For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 25, 2022

John says, “Elly, if there was something wrong, he would have called.”

Or someone from the hospital or morgue or police station. Elly has the right of it. You should be worried before you are angry.

oh, you have no idea, John, how much doodoo Michael got himself into

Pay phone. Then he can go home and listen to the gramophone while he makes charcoal drawings on the wall of his cave.

, I couldn’t find my phone today..asked the newly installed Alexa. Was asked the number, gave it. Then I was told she would text me a confirmation code to establish ownership. HOW CAN I READ A TEXT IF I DONT HAVE MY PHONE! And it didn’t appear on my tablet. Finally I drove back to my daughter’s and I had left my phone there. Don’t you love Technology?

“Service With A Smile”…. Not much of a smile anywhere!

Down under more phone booths are being installed and the calls are free.

What’s wrong, Mike? Couldn’t read the map or you ran out of gas?

John is still more concerned about his damned car than about his son’s safety!!

At least, Elly has her priorities straight (for once).

Why doesn’t Mike just ask for directions?

When I was a kid and living at home, I was coming from my job in a blizzard. A normal 20 minute drive took over 2 hours and even then I didn’t make it all the way. An intersection was blocked and I had to walk the rest of the way. There were no cell phones then. The whole thing started because some idiot who had bald tires got stuck and caused a giant traffic jam.

I can’t stand people like that as it is clear Michael is going to use the phone because he has a problem. I label those people Frank Burns of the world.

Just ask how to get to the entrance to the “direction” bound freeway you want, kid.

Been there. Now, does the pay phone work. Do you have a quarter? Do you have a calling card? Will Dad accept the charges?

One thing ubiquitous cell phones have done for us is that if you don’t have one, you don’t really have an alternative other than the kindness of strangers.

He’s doomed!

Hey Kids! This is really what it was like before cell phones!!

Most reliable is still tin cans and string

I was with my older brother in the 90s and we had this same thing happen. Needed to use a phone, guy in gas station said “No” and 3 payphones we tried were broken. And parents were mad at us for not calling. We tried to call.

The attendant is kind of heartless; I’m sure he can see this kid is lost.

If there’s anything worse than being a kid in trouble it’s people who don’t BELIEVE you’re a kid in trouble.

Cheap skate let the kid use the phone!

Today’s strip sends me back to being 16 again and in a panic because of being in the same kind of situation.

No cell phone? He needs to be up to date.

Wonderful days of cell phones

I don’t know of any place that has pay phones anymore. I think the phone company stopped making them and tore down the ones they had. More’s the pity. Not everyone has a smart/magic/whatever phone in their pocket.

I am reminded of several times I could have avoided being in hot water (and the stress of knowing it) if I could only have let the folks know I was stuck somewhere…and then the one time I could, and my dad came and rescued me from a bad situation. Love U Daddy.

The ‘80’s struggle was real.

Too bad Michael-everything happens to make you look bad and I would not call that a “service” station, rude station more like!

In this modern day world of “instant communications”, we sometimes forget just how limited we used to be! This strip was originated, what, 25-35 years ago?!?

The small-to-mid-sized city I live in still has a few payphones. There are two (and they work) at the bus station. There is actually one in my apartment building lobby but it doesn’t work! There used to be one at a 7-11 near where I lived in the past, but I haven’t been by there in a couple of years, so I don’t know if it’s still there.

This exactly what happens when you give your kids even a tiny taste of freedom!