Behind The Mask: The Real Story Of The St. Bernard Mascot In The Summer of ’69
In Hulu’s teen drama Summer of’699, high schooler Abby wants nothing more than to capture the heart of Max, the boy of her teenage dreams. Her klutziness and insecurity drive her to an unlikely source of aid—the anonymous person in a costume portraying the school’s St. Bernard mascot.
She turns to this mysterious character to give her information, particularly when she needs to figure out the truth about Max. But Abby never pauses to ponder the creature or man beneath the suit. The man beneath the mask is finally unveiled as the story continues: Samuel Moros.
This article will investigate who Samuel is, why Abby’s progress is vital, and how each of them would develop due to their unlikely meeting. It will also focus on issues of invisibility, identity, miscommunication, and personal change. Knowing the mascot’s identity reveals a larger story of teen discovery, social anxiety, and finding your voice when nobody sees you.
The Eerie Mascot: Abby’s Sole Companion in Her Quest
Abby is a shy, nerdy teenager who’s an anomaly in the world of St. Bernadette’s, a private academy of rich kids. Her dream is trivial but terrifying — to make Max, the boy at whom she’s been gazing longingly since childhood, notice her.
Abby seizes an opening when Max finally dumps his long-term girlfriend, Mercedes. But how can she approach him? She has no real friends or confidence and is not even sure she knows what Max likes.
That’s when she goes to the one person who seems to know everyone’s secrets — the Comet inside the school’s St. Bernard mascot suit. He is referred to only as “Bernie” and becomes her snitch.
He’s everywhere, he hears everything, mainly because nobody pays attention to him. In his floppy-eared dog disguise, he roams invisibly through the halls of school, the rooms at parties, and the locker room, hearing what no one would speak in public.
And this is power, to Abby, Bernie-style. But she never bothers to wonder who he is. She uses him as a walking Google search for Max’s desires and never realizes the person under the costume may be just as lonely and confused as she is. Bernie aids her, yes — but he also stands for something more profound: the masks we all adopt to endure high school.
Shared Invisibility: Abby and Bernie Are More Similar Than She Knows
Abby is in the background for the majority of high school. Everybody knows who she is, and nobody knows who she is. She’s a background student who never causes commotion and never feels particularly noticed. Ironically, she surrounds herself with the kind of man she thinks she needs to speak to to get closer to Max. Even muzzled in the costume, Bernie is an even less visible presence than she is.
Their bond deepens as they speak further. Bernie becomes her confidant. But Abby never requests his name or what he wants. She doesn’t know, but Bernie also uses the costume to escape from the world. It’s his safe space, an armor allowing him to watch others without judgment.
The novel subtly constructs the parallels between them. Both feel like outsiders. Both long for connection. But unlike Abby, Bernie has grown so accustomed to being ignored that he doesn’t even want to try to muscle out of the background. He is not only helping Abby decipher Max—he is watching her flounder and grow, maybe hoping he will get to do the same someday.
That mutual invisibility also makes their bond true, even if Abby initially doesn’t see that. It also demonstrates that the one you have been overlooking might be the one who knows you best.
Misunderstanding and Missteps: Dangers of Half-Knowledge
Abby thinks Bernie’s inside info is never wrong. She depends on him to advise her on how to win Max over, particularly in the department of sexual preferences. She learns Max is into “69,” which, given what Bernie supplies, she assumes is sexual. So then she tries to pick up on that, embarrassing herself when Max lets her know that he was referring to a jersey number, not a sex act.
This is such a turning point. It lets you know that Bernie isn’t some all-knowing guru. He’s just a kid like you, trying to figure out what he hears. Abby’s slip-up illustrates how giving credence to hearsay or rumors may be dangerous. Even the apparent experts can be wrong, especially when they’re anonymous, behind a costume, and never part of the whole conversation.
Most significantly, this is the moment that makes Abby think. She knows that she was using Bernie. She never did see him as a person, and certainly not a person who loved her. She used his information as a means to an end—how to get what she wanted from Max—without really considering the person doing that work of helping her.
This has two lessons for both Abby and the viewer: Don’t take people or the stories they’re willing to share for granted. Everyone has blind spots, everyone makes mistakes, and no one knows anything, especially when cloaked behind a mask.
Removing the Mask: When Bernie Becomes Samuel Moros
The story comes to a head when Abby and Bernie make daring moves. Weary of covering up, Abby goes full strip pole dance in front of her schoolmates. It is awkward and clumsy, but it’s her way of reclaiming her spotlight, one way or another.” She’s taking a brave step at last, doing something she never for a moment would have dreamed of doing.
Inspired by her courage, Bernie does something courageous, too—he takes the mascot’s head off. Now we finally see the man inside, and his name is Samuel Moros. He meets Abby as Sam, not Bernie, because neither of them has really seen the other yet, and this first moment is so charged with the privilege of it.
“It’s not just taking off the costume in a literal sense. It’s emotional. Sam has been using the suit to hide from the world, nd Abby’s bravery allows him to let go of that security blanket. He understands he doesn’t have to remain invisible.
Their meeting would not merely be a name, a face. It’s about connection. About being real. And discovering that, maybe, the person who truly gets you has been there all along — and has been concealed by fur and foam.
FAQs
Who is in the St. Bernard mascot suit in the Summer of ’69?
The person behind the sweaty costume is Samuel Moros, a shy student who leads a double life.
Why would Abby ask the mascot personal questions?
According to Abby, Bernie is a secret keeper because nobody pays him any attention. She tells him she thinks his advice will win her Max.
What does Abby do wrong after the mascot gives her the advice?
She misinterprets and thinks Max wants to “69” her (like in the supposed Bernie story), not understanding that Max was referring to a jersey number.
Why does Samuel have to be in the mascot suit 24/7?
He’s using the costume to disappear and go judgment-free, much as Abby avoids attention in his way.
What happens when Samuel’s costume comes off?
It’s a symbol of growth. Removing the mask signifies he’s willing to be seen and connect, starting with Abby.
Final Words
The Summer of 6’69 does more than tell a teen love story. It’s about discovering your voice, taking risks, and learning that being seen requires boldness. Abby and Samuel don’t fit in a school that focuses on popularity rather than character.
Yet ultimately, they have strength in each other. The costume of the St. Bernard as a metaphor — not for school spirit, that would be too easy, but for hiding away from the world. When it comes off, a real connection starts. And that is the one that counts.
Table of Contents