For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for October 18, 2019

How about right on time instead, Mikey?

He does not seem to understand about Multiple Occurrences Late charges or perhaps is just unaware of them.

And of course, like all teenagers, he completely misses the point of both the rule and the consequences of breaking it.

Let’s shoot for zero and keep the peace. Your mom is pregnant, ya know, Mike? She can’t and shouldn’t have stress worrying about you.

Tonight, tomorrow and all weekend means this is Thursday. Is there a reason why Michael did not already have this conversation with Martha at school?

Your learning consequences Mike. This will help you later in life.

Testing those waters huh?

If you’re going to get grounded for 30. you might as well stay out till 3 in the morning and make it worth it!

A memory: I was in Drama Club. Mr. S, the teacher, asked me if I could stay longer to help give cues (since I had all of my lines memorized already). When my dad came to pick me up, I went out to him & told him that I would be an extra 1/2-hour or so, but I had a ride home. Dad said OK & left. It turned out to be almost 1-1/2 hours. Mr. S drove me home (side note: he offered to buy me dinner, but I had someplace to be that night, so I declined). When he pulled into the driveway, my father came storming out, giving him holy h*ll! It seems that he only heard the 1/2-hour part…but not the “or so”.

You go Mike show them what a man you are

You go Mike show them what a man you aree

Testing boundaries.

A little late is not as bad as alot late?

Next time they’ll shoot for 8 days.

There may not be a “next time” with Martha.

I still think this whole story line would have been more appropriate if Mike and Martha were about 2 years older.

Lynn Johnston has explained the reason she writes “stoopid” instead of stupid… (it’s because that’s the way the kids sound when they say it), but I still cringe every time I see it! Just like when you see ads spelled purposely incorrect: Kool Kars, Fashun, Krazy…, Skool. etc. blech. Oh well.. still love the comic!! :)

In for a dime, in for a dollar.

My GF had to be home by midnight – so we’d park in her driveway and steam the windows for an hour or so after that. Her parents knew we’d bring the act inside if they pressed the issue…

Yes, fifteen minutes would have been within the “on time” boundary… just like people do all the time, anyway….next time, to make the punishment worth it, Mikey, shoot for an hour or longer….

.Speaking of being late, my husband’s brother is one of those…he’s always an hour or longer late, and the only thing that he has to worry about is himself—no wife, no kids. Nowadays, if we invite him for dinner, we start eating on time, and when he finally shows up he gets lukewarm food. He still hasn’t caught on that he’s too late, and my husband never says anything to remind him to be on time next time…

They are called rules for a reason you little whippersnapper.

When I was cleaning my apartment getting ready to move in, a man friend of mine was driving me. I didn’t get home until about 1:pm. My father had a conniption fit, telling me if I couldn’t get in earlier than that , not to come home at all. My step-mother had that " holier than thou" look on her face. I guess they both forgot that I was moving out the next day. I was 22 at the time. Sorry, that was just a bad memory.

Mike should have got out after he met her family.

And hopefully you’ll get grounded for 8 nights. A rule is a rule – better learn how to follow them now when the penalties are less strict. You are lucky getting to use the phone for personal calls.

He’s trying to see if he can find a bend in the rules.

He’s lucky he got off so easy…. :P