Edge City: The Cast
Abby
Wife, mom and therapist--for Abby,
there just aren't enough hours in a day. The
well-being of Abby's family is of the utmost importance to
her, but so is her career at her group practice, Heads Up Mental Health Care. It's a lot to deal
with, but Abby tries to cultivate inner tranquility . So far, she's not sure she's experienced
it, but Abby's not the kind to give up.
Len
Between being Abby's husband, Colin and
Carly's dad and co-owner of business, Leadfoot Couriers,
Inc., Len has his hands full. Len takes what life throws at
him with sarcastic good humor, an attitude you might
expect from someone who used to play in a punk rock band. Len still regards himself as the hippest guy in his suburb, and stays
true to his rock roots by playing on the weekends
with his current band, Midlife Crisis.
Colin and Carly
At the ages of 9 and 7, Colin
and Carly have studied dance, karate, soccer, and several instruments, but haven't been
allowed to walk around their neighborhood by themselves.
Colin, when not dealing with a serious XBox habit, shows
an early head for business, or at least figuring out how to
get the maximum pay for household chores. Carly spends her
time negotiating the rocky shoals of 1st grade social life
and keeping up with the latest toys.
Edna and Morris
Abby's parents live nearby, which makes it
easy for them to spend time with the Ardins. When they have
the time, that is, because if anything, they're
even busier than Len and Abby. Morris is an irascible
curmudgeon who's always looking for a good deal. Edna is an optimistic
free-spirit who's been spending her
golden years doing everything from earning a black belt in
Tae Kwon Do to running the Iditarod in Alaska.
Bev
Len's mom Bev is an unreconstructed child of the '60s, but she doesn't live in the past. An activist for
any issue you can think of, Bev would much rather take her grandchildren to a demonstration than the zoo. Bev's bohemian lifestyle
never left her much time for parenting, so Len was a bit aprehensive when she decided to spend her golden years living close by. But though
she sometimes drives him crazy, he has to admire her energy and dedication.
Rajiv
Len's business partner Rajiv, is co-owner of
Leadfoot Couriers. A first-generation Indian-American,
Rajiv's calm and somewhat cautious approach to business
balances Len's tendency to think a little too big at times.
Rajiv's been dodging his family's attempts to arrange him a
marriage for years, but his care-free bachelor image
barely hides a romantic streak a mile
wide
Abby's Colleagues
Janice, Beatriz and Stewart are the other
therapists in the group that forms Heads Up Mental
Health care. Though they respect each other, it's
not always easy to make the decisions necessary to
keep things running.While Abby, Janice and Beatriz
get along all right, Stewart, who's difficult,
prickly and cheap, often gums up the works.
Harry
The Ardin's cat Harry was named not
after a certain popular children's book character but after
the hairballs he keeps coughing up on the rug. Everyone
loves Harry except Len, who never wanted a cat to begin
with. Harry seems to know this, and makes it a point to get
under Len's skin whenever he can.
My online graphic novel is now available as a 124 page, full-color trade paperback! Includes first 3 original never-reprinted stories!
High Class Caricature by Terry LaBan
