much she MEANS to you? you’re not going to FIGHT for her?
HE DOESN’T HAVE TO FIGHT FOR ME!
MOVE.
HEY!
adrianna...
don’t TOUCH her!
ok... i won’t...
come on.
look OUT!
NATHAN!
DUDE!
LEAVE, HANK!
just GO AWAY and DON’T come back here... she doesn’t love you... she doesn’t.
you’re ok... you’re ok... i’ve got you...
...just let us be...
NATHAN!
CHAPTER
hey PAL, what’re you doing?
nothing...
NOTHING!?
hahaha, DRAWING, DRAWING!
yeah? always drawing... you know... i used to draw too. yeah?
so, let’s see what you’ve got here...
so... what, it’s ah... this is...
this is REALLY good. this is what you want to do when you GROW up right? be an ARTIST? yeah...
can i have this? OK.
don’t quit... don’t ever give up.
it’s going to be WORTH alot of MONEY someday...
yeah riiight.
SERIOUS! you have to sign it for me though.
write your name.
...so one day...
when you’re the BIGGEST, BEST artist in the WHOLE WORLD...
i’ll have this drawing to REMEMBER where it all started.
i love you.
i love you... nathan... no... no....
I...
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?
no, NATHAN. nathan you WAKE UP... it’s just a bad DREAM... no, you’re NOT... you’re not.
this is a nightmare...
i don’t want THIS without you nathan... i can’t... adrianna...
something’s wrong...
he’s not slowing... ADRIANNA.
you have to get OUT of the STREET!
...it was an accident... please.
choose ONE thing above everything else.
i know WHY nathan PAINTED in that CAVE.
hey you... nathan... can you hear me? i know the WHY, there’s only ONE reason WHY someone would do it all...
because he HAD to.
nothing else made sense to him. it’s ALL that mattered.
it was because of LOVE. because HE was in LOVE...
and because she loved him SO much... she CHOSE to STAY there with him...
and DIE there with HIM.
AND LIKE A STONE CAST INTO A BODY OF WATER, TIME HAS A KIND OF RIPPLE EFFECT...
FROM A SINGLE POINT COMES THE CIRCULAR EVIDENCE OF AN ACTION, AND ONE AFTER THE NEXT THE REPETITION BEGINS.
MUCH LIKE THE FIRST, THE RINGS EXTEND OVER THE SURFACE, CONTINUING THE PATTERN AGAIN AND AGAIN, SET INTO MOTION BY A SINGLE STONE.
ONE RIPPLE COULD NOT EXIST IF NOT FOR THE ONE BEFORE IT, AND THAT ONE IF NOT FOR THE ONE BEFORE... WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE ON AND ON THROUGHOUT TIME.
BUT WHERE DID THE PATTERN BEGIN? IT HAD TO START SOMEWHERE, IT HAD TO START AT SOMETIME, AND IT HAD TO START WITH SOMEONE. BREAKING THE PATTERN IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT BEGINING A NEW ONE. TIME CONTINUES AT A CONSTANT RATE CREATING A LINEAR STRING OF EVENTS, A TIMELINE. WITH EACH OF US LIVING SIDE BY SIDE ON THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL TIMELINES, IT’S AS IF EVERYONE IS TOSSING THEIR STONES INTO THE WATER ALL AT ONCE... CREATING THEIR OWN RIPPLE EFFECTS, EXTENDING OUT THAT PATTERN, AND UNINTENTIONALY, BUT UNAVOIDABLY CROSSING THROUGH OTHER PEOPLES PATHS AND DISRUPTING THEIR PATTERNS.
IT QUICKLY BECOMES AS CONFUSING AND DIFFICULT AS TRYING TO FOLLOW A SINGLE RAIN DROPS RIPPLE EFFECT IN THE MIDST OF A STORM.
THE PATTERN GOES ON, THE REPETITION DOES CONTINUE... BUT THE HUMAN EYE BECOMES TO DISTRACTED BY THE STORM TO SEE WHERE THEIR RIPPLE IS HEADED...
OR MORE IMPORTANTLY ...WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
“... and then i met you, it’s not something i meant for, or was even looking for... but i met you, and i’m glad that i did...”
“... you told me to come back to bed and that i’d be ok...”
“... and i was.”
“ and i slept.”
“and i woke up HAPPY.”
BEN BISHOP Ben Bishop is a comic creator from Maine. published
his
first
graphic
novel,
the
He self 300
page
Nathan The Caveman, in 2008 followed by several smaller works. In 2011 Ben illustrated the award winning book, Lost Trail, the comic adaptation of the famous Maine story, Lost On A Mountain In Maine. More recently Ben created the world’s very first Split Decision graphic novel called, The Aggregate, a choose your own adventure style comic with 4 beginnings, 7 endings and 25 choices in between. Currently Ben is hard at work as the artist on Kevin Eastman’s new comic, Drawing Blood which raised over $100k on Kickstarter. Throughout all this Ben has been lucky enough to work on characters like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman, Transformers, Gi Joe, Savage Dragon and more for companies like IDW, DC Comics, Archaia and Image.
www.bishart.net
ben.bishart@gmail.com