Really His Friend, But Not Really
Today’s reprint of For Better or For Worse turns out to be the one following yesterday’s reprint chronologically. In spite of the fact we have seen Lawrence standing without crutches in this new-run, Lawrence is now back in his broken leg state. Oh well, it was what I expected would happen.
The humour of the strip is one where the final panel joke depends on your surprise at seeing something different than what you expect. Michael is moping because Lawrence’s leg has made him popular. Michael declares that he is really Lawrence’s friend, and not like those people who only like him because of his broken leg. Elly gives him the straight line of how Michael likes Lawrence for more than his broken leg. At which point we expect in the final panel we are going to get some statement like:
a. Yeah – I like him because he’s funny.
b. Yeah – I like him because he likes rocks and sticks and spitting, like I do.
c. Yeah – I like him because he’s the only kid in my neighbourhood who will play with me.
d. Yeah – I like him because he’s my best friend forever.
e. Yeah – I like him because we both like sunsets.
f. Yeah – I like him because he’s gay and I think I’m going to be gay too, only I’m going to get married and have kids so people won’t know I’m gay, all except Lawrence, who will know about it, but he won’t tell, otherwise I’ll tell everyone he’s gay AND he can’t go to the washroom except in his own house.
Anyway, instead of that sappy sentimental stuff, Mike reveals he kinda likes him for his toys. We don’t get the caring response; we get the self-centered, selfish response. As we know, from Mike’s difficulties with expressing his affection for Deanna, he is probably not going say anything like “Lawrence. I love you, man.” He is most assuredly not going to say that in front of his mother. All things considered, his statement seems in character for Michael. However, because it is used as a punch line that depends on defying your expectation, it takes on an extra meaning. Poor Lawrence. The boy whom he thinks is his best friend only likes him for his toys.
I find this to be an interesting contrast with the old April Patterson / Becky McGuire feud strips. We had it pounded in that Becky would regret leaving April’s band to seek fame, because April was a true friend, and her new friends would betray her. Here, we have an opportunity for Mike to express how he is a true friend to Lawrence, and the joke is that he isn’t. For me, the best part of the strip is Elly’s gobsmacked facial expression in the final panel, which comes off as “Oh my goodness. My son is a selfish brat!”
The humour of the strip is one where the final panel joke depends on your surprise at seeing something different than what you expect. Michael is moping because Lawrence’s leg has made him popular. Michael declares that he is really Lawrence’s friend, and not like those people who only like him because of his broken leg. Elly gives him the straight line of how Michael likes Lawrence for more than his broken leg. At which point we expect in the final panel we are going to get some statement like:
a. Yeah – I like him because he’s funny.
b. Yeah – I like him because he likes rocks and sticks and spitting, like I do.
c. Yeah – I like him because he’s the only kid in my neighbourhood who will play with me.
d. Yeah – I like him because he’s my best friend forever.
e. Yeah – I like him because we both like sunsets.
f. Yeah – I like him because he’s gay and I think I’m going to be gay too, only I’m going to get married and have kids so people won’t know I’m gay, all except Lawrence, who will know about it, but he won’t tell, otherwise I’ll tell everyone he’s gay AND he can’t go to the washroom except in his own house.
Anyway, instead of that sappy sentimental stuff, Mike reveals he kinda likes him for his toys. We don’t get the caring response; we get the self-centered, selfish response. As we know, from Mike’s difficulties with expressing his affection for Deanna, he is probably not going say anything like “Lawrence. I love you, man.” He is most assuredly not going to say that in front of his mother. All things considered, his statement seems in character for Michael. However, because it is used as a punch line that depends on defying your expectation, it takes on an extra meaning. Poor Lawrence. The boy whom he thinks is his best friend only likes him for his toys.
I find this to be an interesting contrast with the old April Patterson / Becky McGuire feud strips. We had it pounded in that Becky would regret leaving April’s band to seek fame, because April was a true friend, and her new friends would betray her. Here, we have an opportunity for Mike to express how he is a true friend to Lawrence, and the joke is that he isn’t. For me, the best part of the strip is Elly’s gobsmacked facial expression in the final panel, which comes off as “Oh my goodness. My son is a selfish brat!”
posted by howard at 9:45 PM
8 Comments:
The strip you linked: and in the next panel, April was tragically crushed by a wall o'text.
