Crankshaft by Tom Batiuk and Dan Davis for May 07, 2024

To hell in a handbasket?

Oh, for the love of…you sing in the church choir that Dinkleberg directs, Lillian! Yesterday he said he wanted to ask you something about singing! Today he says his senior home jazz band is performing and they’re looking for a singer! Does Harry have to draw you a frakkin’ roadmap for it to register in your lizard brain, Lillian!?

Lizard Lil in unseen Panel Four: “Would that be the jazz band whose trombonist tried to have his way with me in the back of the Bedside Manor van back in November of 2021 (see Batiuk’s other strip)?”

… Lillian, you have been in the choir for a while. Can you recommend someone who can sing?

It’s funny because dementia! Tom, you lovable scamp!

Does Cranky sing?

The viewing audience doesn’t know where this is going either.

She writes murder mysteries.

Not sure I can picture Lilian as a torch singer.

And not one single person at the rest home is a singer?

I see where it’s going….Zzzzzzzzzz…

Oh you mean that little jazz band that comboed with the choir for “Jazz Messiah” as part of the hasty and sloppy wrapping up of Funky Winkerbean? Or from when the band played at a wedding (inexplicably) and Mort and Lilian made out in the van? I can see why Lillian forgot she knew them, since Tom didn’t bother to remember.

Where’s Crankshaft?

Short memory!!!!!

Lil; can’t you connect the dots? Band, Singer. You. A local Doris Day at this stage of your life.“Going to take a Sentimental Journey….”

Come on, she’s slower than the Family Circus kids. How about me, I’ve been known to carry a tune!

You’re looking in the wrong place, mister. But I have a friend who collects antique Singer sewing machines.

eh i need trip to sleepy hollow with this storyline

It’s not like it’s a marriage proposal, he needs a singer. Spit it out man …..

Because this befuddled old hymn singer has the outgoing personality and charisma needed to sing solo in a jazz band in front of an audience. Ya! Suuuure!!! (eyeroll emoji)

Coming soon in an appearance near you. It’s the scatting and bebopping Lillian McKenzie! Yee-haw!!!

You’re killing me, TB. You’re killing me.

She so old she gots cobwebs under armpits eh?

Dang it! I was hoping Dinkle was going to kick Lillian out of the choir. THAT would have been interesting—at least more interesting than this garbage.

The band has been playing for at least nine years, and just now Dinkle realizes he needs a singer? This is more messed up than usual!

Yeah. THAT’S what’s missing!

That has been the story of Liiian’s life…..

They are both old, sometime a picture must be drawn

where are you going J.J. ?

Her first song will be “The Old Gray Mare”, followed by “Silver Threads Among The Gold”