For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 22, 2024

Bad influencers…

Um, he’s already got a girlfriend.

Uh-oh! Does this lead to Mike having a prison record?

But he has a girlfriend back home, trouble ahead.

Is Patterson going to regret going out that night?

Screwing up relationships out of stupidity is the varsity sport of undergraduate life.

He’s a freshman in college he’s not getting married

Something tells me that Michael is starting down the path that leads to moving back home and away from university attendance.

Oh, yeah, that social pressure to goof off….. by the way, is it “Rhetta who?” now?

Oh, I got a bad feeling about this….

(Theme music from Dragnet playing . . .)

Oh for pity’s sake.

His project will not be finished and he gets a failing grade on it.

Is this the story where the three of them go to the “Gentlemen’s Bar” and discover Martha “working her way through school” and Mike feels bad and discover’s he’s still in love with her so he breaks up with Rhetta so that he and Martha can finally get married?

Where is he going to college, and what is the drinking age?

At least they did not use the shopworn line of “Working on a project? You must be so fun at parties.”

And thus we see the collage student in his native habitat. The mating ritual has begun with the hoisting of a few beers to stimulate their courage to approach the females of the species. All the while the female cautiously watch the mating dances of the males, searching for the one that strikes her fancy. Only then will she leave the pride to tentatively allow the male to approach her. With willful abandon the male puts on his finest display in an effort to attract the female. If all goes well, the two may pair up for the evening. If not the male, thought his pride may be hurt, will try once again in hopes that he will have success.

Next week on Wild Kingdom, we will observe the humble ant in its colony.

Young men are natural hunters and gathers… It’s in the genes – as well at the jeans.

Off to a bad start…..

People scoff at Bible truth, but its counsels have stood the test of time, e.g., “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20; and "Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

If it’s below freezing in Canada,you don’t go out for any reason

Everything can have ramifications. Imagine what it will be like for Michael in 2015, the future…

Doorbell rings. A teenage girl descends stairs

Rhetta Junior: Mom is that you, Mom? Girl answers door to be greeted by an elderly Elly

Grandma Elly! Oh, what happened to you, Grandpa John?

John is upside down in a floating device

John: Do you have a kiss for your grandfather? I threw my back out at the golf course.

Elly goes to living room with Rhetta Junior where she looks at a screen

Screen: Broadcasting beautiful scenes 24 hours a day.

Elly: Oh dear, look at how worn out this screen is. Has your father ever gotten around to repairing it?

Rhetta Junior: No. Dad was going to call a repairman, but he never got around to it when some guys told him there was something he had to see.

Elly: That is exactly your father’s problem, Rhetta Junior. He cannot say no to even the dumbest guy making the most idiotic suggestion. It goes all the way back to summer camp when lyin’ Brian Enjo encouraged him to stick his head in the hole of the girls’ shower hut. Then as a teenager he never finished a project and was kicked out of college. From then on he was a loser, and he still can’t tell other losers to get lost. Anyway, I brought enough pizza for everyone, I will go hydrate it.

Michael Junior: Dad, phone, it is Needles.

Michael Senior: I will take it in the den.

Den. Needles is on a picturephone.

Needles: Hey, Big M! Did you look over my proposal?

Michael: I don’t know, Needles.

Rhetta is listening in

Rhetta Senior{talking to herself}: Needles?Needles: What are you afraid of, Patterson? If this thing works, it’ll solve all your financial problems.

Michael: And if it doesn’t work, Needles, I could get fired. It is illegal. I mean, what if the Jitz is monitoring?

@Macushlalondra- Yep. Mike is gonna be in big trouble if he starts hanging out with those guys! And BTW, nice profile pic of your cat! The ones you see in my pic unfortunately passed away recently. Have a blessed.