For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for July 21, 2022

In America, we call that sibling hood

Sisters don’t count as girls you have to be nice to, didn’t you know that? My brother and I were just like this. And look at Luann and Brad in the early years.

That’s the hint right there, Mike. Just look at yourself.

I believe here is one difference between Mike and his sister and Lorne and his sister. I’ll bet anything that Lizard Breath is NOT going to put up with this. There is going to be pay back.

I hope by week’s end, Mike will learn the truth about the relationship between Lorne and Rhetta—that they’re brother and sister.

BTW, ordinarily I’d be PO’d at Mike for yelling at Liz like that, but in this case, there is some justification. She shouldn’t be eavesdropping.

He just doesn’t get it.

I guess there are no smart phones in the Patterfoob house… just an ancient land line..

The forest hides the trees.

siblings…

Clue, Michael, clue!

I remember this particular ep from back in the day!

Hah! Exactly that kind! :-D

I wonder…

Gee. Is Lynn giving Michael a hint there, with a little smile on her face as she draws?

Just a couple of more days Michael and you will know what the rest of us already know. It’s her brother. Quit been goo goo eyed from a far and talk to the girl for heavens sake.

Familiar?

Lizardbreath. I always pictured a lot of guys with sisters named Elizabeth saying “I wish I’d thought of that.”

“Lizard breath” is not an insult I would have chosen for my sister

Mike apparently knows his sister well.

If Michael and Lorne are brothers as yesterday’s strip suggested, then Michael better stay away. If Michael married Rhetta then they would have retarded children. Sure hope Elizabeth goes into special ed for teaching.

Talk about clueless

I think it’s a bad idea to have a relationship with a person who is abusive in any aspect of their life.

Mike answers his own question and does’t even know it.

Here in the states “that other line” would be an entirely different phone number and she wouldn’t be hearing Mike.

Now think Mike what you just did.

Hmm, a clue falls into place. . . .

Sooooo, Michael, if you talk to your sister like that maybe you should also wonder precisely what relationship that guy is to her.

In the mid 60’s we had a party line in Flagstaff AZ. I was really young so didn’t really know how it worked. But apparently when someone called the landline to your house your phone would ring but anyone on the block who just happened to pick up their phone could eavesdrop on the conversation while the line was live.

It was customary for Michael and Elizabeth to fight. Remember the one with the transmogrifier gun?

Michael the Pterodactyal: “So you were supposed to turn me into a pterodacytl. Pterodacyls are big!”

Elizabeth the Duck: “And you retaliate by turning me into a duck?”

Michael the Pterodactyal: “Fair’s fair.”

Elizabeth the Duck: “In that case, I will use this transmogrifier and fix you up just right.”

Michael is now a pig

Michael the Pig: “Why you, gimme that gun!”

Elizabeth is nw a rhinocerous

Elizabeth the Rhino: “An insult! This is even worse than before!”

Elizabeth turns Michael into a crocodile

Michael turns Elizabeth into a flower

Elizabeth turns Michael into an armadillo

MUCH LATER…There is a monster and an owl sitting backs to each other

Owl: “Great, just great. Which one of us is Elizabeth and which one of us is Michael now??”

Monster: “Well, I hope Elizabeth is you, because her mom’s going to have a fit when she sees this.”

Poor Johnnyrico. Everything must be tailored to his preferences so he can remain ignorant.