Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for December 18, 2020

How to psych out the wife?

Maybe. Maybe not.

He’s giving diamonds to a cat?!?!

Nah, I’m just joshin’.

My wife always used to guess what I got her at Christmas by lifting and shaking the wrapped present. So I started adding decoys. Paper doused in perfume in with a pair of slippers. Once I added a half empty bottle of my after shave in with a hat, it gurgled real nice. Jingle bells, marbles… anything…

Heh, heh. I know. I’m evil.

If he’s anything like my cat it will not work. Cats know all the hiding places including hiding places you don’t know that’s in your house.

He’d better Hope Luddy can’t get in there – who knows where the present could end up. And he’d better get rid of that shopping bag fast!

Arlo is putting Janis’ diamond in cat carrier and no gift yet for Ludwig

I remember one year my parents decided they wouldn’t get each other a gift. Come Christmas morning, there was a gift for dad from mom. But nothing for mom from dad. She put on a brave face, but you could tell that she was bothered.

Come the afternoon, family came, gifts exchanged, still nothing. Mom’s brave face was slipping. Dad called a grandson, aged about five IIRC, to go to the tree, and retrieve a gift to give to mom. It was a ring, and she was over the moon.

I told my grandson that jewelry works. I have yet to have a woman spit at me and throw a gift in the trash for giving her gold, platinum, silver and gemstones. Some don’t care for perfume, or chocolates or roses; but women are like crows when it comes to sparklies. My daughters get a gift of jewelry every Christmas. They get fine chocolates and an excellent bottle of champagne for their birthdays.

Lets hope that isn’t the litter box.

If I had to hide something from my cat I’d just add some orange peel in the pack. He’ll detest it forever.

If I had to keep my wife from snooping for something I shouldn’t use Arlo’s trick: She’d look for sure what in the world I would give to the cat!

Arlo devilish grin in panel 4 is great.

Arlo went to Jareds!

He can’t find a place to hide that size of a box without playing mind games about it? What is she 5 and searches the house for her gifts?

This reminds me of an episode of “The Big Bang Theory” where Bernadette hid Howard’s X-Box in the washing machine.

Sly dog you are, Arlo. Janis is going yo be very happy.

Arlo’s idea ranks up with the year that my parents place a note in a small wrapped gift box under the tree telling my brother to look in the metal chest on the carport. In that chest was a weight set.

(senses a cartoon with a story worthy of being continued)

What a clever duck you are, Arlo!!!

After reading the lengths you guys go to for a surprise, I have to tell you we already know…we’re women !

Crazy like a fox!

I am loving Janis’ reactions. And honestly? It’s a pretty good hiding place.

I’m reminded of the Saran Wrap commercial where a steak is wrapped up in Saran Wrap and a tiger presumably doesn’t smell it because of how good the seal is. Good luck there Arlo!

Get Ludwig that new fqngled cat box that rotates (spaceship looking) and removes each clump. :D

He lied, the gift is for Janis. Note the diamond design on the gift sack.

What do you bet that Janis knows him well enough to guess what he’s really doing?

This meme has always been strange to me. My siblings and I (and our parents) enjoyed being surprised on Christmas morning.

Trying to find out in advance would have spoiled the fun.

My take is that the look on Janis’ face in panel three is because either she has or had something hidden in there already, or, that was her traditional hiding place.

Putting a gift diamond in a cat cage… what could possibly go wrong?

Throwing her off the scent, unless Luddie really IS getting jewelry!