Pickles by Brian Crane for February 17, 2025

Pencils can be unsanitary. Avoid those No.2 pencils, especially.

Yes, get the lead out, Earl!

doodle brain

trying to write what’s on your mind?

The salt from the mucus will counter act the graphite and taste like licorice

That’s why you stick to your own supply

Having Earl’s spit up Nelson’s nose probably isn’t a good idea, either.

Just gross…

As long as Nelson has his own pencil, it’s snot a problem for Earl.

Well, that’s just pen-cilly.

Strange conversations between grandpa and grandson!

“As long as you didn’t get it stuck in your eye, son…”

I had some pencils once, and the brand name printed on them was Trusty. Yes, they were #2 pencils.

It’s an oral fixation.

Just Nelson trying to erase some boogers!

I love the old No. 2 pencils too, but it’s hard to clean my monitor after doing the crossword puzzle.

Something about using a pocketknife to sharpen them. Which was ok, even in elementary school, in the fifties.

Sounds like Nelson’s definitely related to Earl.

Oh, ick, Nelson.

Cedar Key, FL used to be a major source of pencils. Now they specialize in raising clams.

Good one Earl…….

I still remember the ‘Hot Dog’ episode where they explained how pencils are made. neat.

Before or after?

NASTY.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

never used a pencil as a nose picker

made for decent drumsticks though

First grade I was a white paste addict.

Come to think of it, there was one that tasted way too salty. Do you know that pencils are painted yellow to indicate luxury, to advertise the quality of the graphite, and to connect the pencil to Chinese royalty, which seems raciest, now that I think about it?

Every kid does it, it seems; my sons & their noses:

Never use a kid’s pencil without washing your hands immediately after.

If he chewed on that pencil, then he got the “Boogie Fever”!

eraser end in, I hope!