For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 11, 2023

What kind of typewriter is Elly using? I don’t see the carriage return bar and how is the paper going in and not going out? Michael thinks begging is an art, but I think anyone who can use that typewriter is the real artist.

Way to go, Michael.

No puppy eyes?

Spoiler alert, I just went back to the version from 1994/01/11, then followed the story from there. Mike was in for a big surprise. P.S., it’s all in black and white.

Poor kids, having to beg for the simplest things. I know a lot of people don’t have the privilege, but theirs is available, and he did earn a license.

Leaving home next year… Is that a threat or a promise?

Elly, you should have said NO! Grow some balls!

If he had just let her finish her sentence she was going to say “I don’t think anyone is needing it so okay”

Ellie, “Sure Mike, you can have the car as long as you promise not to take the car through an auto car wash, and if you do from experience get the urge to take the car through a car wash, promise me you will be sure the top is up and the windows are closed! Now Mike, PROMISE ME!”

Yeah? Wait’ll you get to Rhetta’s.

To make it really funny there should have been a bubble over mom that says: “Making them beg is so rewarding!”

I still have the typewriter table my parents used. Perfect for my sewing machine. I can roll it out of the guest bedroom when company is coming so I don’t have to stop mid-project. PS. That old manual must have weighted 20 lbs. It’s probably at some movie set…

Your cheatin’ heart will make you weep

You’ll cry and cry and try to sleep

But sleep won’t come the whole night through

Your cheatin’ heart will tell on you

When tears come down like fallin’ rain

You’ll toss around and call my name

You’ll walk the floor the way I do

Your cheatin’ heart will tell on you

Your cheatin’ heart will pine someday

And crave the love you threw away

The time will come when you’ll be blue

Your cheatin’ heart will tell on you

When tears come down like fallin’ rain

You’ll toss around and call my name

You’ll walk the floor the way I do

Your cheatin’ heart will tell on you

Wow…I taught my daughters at a very young age that begging got an automatic “no”. So did hinting.

Gotta love Mike… He is great.

Hopefully, Rhetta has come to her senses and is telling him to go take a long walk off a short pier…

Actually looks like a printer…

Mike-o, you may find that groveling might be useful, too…

It’s called tolerance. Parents don’t have as much energy as kids; parents get worn out.

Mike knew exactly when to get to Ellie. When she’s busy with a project. Naturally he’ll have his own way then.

Oh..oh he is a beggar………

2025. A woman is filling up her car when she is approached by a bearded man with scraggly hair and dressed like a slob

Michael: Madam, if you could find it in your heart to spare twenty dollars. My wife and I ran out of gas, and we cannot get the baby home as it is getting awfully cold out. It is only a loan I am asking for lady. I will mail it back to you next Monday when I get paid. Remember what Jesus said about helping the poor."

Most teens are master manipulators. Michael is no exception.

begging must be at performance are there so many people out there doing it

We never made our 2 boys beg for a vehicle. As long as they asked permission and it was not needed by one of us, we let them have the keys.

Or a survival skill as the case might be….

Do we see Lhetta and Rolne again?

Notice how Michael was putting his coat on as he was asking if he could borrow the car? Sneaky.

The next strip…

John{talking to himself}: Darn it, where’s the boy?

John{talking to neighbor}: Have you seen Michael?

Keith Enjo: No. What do you think he is doing, begging my son to do his schoolwork for him? Keith laughs loudly You may not have perspective on this, being a canuck cracker, but Michael’s begging brings shame upon your family.

Surprised Michael is that old already…leaving home next year?