Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction

Jarrett fondly remembers the summer between middle school and high school: making a Wayne’s World parody called “Dude’s World,” lighting things on fire with hairspray, sneaking out to meet up with girls in parking lots at night. However, all good things come to an end: his girlfriend Stacey broke up with him, he went away to a Catholic high school while all his friends went to public school, and he found himself back at the bottom of the social hierarchy as an unknown freshman. Though hazed and bullied by older boys, he found solace in art class with another inspirational teacher, Mr. Shilale, who taught him that you need to know the fundamentals of your craft before you can break the rules.

He began to have some good luck with his art: The local paper published one of his comics, he became the comics editor for the school paper, and he made a mural of the school’s mascot (weirdly, Napoleon Bonaparte) with a light switch in a rather rude position.

He reflects on the importance of a strong work ethic in his household: His grandfather began working when he was just a kid, and the whole family worked together at Joe’s piping factory.