Arlo: It's Gus!
Arlo: Hi, Gus.
Gus: Arlo, I need to know something, and I need to know soon!
Arlo: Well, I'll tell you what I can, Gus!
Gus: You want this old sailboat of mine or not?
hmmm,could be many things. Gene was living on the boat when working at the restaurant so maybe he won’t be living there any more. we never hear if the farm house was repaired and they were all living there. Gus was worried because of the economy so maybe he needs the cash for the boat. i surprised Janis hasn’t just called MaryLou to get the 411 but JJ want’s to keep the suspense going. hopefully the Big Reveal will be worth the wait.
If Janis called Mary Lou, to my mind, then she WOULD be meddling.That crosses the line…I give her credit for not even really pumping her own son for information, beyond a few basic questions.Gene is an adult now…. calling his fiance to ask about their relationship is not his mother’s prerogative.Even calling about the weather or a shoe sale, obviously in hopes something else might be said, would seem sneaky or underhanded to both young people.
I think Gus IS worried. He wants to ask them what THEY know, cos Mary Lou is unhappy but not talking.The boat is his excuse… and maybe he thinks his daughter needs a woman to talk to.
Bet the house is livable now & Mary Lou is tired of living on the boat. Gene’s giong back to summer sessions and put the “date” off to the original plan of a Christmas wedding.. Bet ML WANTS him to finish school first
It looks like everyone else knows what’s going on..Or, Gus has an offer on the boat, but wants to give Arlo first refusal.Sigh, we will find out soon enough.
First of all, just out of curiosity…. where do you get the idea that Gene’s parents are paying his bills??He dropped out of school cos he’s working!
I don’t know how closely you pay attention to the strip, anyway, because there is no “Janet” — it’s called “Arlo and Janis .”
Even if that’s just a typo, and you’re actually a huge fan…. my goodness… what an extreme comparison.
Of course, if your neighbor, much less your son, were beating his wife and kids (or vice versa) you’d have the right to interfere, ask if she needs help or call the police. But if they seemed to have no particular problems, and then he suddenly left home for a week, you WOULDN’T call the wife and ask her whether they now have a relationship problem!Some things are everybody’s business, and some are nobody’s but those involved.Other situations require discretion to decide at what point it becomes your issue as well.Abuse or child endangerment obviously is everybody’s business.
If Gene volunteered that he and Mary Lou had split, I’d think Janis could counsel her son, tell him she’d be sad to lose his new family, and even call Mary Lou to express her regrets.But it wouldn’t be her right to insist on a certain outcome, for her own sake….and moreover, a mother needs to stay OUT of the personal part of a child’s relationship with his/her significant other.She can advise, comfort or sympathise if ASKED, but she can’t direct, demand or even pry.
Several good points have been shown here on the history of this strip. Just thought I’d add a bit more. A recurring theme of A&J has been Arlo dreaming of a sailboat. Janis even got him a small, dingy-sized sailboat as a pacifier about 10 years ago… and he actually liked it. But he’s always dreamed of a “real” sailboat, and when his kid moved into one, he saw it and almost creamed his jeans. Now that his kid is moving into a house, it is now available, and Arlo now has to make a quick decision as to whether he’s going to realize his dream. I’m looking forward to see where this storyline leads…
rusty gate over 12 years ago
Not the phone call I expected (or Arlo either I’m guessing).
Heavylift over 12 years ago
Did I miss something? Where did this come from?!?!!?
P-B over 12 years ago
Sounds like a plot device for A&J t go down and visit (and see Meg)
paultunes over 12 years ago
hmmm,could be many things. Gene was living on the boat when working at the restaurant so maybe he won’t be living there any more. we never hear if the farm house was repaired and they were all living there. Gus was worried because of the economy so maybe he needs the cash for the boat. i surprised Janis hasn’t just called MaryLou to get the 411 but JJ want’s to keep the suspense going. hopefully the Big Reveal will be worth the wait.
SusanSunshine Premium Member over 12 years ago
If Janis called Mary Lou, to my mind, then she WOULD be meddling.That crosses the line…I give her credit for not even really pumping her own son for information, beyond a few basic questions.Gene is an adult now…. calling his fiance to ask about their relationship is not his mother’s prerogative.Even calling about the weather or a shoe sale, obviously in hopes something else might be said, would seem sneaky or underhanded to both young people.
ScullyUFO over 12 years ago
Weren’t Gene and ML living on the boat? Or are they now actually living in the fixer upper?
SusanSunshine Premium Member over 12 years ago
I think Gus IS worried. He wants to ask them what THEY know, cos Mary Lou is unhappy but not talking.The boat is his excuse… and maybe he thinks his daughter needs a woman to talk to.
StoicLion1973 over 12 years ago
Now JJ is messing with us!
Varnes over 12 years ago
Nice twist! Now Janis has two things to worry about….
SeamstressfortheBand over 12 years ago
Bet the house is livable now & Mary Lou is tired of living on the boat. Gene’s giong back to summer sessions and put the “date” off to the original plan of a Christmas wedding.. Bet ML WANTS him to finish school first
GypsyWoman over 12 years ago
I agree. Gus is a good guy. I’ve always liked him. And the fact he smokes cigars just makes me smile.
unca jim over 12 years ago
Gus is Gus. He’s got a now-empty boat. It’s for sale. Arlo hasfirst dibs. The End.
finale over 12 years ago
Jump on it Arlo!
Varnes over 12 years ago
susan and comicsssfan, I agree with you guys. He’s using the boat as his excuse to talk to Arlo….
JoeStoppinghem Premium Member over 12 years ago
It looks like everyone else knows what’s going on..Or, Gus has an offer on the boat, but wants to give Arlo first refusal.Sigh, we will find out soon enough.
iced tea over 12 years ago
Will Arlo’s dream of owning a sailboat finally materialize? Stay tuned all you A&J fans….
SusanSunshine Premium Member over 12 years ago
Paul R —
First of all, just out of curiosity…. where do you get the idea that Gene’s parents are paying his bills??He dropped out of school cos he’s working!
I don’t know how closely you pay attention to the strip, anyway, because there is no “Janet” — it’s called “Arlo and Janis .”
Even if that’s just a typo, and you’re actually a huge fan…. my goodness… what an extreme comparison.
Of course, if your neighbor, much less your son, were beating his wife and kids (or vice versa) you’d have the right to interfere, ask if she needs help or call the police. But if they seemed to have no particular problems, and then he suddenly left home for a week, you WOULDN’T call the wife and ask her whether they now have a relationship problem!Some things are everybody’s business, and some are nobody’s but those involved.Other situations require discretion to decide at what point it becomes your issue as well.Abuse or child endangerment obviously is everybody’s business.
If Gene volunteered that he and Mary Lou had split, I’d think Janis could counsel her son, tell him she’d be sad to lose his new family, and even call Mary Lou to express her regrets.But it wouldn’t be her right to insist on a certain outcome, for her own sake….and moreover, a mother needs to stay OUT of the personal part of a child’s relationship with his/her significant other.She can advise, comfort or sympathise if ASKED, but she can’t direct, demand or even pry.
wild0409 over 12 years ago
Several good points have been shown here on the history of this strip. Just thought I’d add a bit more. A recurring theme of A&J has been Arlo dreaming of a sailboat. Janis even got him a small, dingy-sized sailboat as a pacifier about 10 years ago… and he actually liked it. But he’s always dreamed of a “real” sailboat, and when his kid moved into one, he saw it and almost creamed his jeans. Now that his kid is moving into a house, it is now available, and Arlo now has to make a quick decision as to whether he’s going to realize his dream. I’m looking forward to see where this storyline leads…