The following was shared by Greg Johnson.
History of TJ and Big Earl
Toejam and Earl met in school when they were both about 6. Toejam was getting made fun of because of his eyestalks. The other kids were teasing that they couldn’t tell if he was right-side up or upside down.
Big Earl stepped in and defended TJ. Since then, they’ve been close friends.
When they were about 10, TJ’s mom and dad went off-planet for a vacation and got stuck on another planet for 4 years, flow took TJ in and he lived with Earl’s family.
TJ’s family always had more money, and Earl’s family was poorer, but the two families became very close. They would spend their holidays together.
TJ was always the better student, and he helped Earl out through school. TJ could be impulsive though and have lots of crazy ideas. He would have gotten himself in trouble, but Earl always pulled his feet back down to Funkotron.
Toejam is the one with the crazy sense of humor. He is smart and likes to tease and be playful. Earl is calmer, and easy going, and he’s content to let Toejam lead. He doesn’t say much, but when he does, TJ and the others who know him, listen.
Earl and TJ never fought with each other … except once. And it was a big one. It was a few years ago after TJ and E had come back from Earth.
At the time TJ had the hots for Latisha. Latisha’s little sister Janeese, was sick with some disease the doctors couldn’t figure out, she was confined to her bed and was very depressed and had stopped eating much. Everyone was worried about her. Janeese was always fascinated with Earth. Stories about the crazy Earthlings were the only thing that made her smile. Latisha mentioned one day that she wished her sister could see an Earthling, so TJ decided that he would steal Janeese away and take her on a quick trip to see an Earthling. He thought this was what she needed to get better. He wanted to keep it a secret and surprise everyone, especially Latisha, since he knew Latisha’s parents and the doctors would say “no”.
Earl wouldn’t go along. He always went along with TJ’s crazy plans, but not this time. He tried to tell TJ that Latisha didn’t really want that, it was just talk. And that it was too risky.
TJ was determined though, and he got Janeese excited about the idea. He ended up getting Janeese outside, and then he went to “borrow” the Rapmaster Rocket one night and bring it to get Janeese. Big Earl was there waiting. TJ told Earl to get out of the way, but Earl wouldn’t budge. TJ actually tried to trick Earl and make him move, then rush past him, but he ended up getting pushed to the ground.
After that Latisha and the others showed up and Toejam felt betrayed. He assumed Earl had told them his plans. The truth is he didn’t…Janeese had told Latisha.
Now Janeese is doing much better. She is still sick sometimes, but she is mostly OK, and her depression is much improved. Everyone forgave TJ, and he and Earl made up, but since then there was always some awkwardness between them.
On this trip, TJ thinks that they “borrowed” Lamont’s ship, and he wants to get some photos of Earth to take to Janeese and he doesn’t realize that the others know this already. Lamont knows of course that they have taken his ship, and he has told Big Earl to let TJ and the others think that he “borrowed” the ship so that he can fulfill his original mission for Janeese.
Latisha was pissed at TJ at first for being so foolish and almost putting her little sister in danger, but she knows he was being sweet and wanted to help her sister and her too. Ever since then, TJ has been too embarrassed to talk to Latisha much, and their friendship has cooled. TJ has since gotten the hots for Lewanda, who also knows the whole story and thinks TJ is impulsive but very sweet. Big E has never stopped feeling like TJ is his best friend in the world.
