The Curious sisters had gotten an earlier start on their families, so while Pascal, Vidcund and Lazlo were busy with their pregnancies - the last one second-hand through his wife - Irina and Jonny were already preparing for college.



Both of them faced unique obstacles. In Jonny’s case, he found himself surrounded by sisters wherever he looked. Jill, Joy and Judy were school kids by now. Joy and Judy were mostly self-sufficient, but Jill followed her big brother around whenever she could.



So when his mother announced her fourth pregnancy, Jonny turned lime-green at the idea of another sister - or maybe even two!

“I admit, I may have gone a little overboard with sisters.” Jenny said, patting her son on the head. “I can feel your pain, you know? I grew up with three little brothers myself. I really wanted to change this, but it seems that I have erred too much in the other direction. Well, you know what they say. We are doomed to repeat our parents’ mistakes.”



While Jonny’s fears regarding twins came true, one of them turned out to be a boy. And Jenny assured him that Jack and Jocelyn would be the final addition to the Smith household.



Irina’s issues, meanwhile, were centered about the fact that she was the only one of Lola’s children who had inherited the “bug eyes” as she was still calling them. Angelika looked completely human and Klaus, who wouldn’t have looked out of place with huge eyes, had also inherited Gavin’s features.



“I mean, it’s just not fair that I’m the only one. Aunt Chloe’s Alfred is the same as Angelika, you wouldn’t guess that he’s quarter alien by looking at him. And you guys are all half-aliens, so there’s nothing weird about you.”



“Of course I wouldn’t wish my face on Angelika. She’s so pretty. But I think Klaus might have had the decency to look more like me!”



Faces and sisters aside, Jonny and his group of friends had a great time in the summer before they were about to leave for college. They spent most of their afternoons at the mall, playing games, waiting for the pool to open and listening to Ripp’s latest off-color jokes.

Fricorith Tricou in the background. Formerly dead teenagers fit right in with Jonny's group.



Eventually, someone (usually Irina) would start hauling water balloons at someone’s head (usually Ripp’s) for a minor offense (usually telling dirty jokes).



Thanks to the hot desert summer, this inevitable turned into a full water balloon fight that lasted until the teens got shooed off the property.

And Rosalie McGork, who won't have much relevance to the story.



Tank Grunt, currently on the way home from his part-time job and most definitely not associated in any way, shape or form with the rowdy youths, found himself to his great annoyance caught in the chase and unable to convince employees that he had nothing to do with those delinquents. It did not help his case that Bugeye Newson turned around and yelled “We’re going to the pool, Facepaint! You coming?”

Really? Facepaint?

Also, Tank was most definitely, empathetically not going to the pool to hang out with his brother’s alien girlfriend.



“…Irina, what did I ever do to you that was bad enough that you’d invite my brother to come with us?”

“I’m sure I can think of something.”



Well, it was time for him to continue his swim training anyway.



Ophelia watched highly amused as Tank planted himself right next to an exasperated Ripp, who had by this point decided to completely ignore his older brother’s presence.

Fascinatingly, Tank had apparently decided to try to make himself agreeable to the group. He didn’t make any weird comments about eyes or skin and instead mostly listened to their talk. At some point, he even told a funny story about something that had happened at the army camp last week.



When Ophelia got home that evening, she found Olive looking at her with a serious expression.

“We need to talk.”


The carefree life of the next batch of Strangetown teens comes to an end. Meanwhile, have some pictures of a wonderful pool glitch:


"Only Strangetown's finest know how to propel themselves at increased speed through the water!"
"...Whatever, bro. I'm out of here."

Coming up next: Woohoo, Bubble Blowers and Rock'n'Roll! Ripp's college years!