Four Color #998

In "Romeo Ricky," teenage Ricky finds himself swept into a backstage whirlwind at Paradise Lake resort, where a high school production of "Romeo and Juliet" takes unexpected turns. With his friend Doug by his side, Ricky navigates the drama of the stage and the quiet spark of a new connection—before the curtain even rises.

In "Car 25," teenage racer Ricky faces a tense moment when his racing gear goes missing the night of a big event. Though he vowed to his father not to compete again, his friend Ozzie quickly assumes Ricky broke his promise—leaving Ricky to prove his innocence before the truth is lost in the dust of the track.

In "Temporary Tie," Ricky faces a small but sharp embarrassment when he's turned away from a fancy restaurant for lacking a tie—until his girlfriend Jo steps in with her headscarf, helping him fashion a makeshift bow tie on the spot. A quiet moment of charm and quick thinking, this brief 1959 tale captures a sweet, lighthearted gesture from a time when small details carried big meaning.