“Don’t mock my smock, or I’ll clean your clock.” I will pray for an opportunity to insert this very useful quip into a conversation. Actually, my mother sent me to kindergarten with one of my dad’s old faded Hawaiian shirts to use when fingerpainting, decorating ginger bread houses, or any other potentially messy activity that would ruin the beautiful clothes she made for me. I distinctly remember my teacher’s expression — a look that said, “Hmm, what an interesting mom.”
Flashback to kindergarten and first grade when we were given a supply list for art class. The list said “smock”, but rather than get me a smock my size Mom just sent me with one of my dad’s work shirts. He was obese before it was common (this was the early 60s). The kids laughed their heads off as the shirt reached nearly to my ankles.
Memory: when the art teacher announced that we would be painting & would need “smocks”, going to my mom. My dad was a foreman at a woodshop, so he had a number of button-down shirts that he wore to work & one of those would always suffice.
I still have photos of my two older sons using a couple of my short-sleeved fatigue shirts (I had just gotten out of the Air Force), as painter’s smocks. They were 3 or 4 years old at the the time. 40 years later, one of them still wears my field jacket.
True (short) story: I grew up in a city/neighborhood in Cincinnati within walking distance of the factory that made Play-Doh. There was a large section of woods between my neighborhood and the factory, and one time the word spread that they had “dumped” a large pile of experimental Play-Doh product in the woods. All the neighborhood kids took off with their buckets and red wagons and hit the woods – true, a pile of Play-Doh in clear plastic tubes about the size of toothpaste tubes in the woods. It was Christmas for us kids. I brought home a wagon load of it.
If Calvin was a child today, he would be playing video games all day and we wouldn’t be enlightened about such wonderful things at the outdoors and modeling clay and all the fun stuff you were allowed to do back then (without the benefit of the computer).
BE THIS GUY over 2 years ago
The dry cleaners can probably get it out.
Charles Barr Premium Member over 2 years ago
Better hope dad doesn’t have an important meeting with the boss today.
Sugar Bombs 95 over 2 years ago
The best part is the third panel. It’s rare to see Hobbes yelling at Calvin like that unless Calvin yelled first.
codycab over 2 years ago
Hobbes, your “Calvin” is showing.
C over 2 years ago
Well suited
old_geek over 2 years ago
Smock Schmock
Concretionist over 2 years ago
One of by absolutely favorite arcs. I hope this one gets to the “Smock, smock, smock” scene.
Ivy Valory Premium Member over 2 years ago
“Don’t mock my smock, or I’ll clean your clock.” I will pray for an opportunity to insert this very useful quip into a conversation. Actually, my mother sent me to kindergarten with one of my dad’s old faded Hawaiian shirts to use when fingerpainting, decorating ginger bread houses, or any other potentially messy activity that would ruin the beautiful clothes she made for me. I distinctly remember my teacher’s expression — a look that said, “Hmm, what an interesting mom.”
enigmamz over 2 years ago
What a fun world to say! Smock, smock, smock, smock, SMOCK!!!
rshive over 2 years ago
Cleanliness is next to smocklessness.
adunano367 over 2 years ago
I think it should say; “I’m naked under this”.
scote1379 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Seamed like a good idea at the time !
hariseldon59 over 2 years ago
I’d love to see this from the parents’ perspective, with the toy Hobbes dressed in Dad’s shirt.
orinoco womble over 2 years ago
Flashback to kindergarten and first grade when we were given a supply list for art class. The list said “smock”, but rather than get me a smock my size Mom just sent me with one of my dad’s work shirts. He was obese before it was common (this was the early 60s). The kids laughed their heads off as the shirt reached nearly to my ankles.
Susan00100 over 2 years ago
When my father got his shirts from the cleaners, there would be cardboard in the back.
And I usually removed it to have something to draw on!!
Wren Fahel over 2 years ago
Memory: when the art teacher announced that we would be painting & would need “smocks”, going to my mom. My dad was a foreman at a woodshop, so he had a number of button-down shirts that he wore to work & one of those would always suffice.
jagedlo over 2 years ago
I just think that Hobbes is making a smockery of everything!
Longplay Premium Member over 2 years ago
I’ll bet Hobbes gets the blame for this one, rightly so!
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 2 years ago
I suspect someone is likely to get a smack for that smock. A clean clock is likely in somebodies’ immediate future.
Redd Panda over 2 years ago
’’I’ll be Mister Smock and you can be Captain Jirk’’
nathan.sheriff3 over 2 years ago
I cannot wait to see how this turns out.
John Leonard Premium Member over 2 years ago
I still have photos of my two older sons using a couple of my short-sleeved fatigue shirts (I had just gotten out of the Air Force), as painter’s smocks. They were 3 or 4 years old at the the time. 40 years later, one of them still wears my field jacket.
dv1093 over 2 years ago
True (short) story: I grew up in a city/neighborhood in Cincinnati within walking distance of the factory that made Play-Doh. There was a large section of woods between my neighborhood and the factory, and one time the word spread that they had “dumped” a large pile of experimental Play-Doh product in the woods. All the neighborhood kids took off with their buckets and red wagons and hit the woods – true, a pile of Play-Doh in clear plastic tubes about the size of toothpaste tubes in the woods. It was Christmas for us kids. I brought home a wagon load of it.
I'm Sad over 2 years ago
If Calvin was a child today, he would be playing video games all day and we wouldn’t be enlightened about such wonderful things at the outdoors and modeling clay and all the fun stuff you were allowed to do back then (without the benefit of the computer).
Dr. Quatermass over 2 years ago
Wasn’t it Steve Allen who used to say, “Smock! Smock!”? BTW, it appears that Calvin’s dad has his suit color designed by Sloan Wilson.
sando33 over 2 years ago
It would be cheaper to buy a new shirt. I image dad doesn’t get high end shirts because of the bills Calvin icur’s.
g04922 over 2 years ago
Love Calvin’s imaginary Hobbes….
ChessPirate over 2 years ago
“You make schlock out of my frock and your allowance I’ll dock!”
mistercatworks over 2 years ago
I bet his hero is “Mr. Smock”. :)
mindjob over 2 years ago
Dad may have lost a dress shirt but Hobbes gained a halloween costume
KEA over 2 years ago
this will end badly
AlienHillbilly over 2 years ago
Calvin is ever the philosopher- like Plado, who was an Ancient Greek philosopher who used to model his thoughts in clay ….
Raelyn Chen over 2 years ago
I have another account.
wiley207 over 2 years ago
I like how childish Hobbes gets in the third panel.
Will_Scarlet over 2 years ago
“Clean your clock?” What a crock. I just don’t grok this kind of talk. They should put that smock in hock.
Seriously, the smock rocks.
StevePappas over 2 years ago
Funny.
JM117 over 2 years ago
DontKnockMySmock.com , for all your not-knocking-smocks needs.
iswinbumson over 2 years ago
i have honestly read that comic so many times that the word smock is stuck in my head
edeloriea14 over 2 years ago
There have been rattier clothes that make better smocks.
Wise-Cracking Amelia over 2 years ago
I love Hobbes saying that last sentence. Adorable and hilarious!