For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for June 20, 2024

Sponge baths may be better, for awhile…

This is the comic strip that actually was the master stroke of this story. It is possible to assume that April was simply a normal clingy child or an annoying younger sister invading Elizabeth’s room (as many people have told me over and over the last two weeks); but when this particular comic strip came out, it turned that belief on its ear. This the first time we have seen John alone with April in the dailies since she nearly died. There were a couple of Sundays, but they don’t count. This association cannot be by mistake. April is scared of the water, but she is also scared of her father. This comic strip has to be a lead-in to a reconciliation between the two characters, which I am going to guess is coming tomorrow.

My money is on the idea that 2 months have passed since the Farley death story and by this point Lynn got feedback from her readers wondering why so much guilt was laid on April right after she nearly died instead of giving her some comfort. The readers in 1995 would have none of it and I believe this storyline is Lynn Johnston’s response to that reaction.

Once again, arms and legs not where they should be when running.

A shower will be fine.

Aypo’s no longer saying saying ‘baf’. She still has to work on her ‘wanna’…..

That’s a LOT of water in the tub for such a little girl. My mother used to only put about 3 inches of water in the tub. Maybe it was being cheap, but I think it was because she felt it was enough to wash, not enough to fool around/play in the water, and low risk of drowning. Maybe they could try April showering. Now that’s it’s summer, can she have a little wading pool in the back yard? That might help. (Water up to ankles only). I had one of those in 1960.

Don’t blame her.

Oh, no… She’s hydrophobic!

Go with the hose in the back yard and make it a game.

Doubt that the river had much to do with this.

Fair enough!

Oh dear :(

Put the rubber ducky in first…

Just put a bit of water in the tub with bubbles, soothing music, stay with her, make it quick.

Learning from your mistakes – especially the near fatal ones – is an excellent survival instinct. Pushed to far it can become a phobia – but it keeps you alive.

You need a bath, though, April. Or would you prefer a shower?

Connie is now the first person outside of the Patterson family to know about April and the ravine, but notice no mention of Farley.

Young children are bastions of filth.

How about swimming lessons …

oooh boy, I guess we’re circling back to Farley huh.

Take her to a child physiologist!!

My what a rip-roaringly funny punchline.

We had a toddler who fell in the tub and was scared of water after that. What cured it was putting her favorite toys in the tub—but with no water. Lowered her in there, got the expected shriek of fear, and then, wait—this is okay, this is fun! as he played with the toys with her. After that she never showed fear of the tub again (and my husband was a genius for figuring out what to do.)

This is one of the comics that really shows the mistake Lynn used to make in her cartoons. She draws people running where they have the leg and the arm on the same side forward or backward at the same time. If you ever notice, peoples forward or backward limbs are always on opposite sides. For instance, if the right arm is forward, then the left leg will be forward at the same time.

For years I wondered why those panels showing people running looked funny, then it finally dawned on me.

And April would have drowned had it not been for Farley!

Just hose her off in the back yard

Pen-is-headed Farley killer!

Pen-is-headed Farley killer!

And I suppose that’s why YOU’RE out jogging with Connie instead of taking care of your child, right Elly!?

Okay, we finally got down to the psychological nitty gritty.

And Elly and Connie actually look like athletes instead of out of shape middle aged gaspers.