For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 14, 2019

Martha’s also waiting, Mikey, to hear what intentions you have about her.

Good choice Michael. Way to young to get settled down.

Martha bears a strong resemblance to the future Meredith, Mike’s precocious daughter. Cute, blonde and wavy hair with freckles. Martha/Merry is one drawing Lynn did well. And Mike? If you want to be with Martha, you gotta tolerate the ’rents.

not a badidea Michael!!

Some dads think they’re so funny.

Mike’s got to remember the old adage: you want to get in good with the girl, get in good with her father.

Last week it was him and her at night in a boat under the stars…. Tell Papa Bear that, knock the bucket ht right off his head!

I was spending a week at our minister’s house watching the 2-year-old daughter while they moved. My boyfriend called and the minister’s wife asked to talk to him. “I’m old lady W and I want to know what your intentions are toward this girl.” He did not respond well. She told me that he wasn’t a keeper as he had no sense of humor. She was right!

Good choice, but I think Martha might prevent that.

I remember bringing a boy I liked home, and my mother telling him, “Oh…I’ve heard SO MUCH about you!” I promised my daughters that I would NEVER, EVER say that to any boy they brought home. I STILL remember how I felt, even 40 years later.

I’m surprised Martha’s not cringing in embarrassment — I would be!

Remember the big outcry after the Kemp political commercial showed him holding a gun while talking to his daughter’s boyfriend…? Now that was funny.

There is no right answer to that question. I am thinking the best you can say is that you intend to go to boating and have some fun.

Martha looks so sweet in that last panel. Her father is obviously messing with Michael.

Martha is adorable in all those panels. I like Panel One best, with that cute expression on her face.

I would be worried about being in the same boat as this joker. He isn’t driving safely and we don’t know how much boating experience he has. Has he taken any courses?

Compared to the original publication, there is an added seat belt around Fred (the father) and the place it is added looks a little like it is part of the steering wheel. Fred has an added seat belt in the first three panels, but no one else does including Michael and Martha in the back seat. When we get to the final panel and see Mike and Martha’s added seat belts, you realize they should have been added for Michael in every panel. My guess is that the car sensed Michael’s suicidal thoughts and decided to grow a seat belt around him to prevent him from throwing himself out of the moving car.

Death by embarrassment is a hard way to go.

Don’t ask questions you don’t want an answer to.

When Lynn Johnston’s son was dating, was he asked this question? Not sure if his wife’s father bothered with it. After all, Lynn Johnston’s daughter-in-law now is able to access Lynn Johnston’s moolah!

Ah, the teen years.

Bleah………………

The trouble with your first love is that it becomes your first heartbreak.

Wait. STOP! In what planet would the girlfriend not be COMPLETELY MORTIFIED after her dad asked that in front of everyone???

Mine was a shotgun wedding….Daddy showed up to make sure I didn’t back out!!!!

My intention is to stay alive. Can you keep your eyes on the road please??

Remember to tuck and roll.

That shows Lynn Johnston’s real talent; to make a drawing that actually makes a drawing of a human that appears real enough to get an emotional response.

Irrespective of the status of the relationship, at that stage of life, it seems like the inevitable response when confronted and questioned as such is panic, followed by the most rudimentary of verbal answers. Some things never change…..

Sadly, some almost 20 years ago my boss told me typing in all caps meant I was shouting. I did not know. Never, made that mistake again.