For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for October 20, 2024

GOTCHA ! ! !

BUSTED! ! !

;-)

How long was Elly standing there, holding out the rake that way? What would happen if Elizabeth decided not to sneak out of the house and pass by the garage, and instead go the April way out the back fence down by the ravine? How long would Elly stand there? Why do I think it might be hours?

It’s too windy to rake.

It’s really sad how the comics make teenagers as lazy, good-for-nothings. In my lifetime, I’ve encountered teens who were willing volunteers for humanitarian causes—both in the US and in other countries.

Back in the day, it was never my job to rake the leaves or shovel the walks. That was reserved for my brother. My jobs were all kitchen-relat ed…

Busted!

Though I’ve said this before, I enjoy how many of Lynn’s Sunday’s strips are wordless. Wonder how many Francophones are in her readership.

Much better for insects, plants, and the soil itself to let the leaves decompose naturally. Maybe not for lawn grass but you should plant native ground cover anyway. Easier on you and better for the overall environment.

Yep.

I wish they still only used rakes to clean up the leaves

Hold it right there… You know the rules! First one out of the house rakes the yard. And I don’t want to hear any bellyaching!

Elizabeth keeps forgetting that Elle was a ‘teenage girl’ once herself so she knows all ‘the dodges’ ! ! !

Funnily enough, I’m wearing a pink sweater like that today!

How long was Ellie standing ther waiting for Liz to come by? And where’s John and April? Raking used to be a family affair when I was growing up.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Obi-wan!”

She was just trying to keep her from stepping on the rake and being whacked in the face

There’s no escaping the ….. RAKE!

Been there, done that … many times. You think they would learn .. but NOPE!!

nice try kid… :J

Most moms just know.

LOL!

BUSTED!!!

Elizabeth, never try to con a con.

A mother always knows.

I remember those days: Maine, 1963. “Rake the lawn!” Only then we could rake them up in a pile and burn them.

Elly looks Oriental in the last panel.

Lighten up Elly. Elizabeth just was backstabbed by Candace and is now dateless.

Shhh! Tiptoe back inside and curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and a cup of hot coco while leaving the sentry to guard her post.

Sorry Dawn, but Elly made the Pawn rake the lawn!

Ooga Farley!

Booga Farley!

Googa Farley!

Googa Farley!

Some things are impossible to avoid.

This reminds of the move Halloween. Ellie’s face is almost as scary as Michael Myers.

Parents! They can be SO undisciplined! Don’t they know how tough a teenager’s schedule is!? :-D

Or next panel showing Elizabeth with a leaf blower!

Here is a strip idea:

April jumps into a leaf pile

April: What fun! Hey wait, I can’t get out!

Leaf pile is alive

Leaf Pile: That is right. I am the Leaf Pile Monster and I am going to have you for dinner! ha ha ha!

April: ACK! Quick, the rake, the rake! April grabs rake and attacks Leaf Pile Monster with it I got you, Leaf Pile Monster! I will spread you all around the yard so you will never be able to attack any more kids!

Living room. Elizabeth is sitting in a recliner reading a book

Elly: Elizabeth! The yard is full of leaves! Are you telling me you did not get the rake from me??

Elizabeth: Yes I did rake the yard, Mom. I spent all afternoon…

Elizabeth turns around and it looks like she has two heads

Elizabeth: WHERE’S APRIL?!?!

You shall not pass!

Why would you rake up the leaves? If you mow the lawn often enough you’ll end up mulching them into little pieces and they’re good for the lawn, if you have too many trees and that’s not practical then just use the catcher on the mower and bag them up. Either way sure beats raking.

No matter how you try, you can’t outsmart a mom.

Luckily we never had to worry about raking leaves when we were kids. Dad used to just mow them into mulch. It was good for the soil.

Mom’s and Dad’s know all the tricks for sneaking out – they have all done them before…

Leaves – just ONE of the many, many reasons there will never, EVER be a deciduous tree on my property. Ever.

Liz is exactly as successful as I always was …

Once again the little kid is left unsupervised – and what is it with everyone’s leaf fetish? Leave them on the lawn thru fall and winter, where they will decompose, and then the first lawn mowing of spring will make them mulch and fertilize the lawn for the upcoming summer. Do you see mother nature raking lawns? It’s completely a human vanity thing.

Lynn created an Ellie that is the type of person to spend three hours standing over a sock on the floor staring at it and waiting for her kids to show up so she can yell at them rather than picking up the sock herself or doing something productive in the meantime, just to have a chance to scold and nag.

Dread it, run from it….Chore time arrives just the same. And now it’s here.

Liz has taken over John’s role today

My attitude? god put ’em there, god can take ’em away.

Since you’re outside…..

HAHA! NICE TRY!

We’ve all been there and done that. Your parents, your grandparents, their parents and grandparents… on and on.