Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson for April 15, 2024

He really is George Santos — the early years

Is Ernesto secretly planning to become a super villain?

Numb Man and the Boy Blunder

Petey wins this round.

Alice would make a good side kick.

We had a kid in our neighbourhood with whom I was friends in my early teens. We drifted apart and years later, as a fledgling reporter with the local newspaper, I went to the regional penitentiary to do a series of stories on some of the inmate programs designed to rehabilitate “the criminal classes”. I arrived just before noon and was directed to “the dome” to have a meal. It was a huge room and there were a large group of inmates (all in dark grey jumpsuits, with numbers, of course). As I, and a guard, crossed through this group of milling men, one guy came towards me and addressed me by name. I didn’t recognize him; he told me his name. It was the same kid, at least a foot or more taller than I remembered, thin and muscular, with a slightly mean look on his face. To say I was shocked is an understatement. My escort took me by the arm and led me away to get a cup of coffee … never found out why “my friend” was in there and, if he ever got out he never contacted me. Penitentiaries are serious places!

In spite of the fact that Ernesto is NOT imaginary, I still insist on thinking of him as such.

There is an interview in “Compleating Cul De Sac” where Richard Thompson explains that Ernesto is partly based on an actual child who was ‘connected’. He could be a good friend but “God help you if you ever crossed him.”

I wish I could fall asleep at will

Thank god Ernesto is imaginary, or we’d all be in real trouble.

Would Ernesto impress Viola more as a Hero or Villain?