For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for October 31, 2024

Dr. Dracula

Gotta wonder—tomorrow at school, will Candace brag about the great time she had at the dance with Anthony??

Remember in FREAKS AND GEEKS when the father wore a vampire costume to the door? (Joe Flaherty got to redo his Count Floyd from SCTV!)

That was the Halloween episode where everything went wrong! The girl’s mother got her a princess costume to wear but it turned out to be a prince costume, which was actually a bit cool…

Now she’ll have to go to the dance just so she can tell everybody what a dork her father is…and how embarrassing.

Sometimes teens just don’t know how to have fun!

When I was a MUCH younger man, we used to trick or treat. Up the street from us was a dentist. He used to hand out mini toothbrushes and toothpastes. We loved them. When he stopped (guess he retired and didn’t get samples anymore) we were devastated we only got candy. We WANTED the toothpaste and toothbrushes. Across the street was Mr. Grig. We were children, he was around 60 and every child liked going over to talk to him and his wife. At Hallowe’en he would hand out candies and Chick Tracts (look ‘em up). He was a Baptist, and would give these out, hoping to help us. We thought they were little coloring books, and loved them. He was missed when he passed by EVERYONE.

He doesn’t look dead enough. Maybe she should bust a 90 lb. sacka flour upside his head

Halloween sponsored by the American Dental Association.

I wonder if John can pull off the same trick as Arlo in today’s Arlo and Janis.

But it’s Halloween! You used to love to dress up in costumes! What changed?

I’m with Dad on this one. Some kind of costume was required! Heck, our dog had a “ruff-eree” shirt – she loved waiting at the door for the next bunch of kids.

Looks like Elizabeth hasn’t discovered cosplay yet. Got to admit, going to a renaissance fair dressed as a peasant is a lot of fun!

Imagine if Elizabeth goes to the party and she’s the only one not in costume.

It’s official now, folks. Jon is a dork, a Dorkter of Dental Surgery to be precise.

Nothing new here as teenagers always think of their dads as dorky.

She seems to have survived the loss of Anthony well. It was her idea, after all.

Ooga Farley!

Booga Farley!

Googa Farley!

Rooga Farley!

Elizabeth has the right idea. Good that there is at least one teenage girl who is not looking like a prostitute during Halloween.

It’s nice when an idiot comes in right on cue.

Words of wisdom from a teenager!

John, obviously.

raises hand I want to walk around looking like a total dork. Today is the one day a year I can really be myself. :-)

I’m wearing a costume right now. Anyone else?

If that is her father, THE DENTIST, how successful would be his practice if the dentist is seen losing all his teeth except for the incisors?

“Mom, dad, guess who I seen with bad teeth when I went Trick or Treating at the dentist’s house!”

Anybody remember Vampire Blood makeup? It was sold in tubes and looked like the real thing. It got pulled when it was found to be carcinogenic

Asked and answered.

Elizabeth sounds just like she did back when she found out she needed glasses. “Please don’t make me wear glasses! People look stoopid with glasses on!” What a drama queen.

Kids remember which houses gave out free toothbrushes instead of candy the previous year. No one’s going to be knocking at your door tonight

There was that strip in the B.A. era (Before April), where Michael could not get his Halloween costume off. He went as a bug but the face paint left his head discolored. Michael said he would be “Avacadohead” for the rest of his life!

My daughter went to the Halloween dance at her school, last year and this year. Not only did the kids wear costumes, but there were some pretty spectacular ones, and there was a contest. My daughter didn’t win despite an impressive costume of her own, but she had some pretty stiff competition.

Looks like the dentist could use some…dental care!

Awe! that’s the best part!

Has anyone ever tried offering full-sized candy bars in exchange for a donation for the food bank?

More like Dork U la ! ;-)

in the navy, we called them Tooth Fairies.

Um, for a Halloween dance? YES! No matter what stage of adolescents!

He looks like getting fat Elvis.

We’re in our 60’s and we started decorating for halloween on Oct 1st. My memories of long ago times keep the fire burning.

Good to see Dad in the Halloween spirit.

Bleh!

I remember Mike & friends going in costume to a Halloween dance, but he may have been younger than Liz is here.

Q.E.D.

The last Halloween for Joe, Hoe and Trudeau in office.

Dental scrubs vampire?

Haha… have to love John.

More than likely she doesn’t want to see you-know-who with the other you-know-who.

Happy Halloween, all!

Every parent’s goal should be to embarrass their children!

We’ve had about 200 trick-or-treaters here tonight, and a good half of them were teens! I am a-okay with that…so what if they want to hold on to one of childhood’s most cherished events a few years longer? Adulthood is bearing down on them faster than they know!As long as they put some creativity and effort into their costumes (the cosplay kids are great at this), they can still have their Reese’s…but if you come to my door in your sports uniform, you get the raisins.

Take it easy, Elly. This is Elizabeth’s first Farley-less Halloween.