Mike’s Bond with Laurie

Cry Macho

This thread traces Mike’s discovery of unconditional fatherhood, the loss that overwhelms him, and the memory he cannot bring himself to reclaim.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Longed-for Child A Longed-for Child from "Cry Macho". A Longed-for Child Fear after loss After earlier pregnancy losses, Mike and Donna approach another pregnancy in fearful silence.

A Longed-for Child from "Cry Macho". A Longed-for Child Fear after loss After earlier pregnancy losses, Mike and Donna approach another pregnancy in fearful silence.

A Longed-for Child Fear after loss After earlier pregnancy losses, Mike and Donna approach another pregnancy in fearful silence. A healthy arrival Laurie’s birth briefly releases the couple from the feeling that their marriage is cursed.

Giving Becomes Love Giving Becomes Love from "Cry Macho". Giving Becomes Love A new kind of attachment Mike discovers in Laurie a love unlike the bargaining and competition of his adult relationships.

Giving Becomes Love from "Cry Macho". Giving Becomes Love A new kind of attachment Mike discovers in Laurie a love unlike the bargaining and competition of his adult relationships.

Giving Becomes Love A new kind of attachment Mike discovers in Laurie a love unlike the bargaining and competition of his adult relationships. A mutual bond He delights in giving to her and realizes she is learning to comfort him in return.

The Sudden Death The Sudden Death from "Cry Macho". The Sudden Death A night of illness Mike sits with feverish Laurie and begins to give her aspirin again.

The Sudden Death from "Cry Macho". The Sudden Death A night of illness Mike sits with feverish Laurie and begins to give her aspirin again.

The Sudden Death A night of illness Mike sits with feverish Laurie and begins to give her aspirin again. An irreparable loss She dies before he can help, leaving him unable to release his grief openly.

The Locked Room The Locked Room from "Cry Macho". The Locked Room Grief withheld Mike does not cry at the funeral and locks Laurie’s room afterward.

The Locked Room Grief withheld Mike does not cry at the funeral and locks Laurie’s room afterward. A marriage altered The shared loss does not bring him and Donna closer; silence settles over their home.

The Photograph Refused The Photograph Refused from "Cry Macho". The Photograph Refused An image returned Mike sees a newly found photograph of Laurie in Donna’s home.

The Photograph Refused from "Cry Macho". The Photograph Refused An image returned Mike sees a newly found photograph of Laurie in Donna’s home.

The Photograph Refused An image returned Mike sees a newly found photograph of Laurie in Donna’s home. Memory at a distance He refuses a copy because he wants the memory without having to face it directly.

Before Laurie’s birth

Laurie’s early childhood

When Laurie is nearly seven

On the day of Laurie’s funeral

During Mike’s visit to Donna after his firing