Episode 2: Pride, Poltergeists & Poor Decisions

A weekly dispatch from the ongoing saga of Jeffrey Trying His Best

This week felt like the universe said, “Let’s give him character development,” and then immediately threw a typo, a ghost, a bad frame, and a 5 a.m. market lineup at me. Growth is happening. Against my will.

Jeffrey… did you really misspell THAT word?

Yes. Yes, I did.

There I was, painting away like a responsible adult, feeling proud, feeling accomplished, feeling like maybe—just maybe—I had my life together for a full 12 minutes.

Then I stepped back.

And the word stared at me. And I stared at it. And the cats stared at me staring at it.

It wasn’t just wrong. It was boldly wrong. A confident typo. A typo with swagger. A typo that said, “I belong here.”

I fixed it. Eventually. After the shame wore off.

Jeffrey… why were you in a parking lot at 5 a.m.?

Ah yes. The market.

This one was indoors, which sounds civilized until you realize civilization doesn’t start until after sunrise.

We rolled up at 5:00 a.m., joining a line of equally exhausted vendors clutching coffee like emotional support beverages. We waited to be let in by booth number while staff taped out the floor sections in real time — like watching a reality show challenge called “Will Your Booth Exist? Tune In to Find Out.”

Doors opened at 7:00 a.m., and we had an hour and a half to set up. Plenty of time, right?

Wrong.

Our booth was approximately the size of a broom closet. A stylish broom closet, sure, but still a broom closet. Every plan we had? Useless. Every layout sketch? A lie. Every attempt to move things around? A new opportunity to question my life choices.

We made it work. Did it look like the plan? Absolutely not. Did customers still buy things? Shockingly, yes.

Character development: achieved.

Jeffrey… why is there a ghost in your closet?

Look, I don’t know.

All I know is: the closet door moved, something meowed, and none of the cats were accounted for. I’m choosing to believe it’s a friendly ghost. Maybe a mid‑century cat spirit who approves of my aesthetic. Maybe it’s here to help me fold laundry. Maybe it’s here to judge me.

Honestly, it fits right in.

Jeffrey… why did you buy THAT frame?

Because I make poor decisions under fluorescent lighting.

This frame does not match my style. It does not match my art. It does not match anything except maybe the waiting room of a dentist who peaked in 1974.

But I bought it anyway. Why? Because my brain said, “Maybe you’ll use it someday,” and I listened like a fool.

It’s fine. I’ll find a purpose for it. Or it will haunt me like the closet ghost.

Jeffrey… is that new Pride merch?

Yes it is, and it’s fabulous.

Bright, bold, unapologetically queer, and ready to make June sparkle. The cats approve. I approve. Even the cursed frame probably approves.

Final Thoughts

Episode 2 brought typos, ghosts, questionable purchases, Pride merch, and a market setup that felt like a timed escape room challenge. If this is the energy for the rest of the month, I’m afraid to ask what Episode 3 has planned.

Meow for now,

Jeffrey