Mike’s Lost Year

Cry Macho

This thread traces Mike’s collapse after Laurie’s death through alcohol, gambling, shame, and Cissy’s eventual return to his life as a reminder to act again.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Grief Unexpressed A Grief Unexpressed from "Cry Macho". A Grief Unexpressed Tears withheld Mike cannot cry at Laurie’s funeral and locks the child’s room instead.

A Grief Unexpressed from "Cry Macho". A Grief Unexpressed Tears withheld Mike cannot cry at Laurie’s funeral and locks the child’s room instead.

A Grief Unexpressed Tears withheld Mike cannot cry at Laurie’s funeral and locks the child’s room instead. Quiet becomes isolation The loss draws him and Donna into separate lives with little honest conversation.

Alcohol and Gambling Alcohol and Gambling from "Cry Macho". Alcohol and Gambling A dangerous escape Mike begins drinking before rodeos and turns to regular gambling.

Alcohol and Gambling from "Cry Macho". Alcohol and Gambling A dangerous escape Mike begins drinking before rodeos and turns to regular gambling.

Alcohol and Gambling A dangerous escape Mike begins drinking before rodeos and turns to regular gambling. Debt accumulates He loses control of his finances and starts repaying a large gambling debt by installments.

The Stable Attack The Stable Attack from "Cry Macho". The Stable Attack A night of violence Mike is present when Ewell Macmillan’s group attacks Cissy at a stable.

The Stable Attack from "Cry Macho". The Stable Attack A night of violence Mike is present when Ewell Macmillan’s group attacks Cissy at a stable.

The Stable Attack A night of violence Mike is present when Ewell Macmillan’s group attacks Cissy at a stable. Guilt compounds grief His intoxication and failure to protect her add another source of shame to his unraveling life.

A Ruined Reunion A Ruined Reunion from "Cry Macho". A Ruined Reunion Cissy found in hardship Mike discovers Cissy living alone in a disused roadside stand, unable to care for herself reliably.

A Ruined Reunion from "Cry Macho". A Ruined Reunion Cissy found in hardship Mike discovers Cissy living alone in a disused roadside stand, unable to care for herself reliably.

A Ruined Reunion Cissy found in hardship Mike discovers Cissy living alone in a disused roadside stand, unable to care for herself reliably. A tender lie He protects her dignity, but recognizes he cannot restore the life she has lost.

An Ending, Not a Cure An Ending, Not a Cure from "Cry Macho". An Ending, Not a Cure A painful close Mike understands that Cissy will be taken into care and that he may never see her again.

An Ending, Not a Cure from "Cry Macho". An Ending, Not a Cure A painful close Mike understands that Cissy will be taken into care and that he may never see her again.

An Ending, Not a Cure A painful close Mike understands that Cissy will be taken into care and that he may never see her again. Movement resumes The end of the lost year does not erase his failures, but it pushes him toward a new action.

The days after Laurie’s funeral

The first months of the lost year

During the lost year

Later in the lost year

Before Howard offers the Mexico job