Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson for July 16, 2021

Ernesto, you just won’t take “no thank you” nor “imaginary” from Petey seriously.

My mind is a blank page.

I’m thinkin’, Ernesto wearin’ that boater believes he’s just gonna be taken as one of the guys. Well, that’s not happening… And Petey, go ahead and buy that napkin. If you wind up with something in your hand and your 12 cents hasn’t hit the sidewalk, you can rest assured that Ernesto is indeed, the real deal.

Only Petey would dread imaginary people reading his mind!

You’re just imagining what he’s thinking, Ernesto.

Only our imaginary friends can read our minds.

What a tale his thoughts would tell.

Missing the fun and frolic is exactly what Petey wants ;)

Did he say Fun and Frolic? Gasp! I want some of that!

Ketchup? Yech!

i’m sure his mom will give him the money he needs to purchase the ticket. she wants him to become more involved with people and events.

Ernesto: The nerve of that guy…

Snuffleupagus: I know, right?

Ernesto’s pork-pie hat makes this strip that much better.

If he’s imaginary, he’s not “reading” your mind, he is your mind.

Buy the napkin. A valuable collectible some day.

Headed home to start on another shoebox diorama.

Ernesto is imaginary and a mind-reading pest. Could he possibly be worse?!

Hang on to your 12 cents, Petey!