Crow Princess, Page 8

PAGE 8

Panel 1

Young Cora holds up a bumper sticker that reads "MY CHILD IS AN HONOR STUDENT" to show Lynette.

CORA: Lynette, they gave me this at school. It's for you.

Panel 2

Lynette looks away dismissively.

LYNETTE: Put that in the trash, Cora.

Panel 3

Cora looks down, disappointed but obedient.

CORA: Yes ma'am.

Panel 4

Cora gently holds a piece of food out to a pale rate, speaking softly.

NARRATION: She was kinder than the other children.

CORA: It's all right.

CORA: Don't be afraid. Are you hungry?

Panel 5

Other children watch and mock Cora from behind.

BOY 1: Hey Cora! Whatcha got there?

BOY 2: Cora's so nasty!

GIRL: Eeeew, it's a rat!

I loved this rat. I loved drawing him, too! I drew this rat from memory of the mice I used to raise growing up. I would sell the mice to pet stores, zoos, and people with reptiles to feed. Rodents are really cool people. Sad that they’re at the bottom of so many food chains. The whole “eating other living beings to survive” deal feels like a big joke to me. I always wondered, if a predator got to know its prey, would it feel angst at having to eat them?