"What Sarah Said": a lo-fi, live action web comic (episode 12, Happy Thanksgiving 2011)

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By the time I had finished explaining the design concept behind this week's Sarah comic, my wife looked at me dumbfounded. It only seemed like a natural progression to attempt 'on location' staged photos as a means of developing this strip.

"You could get arrested taking photos from inside a supermarket."

Huh? I Never heard such a thing in my life... Besides, what's something like supermarket security to stand in the way of art. OK, well maybe not art, but definitely a work... A work in progress!

"Yeah. Something about preventing competition from stealing ideas for product placement. Listen. I'll pretend that I don't know you in the event you get escorted into some security room."

Now there's a thought for you. Getting cuffed by the Shoprite Fuzz for taking pictures of a lawn ornament in the frozen foods section. For a moment, I daydreamed how that might read in the local police blotter.

"And oh, I need to head up to the BIG Shopright, not the one around the corner."

This store was conveniently located right by my place of work. Double the odds. Now imagine being carted away in front of the middle school students I teach and their parents. Imagine the cafeteria talk the next day if anyone was to spot me. High risk, but do-able. Very worthwhile.

"Yeah, count me in," I replied. There was no backing down.

So I suited up: an outer shell with a breast pocket for quickly stashing my iPhone, and an over the shoulder one-strap backpack to conceal Sarah. After several practices, I mastered grabbing the phone in one hand and lawn ornament in the other. This action must have appeared surreptitious to say the least.

For all my anticipation, nothing could properly prepared me for the obstacle course of the Frozen Foods aisle. Did I say aisle? No. Correct that: one of those grocery floor refrigeration units, flanked on every side by supermarket clerks. And oh, this was right after rush hour the day before Thanksgiving; the place was packed.

All of my life experienced prepared me for this moment. Don't hesitate. Don't look suspicious. Work with purpose. Make it appear as if it was my business to take digital photos of lawn ornaments situated on bags of frozen peas and corn. Otherwise somebody might actually stop and ask me exactly what was I doing.

Ooh. All this AND my three-year-old son speaking at top volume, "Daddie, what are you doing? What are you doing Daddie?" over and over.

I snapped my three photos and walked out of the supermarket with my family... never to look back. And this is my way of saying, "Happy Thanksgiving" to you all!