For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for November 17, 2022

you’re doomed, Michael

You know, I’m usually not into addressing the strip’s characters as if they could hear me… but for PETE’S SAKE, Michael!

They like her! They really LIKE her!!!

OK, Michael, this one’s a keeper (if she’ll put up with you).

Honestly I don’t like Michael, but at least he changed for the better

Panel 2: “Eat these two plates, Rhetta!” ….. “I will CUT you, mister!”

Typical teenage boy…awkward in every way.

The window treatments are embarrassing enough.

Even April is on her best behavior.

Maybe miracles DO happen!!

“We’ll, sometimes they can behave for company.”

Panel 1: Elizabeth is eating a Tootsie Pop. April the toddler gets one whole side of the table to herself, which is not unusual, since it’s the short end of the table, and the high chair is scootched over close to Elly. Panel 2: John thinks that Rhetta eats like a pig, and therefore fits in just fine with the Patterfoob Collective… So he’s trying to give her two plates at once. Rhetta refuses, playfully brandishing her dinner knife, and says she has to watch her girlish figure. Elly is amused and doesn’t think so. April is astonished at how she is going to look in 15 years. Panel 3: Rhetta doesn’t realize that there are still other people sitting at the table within earshot. Meanwhile, a gray shadowy demon begins to materialize in the kitchen… Panel 4: Saint Michael has a weird-shaped head, no matter what angle you view it from…

he cant talk to his friends about how bad and goofy his parents are if they aren’t goofy

I feel bad for the real life son. How was he to know what girls were interested in him and not trying to get their hands into Lynn Johnston’s deep pockets?

Well, so far so good. Now it’s time for talking. …popcorn anyone?

I’ll say this for Michael at least he’s working

Ah Michael, when will you learn, parent are the masters at getting teenagers to embarrasses themselves.

At least John put a shirt on.

How dare they act NORMAL.

Not a fan of him putting his mom down like she’s a slug because she didn’t finish school. A lot of people do their very best with what life handed them, and he comes from a pretty great family. Quirky at times, absolutely – but whose family isn’t?? Get over yourself, Michael!!

I am sure Mike’s parents feel the same about her, too…

Sounds a lot like another FBOFW strip, where Michael had a party and invited everyone in his class, boy and girl. As the guests were coming he figured that his family was going to act like buffoons. In actuality, Elizabeth had been confined to her room as her parents had no patience for her giddiness. A couple of girls come in. John answers the door.

John: “Good evening girls; my don’t you look nice. Let me get your coats and just go on in.”

Girl: “Michael, your parents are so nice.”

Michael: “Yeah, I wish they wouldn’t embarrass me like that.”

Girl gives herself a look as in "I didn’t expect that remark

Things were going great until Elly tried Cherries Jubilee for dessert

At least they came up to scratch when needed.

It’s more like real life, kiddo. My late loving wife and I used to always get great compliments on our Son, how helpful he was and things like that. BUT he never did any of that at home. And since he moved back in with me after his Grandmother died, he still doesn’t, which is what my late loving wife and I always expected. Not alone and so alone at the same time.

Wait until the 2nd bottle of cabernet.

My kids used to love to invite people over because they knew we would make them welcome. Now they are middle aged and we never see them or hear from them, with the exception of one daughter.

This would be so lovely. My parents would fight like normal when I brought a friend for dinner or someone I was dating.

I noticed that John changed clothes.

Maybe you should’ve kept your mouth shut, Mike.

Dessert hasn’t come yet.

They put Rhetta right next to April. While that is a seating etiquette faux pas, you know that this is just another test of Elly to see how Rhetta can handle being around kids.

Shure needed that

Michael thoughts are getting obnoxious now. He better start mending those.

I had a grandmother who never went out of her way to intentionally embarrass me, but it seemed she embarrassed me in front of others just by being who she was. She had a heavy Scandanavian accent, which others outside of the family found amusing. Some kids went so far as to say I was “not really American” on account of who she was. My peers had a laugh at me when she showed up to my high school graduation. Several years later, when I saw her on her deathbed, I sure was not thinking about the so-called importance of friends. I was happy for the time we spent together.

How did they embarrass you by acting normal?