Halcyon Days

I don't need no one to put me down,
I'm on the ground, can't get no lower,
And I don't need no one to hang around and make me frown, just makes me look older,
And I don't need no one to black my eye and tell me lies-
Don't wanna cry over nobody else
No no no no- I can do bad all by myself~ 

A portrait of Virgil's mother, Regina.

Regina was last pictured here and here, back when I was still calling her Sheena. I've been wanting to explore Virgil's past, which meant updating his mom's design. 

Regina was a warm and compassionate soul, a supremely talented musician that could sing like a songbird and play nearly any instrument (her favorite being the piano). She became pregnant with Virgil in college, and was promptly abandoned by her music partner/boyfriend. With little resources and a family that turned their backs on her, Regina nonetheless went on to earn her teaching degree (she's eagerly holding baby Virgil in her graduation photos), and became a stern-yet-beloved music teacher at Peach Tree Elementary, where Virgil would eventually attend. Regina was his music teacher both in the classroom and outside of it (and I bet he definitely didn't embarrass himself accidentally calling her "Miss Mommy" in front of the other students). Virgil was very much a mama's boy growing up, and unashamedly viewed Regina as a best friend. Indeed Regina's youth was a source of bonding for the pair, being still kind of a kid herself, Regina and Virgie spent many a morning together curled up in their pajamas, munching sugary cereal and watching cartoons. Virgil's early childhood was filled with mother-son music jam sessions, trips to the library, and camping trips in their apartment living room. Just him and Mama, against the world! And perhaps, had Regina had a better support network, the great tragedy of their lives could have been mitigated.

Virgil is around 8 years old when he is removed from his mother and placed in long-term foster care. In present day Fuzzbutts, Regina is still alive, though her relationship with her son is....deeply complicated, to say the least.