A comic strip in 11 panels. Franky Banky is sitting in front of his computer and participating in a Zoom chat. He is unshaven, holding up a martini glass and saying to the camera “cheers guys!” Behind him is a large pile of laundry with flies circling above. This panel is captioned as being Franky Banky’s Zoom chat with friends number 273.
The next panel is Franky Banky’s zoom chat for work number 912. He is clean shaven and the pile of laundry has been replaced with a respectable plant. Franky Banky is stuttering to the camera, Audrey please take meeting minutes.
The next panel is a weekly zoom chat with family month number 6. Franky Banky is stuttering to the camera, I order all my groceries online. On the floor behind him is a pile of laundry.
The next panel is a Zoom chat for work number 913. Franky Banky is holding up a piece of paper and stuttering to the camera, next agenda item is the company Christmas party to be held on – he sighs – Zoom.
The next panel is stuttering conference on Zoom number 12. Franky Banky is dressed up in a top hat and tuxedo and dancing to the music playing in the Zoom chat.
The next panel is a Zoom chat with his barber. Hands are coming out of Franky Banky’s monitor and giving him a haircut. Franky Banky is stuttering, a little off the sides please.
The next panel is a Zoom chat with his banker. Franky Banky is stuttering to his investment advisor, I’m thinking of buying stock in Zoom.
The next panel is a Zoom chat with his girlfriend. A candle is lit and hearts are floating above Franky Banky.
The next panel is a Zoom chat with a doctor. Franky Banky is pointing at a large bump on his head and stuttering, I bumped my head fixing my wifi.
The next panel is a job interview on Zoom. A nervous Franky Banky wearing a suit and stuttering, Thank you for considering my application.
The final panel has Franky Banky wearing blue light blocking lenses and saying to the reader, I really miss stuttering in real life.
Author’s commentary
Many people who stutter have reported that it’s harder for them to speak in Zoom chats. So I depicted Franky Banky stuttering more and more as the pandemic and Zoom use continue during the pandemic. Though he doesn’t hide his stuttering.
I also added a number of tributes to friends of mine in the stuttering community. The first is where Franky Banky is all dressed up in top hat and tails – two friends of mine dressed up that way for the dance party at the end of the National Stuttering Association virtual conference.
The second panel contains a nod to my friend Audrey who suggested this topic for a comic strip.
The third tribute takes place in the final panel where Franky Banky is wearing blue lenses to block out the blue light from his monitor. I had started a Zoom chat with an SLP friend who uses them to keep his eyes from getting fatigued from all the screen use from conducting teletherapy.
This comic was originally published in French in the Association Bégaiement Communication newsletter.
October 17, 2020
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