For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 27, 2017

this is what I call as a cousin quarrel

Sleep in the hallway? That’s awful. They don’t have a couch for him to sleep on? I don’t blame him for reaching the end of the rope. And why does Lynn always spell “stoopid”? It makes the characters sound dumb.

The “stomp” effect and Laura’s dismissive attitude tells us that this was no accident. The only question is which adult would side with Laura and think sending a kid outside in the cold was an effective punishment.

Did they kick him out, or did he storm outside to make his point?

Michael has to literally go “cool off”.

I said it yesterday, it’s time to go home! Why would they come all this way to live sardine style where there isn’t enough room for everyone? Even Elly and John have to put up with umpteen interruptions to their sleep from that little girl but can’t complain because it’s her room. Next time you visit, stay in a hotel!

An abusive husband in the making.

You know what they say about guests and fish.

sleep in the barn, at this hour all is calm, and warm!

This has been building up with Mike for a while, but I at least expected him to get sent to the barn, not outside permanently. This was John’s decision.

I don’t blame him for going off like that. They might be visiting “these here parts”, but what they are experiencing is a bit of “That’s how we do things in these here parts, and we don’t really care ’bout what you think, nossir”. When you say that with a plastic “More coffee dear?” smile on your fact, well, them’s fightin’ words.

He’s learning, but will he remember

Saying something is STOOpid,’ seems to indicate a heavy voice accent on the first three letters. Probably to show that something is very stupid. So there is the normal emphasis and the one above, plus one other that I often heard in England but find difficult to ‘picture’ here. It sounded as if one was saying ‘styoopid’ very clipped and short.

Go on, give it a try. Can only break your tongue

Wasn’t Uncle Doofus sleeping on the couch? As for the “stoopid” thing, it’s probably a Canadian thing like “Eh”.

I remember a summer visit to relatives. I was on a cot in the living room sick with a fever. All my male relatives snored loudly but in different keys. It was torture.

Always be careful what you ask for!

What’s the deal with Johnston spelling stupid, “stoopid?” Is it just to emphasize the first vowel?

This is crazy! Two weeks is too long a time to spend with your in- laws under ideal circumstances,but 16 dos and cats and people in a 2 bedroom farmhouse? And it’s not like the Pattersons are poor either.These days,kids complain when the family packs up and heads off to Mexico,or Cuba for a week or 2 during Xmas break because they can’t text their friends till 2 am every day! Nope,this arc is asking me to suspend my state of disbelief too far,even if it is 1988.

It’s time to go home

The kid needed an attitude adjustment.