Peanuts by Charles Schulz for December 28, 2023

Teacher asks what book did you read, and your reply will be?

Back in class PP will holler at Marcie for not reminding her to read a book.

Marcie needs to read “Mansfield Park”, especially the part where Austen says: “There are some people that the more you do for them, the less they will do for themselves.” (And I would add, the less they will appreciate you for it.) I used to remind a certain person about things he needed to do until I realised that without my reminders he just let them slide. So I told him, “I am not your mom” and let him mess up because he “forgot” or “got busy.”

Hey P Patty, Duvall Hecht founded Books on Tape just a couple years before your current dilemma, go down to the public library and see if they have any to listen to if you have a cassette player or the library has them at your disposal.

However, the simplest solution is to go to the kid’s section of the library and find a real easy read, speed read it in the library in an hour or so and check it out. Chances are you will wait until the night before school starts again to write the report anyhow but you might be able to string something together to do better than your nominal “Z” grade. Perhaps even a D or if the teacher is kind “a gentleman’s” (or in this case “lady’s”) C-.

Catcher in the Rye, Rubyfruit Jungle and Lady Chatterley’s Lover – in ONE sitting!!

Love the references.

We didn’t have a TV until I was about 15. No, I’m not that old, we were just eccentric. In grade school, my excuse for not doing my homework was often that I had been reading something else, something more interesting.

PP is being tone-deaf to the clock ticking away on her homework assignment…

Marcie’s got it right, Patty. You’ll always have homework. I did some of mine last night. Although, when you’re older, like me, the homework you do will by choice, not direction.

And what do you tell your teacher when she asks you about your report, sir?

Death & Taxes, P Patty should read Death of a Salesman & there will be a new tax code book coming out after Jan. 1. Joe black said it & I believe it.

Death, taxes and homework.

I’m curious, maybe someone out there knows the answer. Marcie has the right attitude about school, but what kind of grades did she get? PP is a poor student, CB is average, Linus is clearly smart and well read.

True. When you’re an adult homework becomes housework

Apparently she didn’t learn from Ace obedient school.

Ah yes, I can see it now. Peppermint Patty standing in front of the class giving her book report on Mighty Mouse in Wolf Wolf, in which little Bo Peep has lost her sheep, and that leaves one of them vulnerable to a pack of hillbilly wolves. It’s Mighty Mouse to the rescue!

Maybe she’s watching a movie version of a classic book?

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do just before Senior Prom

Don’t say War and Peace, because teacher will know you’re lying

I remember how this goes… Hang up the phone, Marcie.

—and Peanuts