For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 13, 2018

oh, this’ll be one swell birthday party Mike’s gonna have

I’m amazed that Elly is even thinking about letting Michael have a boy-girl party in the basement. Not that easy to chaperone…

Elly’s poodle perm has relaxed to nearly a body perm it was supposed to be! It still looks a bit tight but is getting there.

Yes Elly your little boy isn’t so little anymore.

I am amazed Michael would even ask that question, but even more amazing is Elly’s completely unperturbed non-response instead of her usual goggle-eyed shock. She appears to be staring out into space imagining what it would be like to host a party with coupling Grade 7 kids in the dimly-lit rec room.

Given how Michael has broached the subject of the party so reasonably, I think Elllie should allow the party. After all, it’s difficult to believe that there’d be much time for the kids to actually be alone…without hundreds of excursions from the parents into the party zone. I hope they all decide to have a terrific party with everyone getting along. Besides, we all know that the second the lights in the basement go out, the place will be overrun by parents and …..perhaps some other parents. Lol

This is why I got involved with school activities when my daughters were that age. I was especially active with my eldest daughter who was a very popular and pretty girl. I worked in the school tuck shop and helped out with the rugby teas in the afternoon. My daughter used to pretend not to know me but all the kids were aware that her mother was an active member of school activities. I kept up to date with the school gossip and the boys were all surprisingly supportive. They probably thought it was wise to keep in the old girl’s good books. :)

“Make as much noise as you want, but if it gets quiet, I’m coming down there and sending everyone home.”

What’s Love Got to Do with dimming the lights

I remember those 13 and 14 year old parties. Basically we chaperoned each other! No one wanted to be the butt of ridicule.

I can almost hear his voice changing in the first panel.

But is there a closet or small separate room in the basement for the 5-minutes-of-paradise game? A flat hard spot on the ground for spin-the-bottle?

Some comment sections provide the ability to “ignore” a commenter. It’s nice to be able to do that. Click once, never see that person’s postings again.

When I was in the 8th grade, back in the ice age, we would go on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood and then have some dim light dancing in the living room (with maybe a kiss or two) and that was it. Except for one girl who could always be found on the floor “making out” with her boy friend du jour. That is until one day when a parent walked in…..said girl was grounded for 6 months! Same girl/woman has been married for 60 years now! And no, it wasn’t me!

Mike thinks dimming the lights will give him an advantage in the food fight.

How long did Ellie keep that hideous hairdo??

I like Ellie’s hair like this