Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for August 18, 2011

half up front shouldn’t matter – she isn’t going anywhere in order to spend it until the night (and the payment) is complete.

Sounds like Rosalyn is afraid Calvin’s parents aren’t going to come back. If the parents don’t come back and leave Calvin with Rosayln, she should get at least the house.

Rosalyn should pay for babysitting Calvin. Such a gifted child.

When I was a kid, my baby sitters only came once. I finally convinced my parents that I was safer alone…meaning the baby sitter was safer at her home.

Well, wouldn’t it bit awkward to demand babysitting money if you just killed baby in question? So why take unnecessary risks?

@M2MM

Calvin is 6, has always been… thank heavens my six-year-old isn’t as “gifted” as Calvin!

Rosalyn not nice of course Calvin don’t like A baby sister

Smart girl…she knows what she is in for but Calvin may have met his match….lol

After the age of 8, I was the babysitter for my younger sister.

The begining of the babysitter Chronicles..\\//_

I was only asked to babysit once. Reputations do get around. Don’t remember much of that night except the liquor cabinet had a cheap lock.

Is it me, or is the art a little crude today? Is this an early strip? The copyright year looks to be 1986.

Yeah, at some point earlier in the year they jumped back 4-5 years in terms of the strip’s run. Not sure why (may be mirroring the reruns during one of Watterson’s sabbaticals).

My parents never got a baby sitter for me. They could never afford to go out!

Even a “crude” Watterson is something to admire. The man just could not draw poorly.

“We really appreciate you coming” period! :-D

I really like that demand halve up front.The movies of that time used that a lot,mobsters used it a lot if they wanted somebody’s arm broke halve up front,or somebody rubbed out halve up front.Rosalyn and Mom realize how serious baby sitting Calvin is.

“It’s what’s up front that counts!

Half?! ALL of it up front! Plus a bonus!!

I see Calvin is offering a warning flag in the form of his tongue…the game’s afoot Rosalyn….

rosalyn knew to ask for the half up front as soon as she saw his tongue sticking out…don’t worry, roz….babysitting calvin will put you through four years of university!

@ khpage and SUSAN NEWMAN—Yes, and I just love how his mother just stands there looking at him without so much as a rebuke! If I had done that as a kid, my mouth would still be tasting the soap with which it was washed out…and I’m now a grandma!

The Rosalyn saga has begun.

Yeah, Mom looks at him and lets him get away with it. But maybe it’s because she’s picking her battles.

Alyson? Who’s Alyson? The only baby-sitter I’ve ever known for Calvin was Rosalyn. But then, I haven’t been following Calvin since the beginning either so maybe I missed something?

I guess Calvin sticking out his tongue at Rosalyn is his way of “throwing down the gauntlet”.

 

Let the war games begin!

(By the way, my money’s on Rosalyn!)

 

;-)

i’ve NEVER had a baby sitter

Just never hire a woman with the name Casey Anthony to babysit.

babby sitter? thats what inlaws are for.

I chased mine around and tried to kiss them!!

My parents made it to age 9 — and that’s when I started babysitting my 2 year old brother.

@ ratlum: Precisely!! Perceptive analysis on the gravity of the moment. ‘Gonna cost ya!’ (And, as you note, Mom knows it!)