For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for November 24, 2019

an interesting bunch the Truddleys must be

Gossip Mall.

For a repartee Ellie could have said…‘yes, and I can’t believe you’ve been retired for twenty-five years already….’…

This is why they don’t pop up all the time

The Truddleys knows how to have fun.

Despite the Truddleys (a minor anagram on Lynn’s part?), I have to LOVE that coffee shop’s name… :-P

What was that song by the OJays…. The Backstabbers??

I think the Truddleys handled it very well. They didn’t walk up to Ellie and say congratulations or ask if she’s pregnant. If you’re not, saying either one is very deflating. Once they found out their suspicions were right, they reacted very nicely too. They didn’t say “at your age?” or “do you think that’s fair to your other two to disrupt the household?” Both of those opinions are upsetting and serve no purpose for the mother to be who’s happy and excited.

The Truddley’s need to get a life.

That was pretty smooth. The timing on the back end may have been a bit off, but still, well played Turddleys. (yeah)

“Neighbor, Neighbor don’t worry what goes on in my house” – Jimmy Hughes, 1966. Smart man, that Jimmy Hughes…..

There is nothing romantic about a baby. What an odd thing to say. The sex that caused the pregnancy may have been romantic, but not the results.

And for all Elly knows, that “Pay up” comment could have related to an entirely different matter. We readers know better, but Elly wouldn’t.

The buck teeth on the youngest Truddley is Lynn Johnston’s usual giveaway of how she wants the readers to consider these characters. This is their first and only appearance in the comic strip. It is also the first appearance of pregnant Elly in the Sunday comic strips.