Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for June 23, 2021

A six-year old strolling along the side of the road to get to town. That would be a child neglect/endangerment charge today.

And dad comes in saying, “Walking builds character!”

It’s just a good stretch of the legs…..

now what do you want done in town, Calvin?

My first question would be, “Why do you need to go to town?”

It must be a small town where the suburbs are less than a mile from town.

“Why do you think people have feet?”

When I was Calvin’s age (six), I knew where everything was within five miles of home. And we lived in a city of 2 millions, but that was in the early 60s, and kids went everywhere then, as long as we were home by dinnertime.

Our system of roads has been criticized as chopping up all space so as to make walking inconvenient and not entirely safe. It stuck me on a visit to Germany, what we think of as ‘alley’ is where the sidewalks and fronts of houses are.

Mom, you had to ask…

Is there no wonder as to why ’Calivin’s’ Mom is already starting to get grey hair ???

Panel 5: Calvin hot-foots it outta there!

If I can go by television shows in the late 50’s and early 60’s young kids like Little Timmy of Lassie, Beaver Cleaver, or Dennis the Menace were allowed to walk all around town by themselves without their parents worry except that they should be home by supper, but I didn’t know that in 1986 when this Calvin was published that Calvin’s mother would likewise not worry about strangers carrying candy.

err… well, he’s not wrong.

Mom’s already been to town. She’s putting away the groceries.

Good answer, good answer.

If “To work the gas pedal” is up there you’ll win the game.

Show me “To work the gas pedal”…

DING

(cue the music)

Great, Calvin…instead of going to town, you are heading to your room instead!

Why would Calvin’s mother even think about letting Calvin go to town by himself, given his ability to get into, shall we say, adverse situations?

How can Calvin work the gas pedal when he is siting as a passenger?

My first question would be, “Why, what do you need?”

They’re also to pedal your bike, Calvin. Now, off with you!

If I didn’t know that the strip began in the 1980s, I’d say that this one dates it back to the 60s.

Why should I drive you, Calvin? Especially since – if you noticed – I just got back from the store…

He probably wants to stop by the Army Surplus Store to see if flame throwers are back in stock…

At the age of 6 in 1958 I was allowed to wander the block. that block was just under 900 feet long in the City of Toronto. That was far enough then.

My Mom’d say, ‘Walk, and don’t come home ‘til the street lights come on..’

… and, hopefully, the brake.

If you’ve ever read “The Ransom of Red Chief” you may understand why Calvin’s mother is not concerned with him going to town by himself.

OK; sorry for asking. I’ll either hop a train or hitchhike.

Calvin is like my kids when they ask me to drop everything to get them an object that’s two steps away.

Careful, Calvin – her foot is dangerously close to your mouth.

I bet Calvin would be anti-mask if he was in current times.

Well mom you used your car to drive to get grocery’s food.

…and occasionally the brake.

Nowadays, it is not only unsafe for a young kid to walk far by him/herself, but I wouldn’t want them to be walking around in town by themselves, either.

Where was that little feet when dads car veered into the street, with Calvin in driver seat.

Don’t get grounded, Calvin!

A better question would be “Why do you want to go into town?”

Wait a minute, didn’t the original script say “why do you think God gave you two feet?”