Panel 1: Red is sitting at a table, legs up on the table, reading. There’s a warm drink on the table. She’s pretty relaxed and feeling good about the day. The credits say “Blinking Red Light. Story and art by Mal Jones. Special thanks to Marc Bryant, Jill Thompson, and the Jill Thompson’s Smarter School Class of Fall 2023.” There are three speech balloons that say “Red” louder and louder.
Panel 2: Red is sitting in a cafeteria like room that has an area in the middle where a multi-armed robot is working. The robot is called Mom. Mom calls Red over to the Dispatch to get work. Mom’s four arms are working at once, flipping switches and turning a monitor to look at it better. Mom’s head is tilted back calling Red. Huntsman is walking near Red’s table. Red sarcastically says “Mom.” Mom says “You’re up! Get moving.”
Panel 3: Red walks over to the Dispatch, walking confidently. Huntsman is walking by and waves hi to Red! Red waves back. They’re friendly with each other. Mom is looking over their shoulder, annoyed. Huntsman, a black woman with short hair says “Drinks later?” Red says “Hell yeah, H. This will be quick.” Mom says “Quick? And this sound assessment is based on…?”
Panel 4: Red leans up against Mom’s four walled desk. Mom has her assignment open on paper in their hand. The paper is a print out from one of those old dot matrix printers, but is only the size of a half of a sheet of paper. Mom looks annoyed at Red. Red smiles, with smarm and playfulness. It’s clear that they’ve worked together for a long time. Red says “Ok, ok, whatcha got?” Mom, from off panel, says “You’re going to like this one.”
Panel 5: Red looks at the print out with an excited look on her face. Red yells “Grandma!”