Michael Patterson

Michael Patterson is a main character in the comic strip, For Better or For Worse. He is the firstborn child of Elly and John Patterson, and their only son.

## Personality

As a little boy, Michael was somewhat kind and heartfelt, but a troublemaker. He had a smart mouth and a somewhat witty attitude, but was apologetic for it at times. He was easily annoyed with his sister Elizabeth and they got into fights constantly.

During his preteen and teen years, Mike became more sullen and developed a high temper. His attitude was poor, and he began to focus his attention on girls and teasing his sister even more, much to his parents’ dismay.

As an adult, Mike becomes more sympathetic and considerate towards others, but some aspects of his self centered personality remain.

## Background

Michael was born in 1976. He was the first child to be born to Elly and John. When the strip began in 1979, he was in kindergarten, though realistically he would’ve been about three. In the early years of the strip, Mike was often seen antagonizing a young Elly, getting treats from neighbor Thelma Baird, or playing with Lawrence Poirier.

By the mid-1980s, Michael made more friends in the neighborhood, such as Brian Enjo and Gordon Mayes, and could be seen hanging out with Elizabeth more often, though it was a rivalry and they fought a lot of the time.

Elly and John sent Michael to fly alone to Vancouver in 1984. He faced his fears and spent some of the summer at his grandparents.

In 1985, Michael learned one of his first lessons in heartbreak when Lawrence and Connie left Milborough and moved elsewhere, however, he found a new friend in Brian Enjo. Two years later, the Poiriers moved back, though Connie was now married to Greg and had two stepdaughters, and they moved to a different home.

As a young teen, Mike worked at a hotdog stand and at his aunt Bev’s farm. In 1991, he became outnumbered when a third Patterson child was born, another girl, April. He was hesitant to accept that his mother was expecting and feared what his friends would think if they saw her in a maternity dress. He refers to April as “the Ape” but soon warms up to her. Throughout his highschool years, he dated Martha McRae and Rhetta Blum.

In 1994, Mike graduated highschool and started college in London, Ontario. He studied writing and journalism. His first Christmas back home, Mike has grown a beard and mustache, but shaved it in ‘95. In 1996, he was to do a report on a local car accident, but discovered that childhood crush and former classmate Deanna Sobinski was the victim.

They began to reconnect, though it was a slow reconciliation. A while later, they began dating. In 2001, Michael and Deanna married, and in 2002, they had a daughter, Meredith Anne. In 2004, second child Robin Michael was born.

As a husband and father, Michael began freelancing by writing his own books to make a living, while Deanna continued her career in pharmaceuticals. In 2006, a fire destroyed their home and Michael ran in to retrieve his first manuscript, putting himself in danger and having to go to the hospital for observation.

In 2007, John and Elly move into George Stibbs’s house, while Michael and Deanna buy their home.

In the future, Michael has 4 books published and a has signed a film contract. He continues to raise his family.

## Trivia

• According to deuterocanonical sources,his middle name is Thomas

• His birthday is April 28