Baby Blues by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott for January 16, 2024

Hammie don’t throw your friend under the bus. Nobody likes a rat.

I forsee a Calvin-and-Suzie-in-the-principal’s-office conflict arc. But, Hammie… You get what you pay for.

Some friend.

Yes! Spitwad, not spitball..

I’m seriously starting to wonder about Hammie. He’s starting to look as dumb as a box of rocks.

Menace.

“The Fugitive” TV show comes to mind, but the real guilty one here has 2 arms!

I remember in elementary school being hauled off to the Principal’s office with some of my other class mates for something they had did when I had been out sick. I guess I was just one of the usual suspects. Never got the apology from anyone when they realized their mistake, but it didn’t matter. For some reason I always felt a bit of pride that it had happened at all. Still do for that matter.

Saw that coming.

The way to Kansas City? (Apologies to Van Morrison.)

Framed!

Hammie, today’s word of the day is “Scapegoat”! :D

Guilty by association.

And it wasn’t even a short straw!

But… but… but you WERE thinking about doing it, Hammie!

His reputation precedes him.

Trent you sneak!

Hammie, “I’m innocent. Check my straw as it’s dry.”

Yep, it’s always the good kid who tries something once who gets caught. Or in Hammie’s case, the kid who hasn’t done THAT yet.

Unfortunately, due to prior mischievousness, nobody will believe Hammie is innocent.

Possession is 9/10th’s of the Law!

Hammie will wilt under the bright light in the principal’s office and rat out his friend.

When the one who claims to be innocent is the one who did the crime, it is OK to throw him under the bus.

Reminded me the time in school when a teacher was giving her lesson ( I was comfortably reading a comic book) when my friend next to me yell Shut Up you F… B! I was like What???? the teacher pointed at him (or so I thought) and said You!! Out of the class! as he started to get up she said not you , and then points at me and said you! and I was like what? why me? and I had to go out of class ….

It’s nothing but a “Witch Hunt!”

The only one being more shameful than Hammie is the teacher’s pet. XD

Eww, what an unpleasantly accurate drawing of a spit wad.

In first grade a boy was whistling in class. I did not know how but desperately wanted to. I pursed my lips and tried but nothing. Except the teacher thought it was me. How do you prove you can’t whistle?

Rat him out, Hammie. Nobody’s gonna believe you and you intended to do it but you’re a goner either way.

Still remember an important life lesson from 3rd grade, the guy instigated a behavior and I joined in and then he raised his hand and told on me, loudly, in front of the whole class. Never trust anyone until you know them well.

Hey, I’m a victim of coicomstance, nyuk , nyuk, nyuk.

I do not remember what the crime was, it may even have been that of launching a spitball. Nonetheless my Uncle Junior Green did it. The teacher announced that the entire class would be punished unless the guilty one confessed, Uncle Junior said, “Well no reason everyone should suffer. I’ll just say I did it, teacher.”

The teacher said, “No, Junior. I know you didn’t do it. You can go out and play — but the rest of the class is going to be punished.”

They were mad at him years later even if they hid it well by laughing.

Naw. Your guilty kid……

I like his impression of an outboard motor

Poor Hammie, in trouble even when he didn’t do anything, of course the intent was there.

We never threw spit wads in elementary school class (I was raised overseas). At worst, we threw pieces of chalk in high school or bent, rolled-up pieces of paper with a rubber band. American kids can be so yucky. :P

Hammie should not take the blame or punishment for what his “friend” did. He would not be a “rat.” The real “rat” is Trent. Hammie needs to find find other friends.

I’m sorry, you guys. But this really ticks me off!

Hammie is a victim of circumstance.