It’s called payback, John. Someday you’ll get to humiliate Michael and Elizabeth in a similar fashion.
And yes, Michael, if you value your life, you will never, ever reveal this information to another living soul – in fact, you might do well to forget that your grandmother even mentioned it!
Remember, Johnny recalls all the ways that grandma and grandpa used to punish him for being bad when he was a kid, so there is an archive of punishments available should Michael’s lip slip…
My son’s name is Shaun, and his dad used to call him “Shauner”–until one day in front of his friends he mutterted-“forget the ‘er’, Dad” –ah-childhood is so fleeting!
“Johnny Jump Up” is the name around my neck of the woods for a flower. It comes up in the spring and is like a very small violet. Mom could be using this, or not…..
Johnny JumpUps are small flowers of the pansy family, smaller than the pad of your thumb. Upper petals are yellow, and lower ones are purple. There’s one that is all purple, and it has another name.
Over the years I’ve known people who have entered the workforce with names such as Bobby, Tommy and Kathy…and after several years on the job, they one day start insisting that we call them Robert, Tom and Kathryn.
Makes me glad that my mother insisted we not use nicknames…
My mum used to call my Pop “Johnny.” And also, Pop gave Mum the picture of him with a navy sailor and wrote “To the one I love, Johnny” What was wrong with that? :-)
Buzz Dog Said- ‘Over the years I’ve known people who have entered the workforce with names such as Bobby, Tommy and Kathy…and after several years on the job, they one day start insisting that we call them Robert, Tom and Kathryn.’
A young lady I knew back in the day (when young ladies had any use for me) was actually named Kathy, right on her birth certificate. She had a blank of a time all through school from teachers that didn’t believe her, and wanted to ‘correct’ her records.
My mum used to call my Pop “Johnny.” And also, Pop gave Mum the picture of him with a navy sailor and wrote “To the one I love, Johnny” What was wrong with that? :-)
Nothing at all, Wildmustang, if that’s what he actually preferred to be called. Most men, however, outgrow the nicknames of childhood when they become adults, and they consider it an insult to use those names once they’ve outgrown them.
John sees “Johnny” and even worse, “Johnny Jump-Up” as insulting because his mother is in essence treating him like a little boy instead of like the grown man that he actually is. Moreover, he sees it as undermining his authority over Michael because she’s not treating John as an adult in front of Michael. That’s the reason for John’s dirty look in the last panel.
legaleagle48 over 13 years ago
It’s called payback, John. Someday you’ll get to humiliate Michael and Elizabeth in a similar fashion.
And yes, Michael, if you value your life, you will never, ever reveal this information to another living soul – in fact, you might do well to forget that your grandmother even mentioned it!
pouncingtiger over 13 years ago
John scares him with his evil eye stare.
WebSpider over 13 years ago
Remember, Johnny recalls all the ways that grandma and grandpa used to punish him for being bad when he was a kid, so there is an archive of punishments available should Michael’s lip slip…
lightenup Premium Member over 13 years ago
Where is that darned airport anyway?!!? (Johnny Jump-up! LOL!!)
Dkram over 13 years ago
Eyes on the road, Johnny jump up.
\\//_
Zanere over 13 years ago
smart kid, catches on fast
collieflower over 13 years ago
My son’s name is Shaun, and his dad used to call him “Shauner”–until one day in front of his friends he mutterted-“forget the ‘er’, Dad” –ah-childhood is so fleeting!
Allan CB Premium Member over 13 years ago
Doc Toon oh, please, share the diddy with us here!
collie - out of the mouth of babes eh? :D
my first name is “Brad” and my nickname was always “Brat” :(
My sister’s name is Carrie and she was just “idiot” to me. L
summerdog86 over 13 years ago
Just a bit for those who don’t know it….
“Johnny Jump Up” is the name around my neck of the woods for a flower. It comes up in the spring and is like a very small violet. Mom could be using this, or not…..
SillyStuff over 13 years ago
Johnny JumpUps are small flowers of the pansy family, smaller than the pad of your thumb. Upper petals are yellow, and lower ones are purple. There’s one that is all purple, and it has another name.
BuzzDog over 13 years ago
Over the years I’ve known people who have entered the workforce with names such as Bobby, Tommy and Kathy…and after several years on the job, they one day start insisting that we call them Robert, Tom and Kathryn.
Makes me glad that my mother insisted we not use nicknames…
annamargaret1866 over 13 years ago
To hold over my daughter’s head, there’s the tale of the dog house.
Wildmustang1262 over 13 years ago
My mum used to call my Pop “Johnny.” And also, Pop gave Mum the picture of him with a navy sailor and wrote “To the one I love, Johnny” What was wrong with that? :-)
Seed_drill over 13 years ago
Johnny Jump-Up? Does that mean he was a little pansy?
summerdog86 over 13 years ago
Good one, seed-drill.
Gretchen's Mom over 13 years ago
Poor Michael! Dad’s evil eye stare is scaring *me* a little bit too!
andymeijers over 13 years ago
Buzz Dog Said- ‘Over the years I’ve known people who have entered the workforce with names such as Bobby, Tommy and Kathy…and after several years on the job, they one day start insisting that we call them Robert, Tom and Kathryn.’ A young lady I knew back in the day (when young ladies had any use for me) was actually named Kathy, right on her birth certificate. She had a blank of a time all through school from teachers that didn’t believe her, and wanted to ‘correct’ her records.
legaleagle48 over 13 years ago
Wildmustang1262 said, about 9 hours ago
My mum used to call my Pop “Johnny.” And also, Pop gave Mum the picture of him with a navy sailor and wrote “To the one I love, Johnny” What was wrong with that? :-)
Nothing at all, Wildmustang, if that’s what he actually preferred to be called. Most men, however, outgrow the nicknames of childhood when they become adults, and they consider it an insult to use those names once they’ve outgrown them.
John sees “Johnny” and even worse, “Johnny Jump-Up” as insulting because his mother is in essence treating him like a little boy instead of like the grown man that he actually is. Moreover, he sees it as undermining his authority over Michael because she’s not treating John as an adult in front of Michael. That’s the reason for John’s dirty look in the last panel.