We had reading contests, where you could earn a sticker for every book you read in the summer; but not a specific list to read. I remember one summer the stickers were of astronaut footprints on the lunar surface. Sort of dates me, doesn’t it?
Arg. I can see the pun coming in the first panel. Then transfixed, like a deer in the headlights for the next four panels, trying to beat him to the punch. Only to suffer for it in the penultimate panel. Waiting for the day when we see Pastis grinning to himself in the final panel after thwarting one of Rat’s bat attacks.
Clem is just selfish – hope he grows out of that. MiMi is imaginative – hope that she never loses that. The fact that her father takes the time to play with her is inspirational. Sure, she is going to need grit to get through life. However, there will be plenty of time for that later (life tends not to make that lesson optional). I keep a Tonka road grader on a shelf in my office because it reminds me of time spent playing together with my dad. Sadly, I am no longer able to do that. But I can “spoil” my grandkids now by playing with them.
And they automatically turn red when they get full of leaves.