For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 23, 2018

They already are playing games, Elly…

Oh, they will play some BORED games, Elly, if you don’t leave the room.

A slight, a shrug, and a snub.

A few notes:

1. I like the way in Panel 3, Janet’s left hand which was on Michael’s shoulder in Panel 2 moves to Michael’s back as she draws him close in triumph.

2. The best part of Panel 4, is how all the kids drop their hands from dancing when Elly appears and Lawrence disappears so fast that he leaves Martha’s arm still in place in the air from where she was holding him.

3. No Pin the Tail on the Donkey? Oh man!

4. Showing up with these games this late into the party is highly suspicious. What is Elly really up to?

4.1. She heard from John the kids were not dancing because the music was too soft, and so Elly thought, “Yay! It worked. Now for some real fun!”

4.2 With her pink dress on, Elly wants to show the colourist can actually put a woman in something other than purple.

4.3 She wants to show her dexterity in holding 3 games with one hand and 1 game in another.

4.4 While they are playing games, Elly will check the punch to see if it’s been spiked.

Two can play at the snubbing game Martha.

Hah! Clever gag this week. Really, REALLY clever :).

Poor Michael,he even looks like a stooge in panel 4!

Growing up, I was taught that a gentleman dances with every lady. No girl is ever left out. It seems like Lawrence is just being social. Michael is making much ado about nothing.

I just don’t like Jan.

Hey, Martha started it dancing with the other guy, don’t look so hurt Michael is dancing with somebody else. If she wanted to dance with Michael, she should have, she doesn’t have to wait for him to ask, equality and all you know.

I see “Twister” is one of the games that Elly has in mind. THAT should be interesting, considering the current dynamic in the room!

Elly has just insured that any and everything that goes wrong at this party is all of her fault.Her cheerful face will not help her.

Moving onto Michael’s turf, boy?

So I wasn’t reading the strip at this point – was Martha and Janet’s friendship destroyed over this? Because obviously Michael and Lawrence’s wasn’t. And if so, was Johnston making a larger point or was it just how she wanted the characters to go?

They’re way ahead of you Elly.

They do not look like they are enjoying themselves while dancing. In fact, they look like they are dancing like American couples.

Elly, could you embarrass Michael anymore???

Temperance leaders in the 19th century also abstained from dancing, because “a gentleman will take liberties on the dance floor that you would never allow on the street.” Moderates confined themselves to square and circle dances that “were no different than promenading a lady on the street in time to music”. These considerations still apply today – couple dances as a social activity for young people is fraught with drama.

I’m still looking for opinions from that era on married (or perhaps engaged) couples doing couple dancing. None of their objections would seem to apply.

Noses in the air!

David Bowie sang it best…