Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson for August 11, 2015

Alice, you cannot solve the problems of the world (nor even of Blisshaven Academy). Just take care of your own problems, be charitable towards others (even bucketheads), and bug off.

(Personal aside to Dill: you like small, wet teething crackers?! Eww!)

Hey, folding paper hats is hard.

Who came up with the insanity of “play dates”??

I’m glad I never had a play date. I, too, played when and with whom I wanted.

Sometimes when we got older we would call each other on our rotary phones and say, “Meet me at the clubhouse/basketballcourt/candystore/emptylot”.

That’s all right, Dill. As long as you don’t bite Petey.

Richard posted a blog entry regarding this strip.

I hear you, Dill. I like zweibach. Not wet and soggy, but i like crunchy textures to this day.

I have to agree with previous commenters about the whole concept of “play dates.” As a little guy, I just went out, found other kids, and played with them. I knew where my friends lived, so I could go to their houses to look/ask for them. Or I could just go to the huge town swimming pool where there were sure to be plenty of kids to play with. Kids lives are far too structured today.

As I understand it, before we left England (1953) mothers there would inspect potential playmates (and their parents) before we were allowed to play with them. When Mom found the practice didn’t extend to the colonies she turned me loose!

His head is an acceptable size. Newspapers have gotten smaller. He has a broadsheet head in a tabloid world.