Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for January 02, 2025

You’d think Sam would be delighted to have the place all to herself.

Zonker should take Sam along. What kind of weekend is he planning, anyway?

Maybe Nana would like to see her. More likely, she’s on her way to see Surfer Dude.

In 2025, if you live in some parts of America, you’d be doing that.

FedEx the shirt to Hawaii, Zonker.

When I was ten, I was working down the mill. 5 in the Morning till 10 at night. We had it rough.

i grew up in Providence RI and when i was 7 my parents started letting me stay down at our little summer place in Charlestown RI about 42.5 miles away (googled it)…but had no phone, nearest one pay phone a mile away, had a pump for water and an outhouse…but i slept out in my buddy next door’s boy scout tent all summer anyway for years – and his mom stayed during the week…made my own meals…good times

She’s too young to smoke any of the plants he has growing in the backyard

Bring Sam along.Meeting “Surfer Dude” will complete her already unorthodox upbringing

In Germany, 8-year old kids are trusted to take mass transit across town and back. In the US, you will be arrested if you kids are found more than a couple blocks away from where you live without an adult supervising them.

Both parents worked when I was ten (this was around 1959). I was a latchkey kid during the school year and on my own during the summer. I did the few chores assigned me and the rest of the time was mine. No problems. No CPS.

My wife’s grandmother was the oldest of a large number. When she was in her teens her mom died and she got promoted to household management on the farm. When she was 18 she joined the Army and became a nurse in WWI. Her dad was not pleased. She was.

Better without.

It is way past time to outlaw these deadly electric trucks. Think of the children!