Giving an Account The Patterns of Dispreferred Response that Brutus Uses as the Response to the First Part

46 Hurricane Hattie: State’s gonna lose today Brutus: Oh yeah? Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is? Hurricane Hattie: Huh? Brutus: Don’t you know what that means? Hurricane Hattie: You think I need braces? The conversation 653ix happens between Hurricane Hattie and Brutus. Brutus is watching a baseball game in the TV while Hurricane hangs in the back of the sofa. Hurricane says that States is going to lose in the game. Brutus disagrees with her. He says why don’t you put your money where your mouth is? Hurricane does not understand what Brutus says so she only returns with huh? That indicates that she does not understand. Brutus then asks her whether she understands what he said before. Hurricane asks him back whether he means that she needs braces. In this conversation there is a preface Oh yeah before the account.

3. Repetition

There are 3 comic strips that use this pattern. The following are the analysis of it: Gladys: Brutus, it’s nine o’clock Aren’t you getting up? Brutus: I’m sick, Gladys. Gladys: Is it bad? Brutus: Bad? There is nothing worse than being sick on the first day of vacation The conversation 321viii happens between Gladys and Brutus. Gladys calls Brutus because it is already nine o’clock but Brutus still does not wake up from the bed. Brutus is still on bed when he hears that. Brutus who hears Gladys called him says he is sick. Gladys who hears that Brutus is sick asks him whether it is bad or not. Brutus then answers that it is more than bad, it is worse since it is 47 the first day on vacation. In the conversation there is a repetition Bad? produced by Brutus before the account There is nothing worse than being sick on the first day of vacation Brutus: Gladys, would you please bring me a pitcher of ice water? Gladys: Good idea – in this heat, you should drink lots of water to stay hydrated Brutus: Drink? I’m going to pour it over my head The conversation 4615viii happens between Brutus and Gladys. Brutus asks Gladys to bring him a pitcher of ice water. Gladys agrees to him, she says that he should drink lots of water to stay hydrated in this heat. Brutus does not agree with her. He tells her that the water is for him to pour over his head and not to drink. In this conversation there is repetition drink before the account. Gladys: Mama has come down with a cold, so she won’t be able to visit us this weekend. Brutus: She won’t? I mean, she won’t? The conversation 49188 happens between Brutus and Gladys. Gladys tells that her mother will not visit them on the weekend because she gets a cold. Brutus who hears that feels happy but then pretends to not happy because he sees Gladys looks not happy about his comment. In this conversation there is no account but there are two repetitions. The first is she won’t and the second she won’t after Brutus repairs it.

4. Appeal for Understanding

There are 3 comic strips that use this pattern. The following are the analysis of it: Gladys: I can tell by the look in your face that somebody else got the promotion Brutus: You know the expression “nice guys finish last”? Well, you’re looking at the nicest guy on the face of the earth 48 The conversation 6029viii takes place in the e ntrance of Brutus’ house. Brutus comes home and Gladys opens the door for him. Gladys sees Brutus with frowned face. She says she can see from Brutus’ face that someone gets a promotion in the office and it is not Brutus. Brutus who hears Gladys assessment returns the assessment with expression of disagreement. He begins with a question as he tries to get the understanding of Gladys. He says nice guy finish last and he is nicest so he will get the promotion finally. In this conversation there is an appeal for understanding you know and preface well before the account. Brutus: Someone has a big birthday coming up soon Gladys: I know... But I’ve decided I don’t want any fuss – no presents, no party, no cards Brutus: You know, Gladys, ignoring your birthday w on’t keep you from being a year older The conversation 2121vii happens between Brutus and Gladys. Brutus is sitting the dining room, drinking his beverage. He quips her by saying that someone has a big birthday coming up soon . Gladys says that she knows and she decides not to celebrate it, no present, no party and no cards. Brutus tells her that ignoring her birthday will not keep her from being a year older. There is an appeal for understanding you know before the account. Gladys: There you are Oh, Good – since you’re not doing anything special... There’s something I’d like you to do. Brutus: Hold it right there I’ll have you know, what I’m doing is very special to me In this conversation 22vii Gladys is the first speaker. She is talking to Brutus who is the second speaker. The conversation takes place outdoors where Brutus enjoys lay down in the chair. Then Gladys comes and sees that Brutus does not do anything, just lay down on the chair. She asks Brutus to do something.