For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 30, 2023

April is in big trouble!

At least April has learned one of the basics of being a Patterson kid — when Elly is yelling, hide like Machiavelli.

And thus begins a new era, as you will eventually learn.

That’s all I can say without spoiling the story for newcomers. Enjoy.

That girl needs a lot of supervision and a lot of discipline.

Who’s supposed to be watching April?

What do Canadians mean when they say “Put on the kettle el”? Are they stuttering?

“Que Sera, Sera!”

Whatever will be will be.

Uh-oh. I think I will start skipping this comic for a while.

Who indeed?

Wow…something about April and latches that just doesn’t fit. I hope it doesn’t cause trouble in the future. If only there were grown ups who can teach her to stay inside

“Not me!” “Not me!” “Ida know!”

Oops!

Little brat April strikes again.

April needs to be grounded for a week

Is April old enough to be left alone? And who is Sera? Just asking.

Wait, mom went jogging and left April home ALONE ? Someone call Child Protective Services !

Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population.

Have your pets spayed or neutered.

“(♪♫) Connie, put the kettle on,

Connie, put the kettle on,

Connie, put the kettle on,

We’ll both have tea!"

April is ALWAYS getting in trouble.

And so it begins.

Yeah. It’s always a risk to let some people know they have permission to do something, but not insure they know when it’s “allowed”.

I’m with April on this one: Anyone who keeps a dog in a cage like that should not be allowed to keep dogs.

OH, oh…. Where is Sera?? I bet even April doesn’t even know now…

I’m also really disturbed by this dog spending its life in a cage.

With April around, every latch needs a lock.

this is when Farley becomes a daddy

Connie: “Where’s Sera? She shouldn’t be out of her cage.” No, Connie – Sera should not be IN a cage of that type, period.

Why aren’t the dogs fixed?

I was a cashier. During slow periods, I had to mind a pair of dogs, who were in a pen. But they were escape artists. After one escape, I was told to put one of the dogs into a large dog carrier. I swear, as I closed the door, the dog looked at me as if he was thinking “This is so wrong”.

Okay, the Pattersons, in the original storyline, got Farley back in 1980. Back then, there probably wasn’t as much emphasis on getting pets fixed as there is now. And honestly I think even now dog owners are more likely to get a female fixed (since they would have to deal directly with the litters of puppies otherwise) than with a male. Also, keep in mind Farley was a purebred English sheepdog and came from a line of show dogs. They may have thought they could earn some money breeding him later but just never got it done. As for Sera, I think sometimes females mature and go into heat before the owners expect it to happen. My sister got caught off guard with some of her females going into heat early. She also picked up a stray Chesapeake Bay Retriever and found out she was pregnant when she took her to the vet.

Where’s Sera Sera, wherever she’ll be she’ll be…

Ah, the toddler years. My nephew is much the same – he wants to get into everything, even more so if he’s told not to!

That kid IS trouble.

And who was watching her?

She shouldn’t have been in a cage like that to begin with.

Wow, what a dumb question, considering how many times Ellie had to tell her to stop going in there and letting the dog out.

What kind of horrible people keep a dog in a tiny little cage like that outside??

We didn’t need the cutaway, there’s only one person in who would open that latch.

April! Again with the mischief.

Oh,look,here comes Kay

Let’s have her Kay yell SERA SERA