Would a 6-year old actually observe that some kids only liked another kid because of something he had, and then further observe that he also liked that kid because of different stuff he had? It seems unlikely to me that little kids would think or talk like that.
What really bothers me is that Elly, one of the most materialistic people on the comics page, is sitting there moping because her son only likes someone because he has cool stuff; the only reason she married John was so he could provide her with
a) material possessions
b) trips to exotic banquet halls
and
c) enough money to allow herself to bitch about the simple life.
If he were a kind, attentive and thoughtful store clerk instead of a distant and selfish jackhole dentist, she wouldn't have given him the time of day.
Clio,
Would a 6-year old actually observe that some kids only liked another kid because of something he had, and then further observe that he also liked that kid because of different stuff he had?
Not with my kids. Their friendships were never based on what another kid had. At that age for kids the crucial things are whether or not the other kid is friendly and wants to play with you (and doesn’t hit or bite when they get mad). At 6 years old, you are just getting used to socializing with other kids. They did do toy comparisons at that age, but it was more in terms of “So-and-so has this. Would you get that for me too?”
DreadedCandiru2,
If he were a kind, attentive and thoughtful store clerk instead of a distant and selfish jackhole dentist, she wouldn't have given him the time of day.
I have noticed this to be the case a lot of times with single moms, that men who have the potential to be providers for their children are more attractive to them. Men who are unemployed or making minimum wage are not even considered.
That was the situation Lynn was in with Aaron. In her interview talking about when she met Rod Johnston, she mentions how she saw him flying in his plane and decided he was the one for her. Naturally this means he has the financial wherewithal to afford a plane. For Elly, she transferred this story to John being attracted to her in a library at the University of Toronto. I remember from my university days, the young ladies who would intentionally study in the Law Library, when they were not studying law; and I immediately made the connection to what Elly was doing, studying in the Medical library. Lynn translated that part of her life pretty well. John, as well as Rod, was attractive mainly because of his potential as a provider.
Clio,
They did do toy comparisons at that age, but it was more in terms of “So-and-so has this. Would you get that for me too?”
It seems to me that Lynn might have altered something normal like that into the unnatural sounding mess we see here.
DreadedCandiru2,
It seems to me that Lynn might have altered something normal like that into the unnatural sounding mess we see here.
She might have, but her running joke with Michael and Lawrence during this time appears to be:
1. Set up Michael so he should be concerned about Lawrence.
2. Michael says something the exact opposite and laughs ensue.
Good, old-fashioned envy probably didn't make the cut as being enough for Lynn, even though it would have been more realistic.
The hokiest part of this one for me is Elly's whole spiel about what Mike likes Lawrence for and how much "deeper" their friendship goes. My six-year-old's friendships last from the first shared "Star Wars" game until the first big fight, then it's on to the next friendship. There are variations but the theme is pretty much the same. Likewise, I don't remember having a real "best friend" at six. Eight, ten, sure. But this age? They're still figuring the whole friendship business out.
But then, this is the woman who thinks that the only genuine marital attachment is the one formed in utero. So I can't see how this is out of character for Lynn. Whack, but in character.
FDChief,
The hokiest part of this one for me is Elly's whole spiel about what Mike likes Lawrence for and how much "deeper" their friendship goes.
Exactly. Mike and Lawrence are friends because they are neighbours and they are the same age and their moms like each other. It is part of the all-important interfamily socializing I learned as a married man. The kids have to be about the same age and get along and play together, the moms have to like each other, and the dads simply have to be able to tolerate each other. Lynn actually reflects this pretty well. Anne’s kids, in contrast, are always fighting with Elly’s kids when they get together and eventually they drop off the good list. Lawrence gets along with Michael, and Elly likes Connie, so they are on the good list, despite the fact Connie doesn’t have any kids Elizabeth’s age.
Likewise, I don't remember having a real "best friend" at six. Eight, ten, sure. But this age? They're still figuring the whole friendship business out.
My experience sort of agrees with yours. My daughter had a best friend when she was 4 years old, which lasted a number of years until they started going to different schools. In other words, it was a friendship of convenience. When they went to the same school, they saw each other every day and it was great. Without that common bond, they went their separate ways and she stopped inviting her to non-school-related functions like her birthday parties. Her current best friend she has known since they were both 7 years old and taking a dance class together. In contrast to the other friendship, when my daughter and this friend went to different schools and no longer took the dance class, the relationship continued. My son, on the other hand, did not develop a best friend until he was in Grade 8.
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