Patrick Thomas

[virgoscorpio]

So when I think of Patrick Thomas I think of the actor from the movie. I think this is also because in one of the later Super Specials, I think it was BSC in the USA (?), the actual actor was used in the illustration. If not, it's his twin. So that consistency just automatically makes me think of that man's face as Patrick.

[zoar3]

I know somewhere we were talking about when Kristy (or any sitter) first tells us Patrick abandoned his family as opposed to "Kristy's parents got a divorce."

Stacey tells us in #28 that "Patrick ran out on his family." In #29 Mal says the standard "divorce." In #30, "Walked out and never came back." #31 "Up and left." We know Patrick is possibly my least favorite Series character along with Mr. Nicholls. I'm not in anyway trying to give him attention, I just still think the ghosties could have made Kristy's character so much better had they been honest about either the Thomases divorced or Patrick truly (as I sadly think) up and left. It still bugs me that in a lot of cases it seems like abandonment, basically never looking back was either the same as a divorce semi like the McGills (lots of fighting) or no big deal, it happens. I guess both cases "do happen." Unfortunately. To me, as I've said before, a father completely taking off one day out of the blue, never looking back (except when a ghostie had Patrick sometimes writing or Elizabeth gave him half the money for their house) is totally different than the more typical divorce. I'm not labelling one or the other "as worse," simply two different situations the first less common than the second.

[oldhickory]

i think it's kind of interesting how (out of the books you mentioned -- i don't feel like reading every chapter 2 to confirm) all of the girls who say mr thomas left were kristy's age, and the only one who said divorce was mallory. in #14 mallory's chapter 2 is full of "i've heard such and such" and "i guess such and such must have happened", because she really just doesn't know the older girls that well.

[zoar3]

^That is interesting, Oldhickory! Maybe we can divide forces and each look up some of them? I do think (not certain) until #28, we were simply told "divorce." Let me go check "Jessi's Secret Language" real quick to see what she said. "Kristy's mom who was divorced met Watson, etc." The same sentence is in Bad Luck Mystery. I'll try to look at some of the others later or tomorrow. Anyone want to take a few?

[Honeybee]

#53 Kristy for President This is what Kristy said about her no good runaway dad. (Our dad left when I was a little kid. He lives in California, and we never really hear from him.)

#55 Jessi's Gold Medal This is what Jessi said about Patric Thomas. Then, Mr. Thomas decided to split. No explanations, no nothing. He just ran off to California. And divorced Mrs. Thomas, and married someone else.

#56 Keep put Claudia This is what Claudia said about Patrick Thomas. Her dad walked out on the family when David Michael was just a baby.


#106 Claudia, Queen of the seventh grade. This is what Claudia said: Her life has been a roller coaster. Years ago, when Kristy lived across the street from me, her dad up and left the family.


So, each book said something different about Patrick Thomas leaving. Never realized that. I'll have to paid more attention next time, I read a BSC book.


No wonder, got confusing. Was Mr. & Mrs. Thomas got divorce or Mr. Thomas left Mrs. Thomas, just fled the scene. Move to California.

[sparklymouse]

I kinda feel like it wasn't anybody's place but Kristy's to go into any sort of detail. It just seems odd to hear it from a bunch of people who weren't even around to see what kind of effect it had on her family. Sometimes they said it like it was casual common knowledge.

[zoar3]

^You know, you're right Sparklymouse. I do not care for gossip at all along the same lines as not being a joke person. I could sadly see some folks in Stoneybrook whispering about Patrick. As I said, what bothered me was that we never got much insight (from Kristy) as to what exactly happened. I say this because the divorce remarks (to me) often came across as "Ooh just another divorce, no big deal. You've heard it before." I don't think that was the case here. Not that all "regular" divorces are the same or that there is a "typical" one just that parents deciding to divorce happens much more than one parent up and leaving.

ETA: Thank you for looking all that up, Buttercup.

[Honeybee]

Your welcome, zoar3

[candykane]

Whenever I read one of the books that states Patrick ran out or walked out on the family, I think of The Simpsons and Nelson's dad who "went out for a pack of cigarettes" and never came back.

[wenonah4th]

That sounds in line with what I've always figured, too, though not specifically.

[virgoscorpio]

I realize that I can really relate to Kristy in having a dad that abandoned her and set up a new family (to which he was a good dad or husband to).

[booboobrewer]

A little something I noticed about Patrick, or rather the actor who played him in the movie, Peter Horton...in addition to giving Kristy's dad Horton's looks in BSC in the USA, Lerangis did the same with Mallory's cousin's husband in European Vacation:

“Peter Orton,” Gillian’s husband introduced himself. He was a tall, trim man with a blond beard, wearing a linen jacket and gabardine pants.

I think that's the same outfit Patrick wears in the movie when he first sees Kristy. Funny.

[mallorypike]

I hated Patrick. I hate to say it but my dad was pretty much like Patrick. My mom and dad got divorced when I was three and my dad abandoned me. But, when my mom remarried when I was nine, I got a really nice stepfather and I consider him my dad.

Anyway, I always assumed Patrick and Elizabeth did get a divorce. You can still abandon your kids after a divorce. But I wouldn't consider moving to California "running away".

I wonder why Elizabeth had FOUR kids with that frigging jerk. I understand if she would try to save their marriage since I believe divorce should only be used as last resort (Mr. and Mrs. McGill's divorce came out of nowhere) but why would she have four kids with Patrick? *Shakes head*

[Honeybee]

^ Probably Patrick was only good at, making love. Elizabeth had Charlie first, two years later she had Sam, another two years later, she had Kristy. Then they stop for while. 6 years later, she had David Michael. My question is, with 3 oldest, their two years apart. But with Kristy and David Michael, their 6 years apart. Why a big gap between Kristy and David Michael? Did Patrick and Elizabeth, stop making love to each other?

[fluffernutter]

Just rereading the first book and found this:
"I wish she wouldn't feel guilty. It's not her fault that Dad ran off to California and got married again and doesn't send Mom much child support money. [...] he hasn't called us in over a year. And he even forgot my twelfth birthday last month."
Do any of the other books say anything about his second marriage/divorce or mention that he used to call? I was under the impression that he just left and never looked back.