This page caused many, many memories to resurface through which I feel Glenn’s conflict over whether the risk of being overheard outweighs the potential gain
The risk benefit analysis is always momentary and I think we all know which direction it inevitably points (ahem)
What a fantastic Christmas! Nothing can stop Claire when she has the fire inside and Glenn doesn’t seem to have the slightest interest about trying to stop her. But let’s hope no one else is actually awake or…
He owns the house, so I would presume he has the key.
He is a fire chief, so I would presume he has access to the tools that allow one to open a locked door without breaking it down.
That style handle is notoriously easy to open regardless of the state of the lock that may or may not be attached.
In my experience, men of the physical and psychological stature of Mr. Little (and his sons), upon deciding that the virtue of their daughter/sister is imperiled, have a tendency to become insane.
The twin bed being built for a guy the size of one of Claire’s brothers at least ensures a certain structural integrity on which the surreptitious lover cannot always rely when visiting the childhood home.
If anyone is curious about anon’s identity, I looked at the IP address attached to this comment in the website’s back end and you can direct your queries to Mrs Doris Templeton, 42 The Larches, Steeple Bumpstead, Essex
It’s not about a father that has to protect the daughter. But about a father that put his nose in his daughter’s life because he can’t accept she’s an adult. Also, remember that Claire’s father is pretty famous for how quickly he decides to use Betsy-Lou (his house hose) against people.
Gin is on fire! That’s got to be the simplest explanation of him being the object of back to back strips of Claire’s pashin’. As they say, Glinny, when in Rome, do as the romance do.
Are fish even anatomically capable of using (or needing) such an object?
(Yes, yes. I know Des is only half mermaid, and I believe mermaids are half fish, so by that logic he’s only 25% fish. Plus, being incapable of using a thing probably would not stop him from endorsing it for money. Nonetheless, the question popped into my head unbidden, and now it refuses to leave.)
The astute reader will have noticed that Desmond is not currently a disembodied set of dangling gonads, but that’s just because he hasn’t met the right lady yet.
While clearing out my parents’ house earlier this year I found a packet of Durex condoms from the 1960s with the expiry date exactly 9 months before I was born!
True story
Two out of the three condoms were still attached (unused, just to be clear!)
I’ve also done the math. Conception around Christmas, wedding on Saint Patrick’s Day. My birthday in early September. I don’t think they planned it, but they did stay married until their deaths. Dad at 67 and Mom at 77.
She also telekinetically transferred the little present from Glenn’s hands to tuck it by his pillow and (off-panel) completed th3 crossword in yesterday’s newspaper.
Some people are early risers on Christmas morning, and some see it as a travesty. I imagine Claire always woken up bright-eyed on Christmas about 5 AM since she was very small. It’s probably taken her a full hour to work up the nerve to put this plan into action.
Lovely little x kiss on panel 8, and the uncharacteristic steaminess is nicely undercut by the the very funny “Brad’s Room” denouement on panel 9.
Boy no more
He is THE MAN
He’ll revert to callow youth before you know it.
A raffle ticket! What a lucky boy.
It’s a plastic O-ring. Claire has a deep interest in the Challenger space shuttle disaster.
He better make sure it doesn’t get too cold, then, or the results could be explosive.
This page caused many, many memories to resurface through which I feel Glenn’s conflict over whether the risk of being overheard outweighs the potential gain
The risk benefit analysis is always momentary and I think we all know which direction it inevitably points (ahem)
I don’t really think Glurmf is in a position where his choices will lead to more than one potential outcome. Multiverse theory has its limits.
What a fantastic Christmas! Nothing can stop Claire when she has the fire inside and Glenn doesn’t seem to have the slightest interest about trying to stop her. But let’s hope no one else is actually awake or…
Or hope that the door has a lock, at least.
I’m sure Fire Chief (not so) Little is equipped to handle a locked door.
Why would he break down the door? That’s insane
He may wanting to extinguish a burning passion.
He owns the house, so I would presume he has the key.
He is a fire chief, so I would presume he has access to the tools that allow one to open a locked door without breaking it down.
That style handle is notoriously easy to open regardless of the state of the lock that may or may not be attached.
In my experience, men of the physical and psychological stature of Mr. Little (and his sons), upon deciding that the virtue of their daughter/sister is imperiled, have a tendency to become insane.
Oh, they’ll be awake soon.
Well, they could be low moaners…
Claire has always struck me as a 0-to-60 type and I support it.
Don’t worry, Claire went and asked everyone if they were sleeping first. They all said yes.
Ah. So that Christmas tree ornament on the cover actually WAS what everyone thought it looked like. I’ll admit, I didn’t see that coming.
So to speak.
Well played!
Not only that.
I looked out the window and what did I see:
A cucumber hanging on a Christmas tree
Could be a Cucumber Castle reference…
It is there in reference to Cucumber Castle, yes!
Surely her father wouldn’t use the fire hose in the house.
Surely…
(Inserts cheeky fire hose euphemism and innuendo here)
I’m too lazy to actually come up with it
How very sweet of Claire to surprise Glenn with a pre-Christmas stocking stuffer…I’ll let myself out.
The trick is, it’s not HIS stocking getting stuffed hook drags me offstage
Well, this is all getting a bit racey…
(forgive me for this, please!)
https://youtu.be/ZmSW3CuhZyc?si=JHCxstNV6Ikx4QB2
He had no problem using it on his roff. it’s very probable he already used the fire hose in his house.
It’s clearly Grum’s turn on the fire hose today.
oh my! that’s quite the stocking stuffer
Ah you beat me to it!
Ygln gets to play Santa and come down the chimney!
Is it OZ (AU) or land of the loonies (CA) for Glen, the boy runner?
Claire makes Cathey look meek.
NZ is out of the question and the UK is now on fire.
That looks vaguely familiar… hmm… is it perhaps a blank Pog?
OH.
The twin bed being built for a guy the size of one of Claire’s brothers at least ensures a certain structural integrity on which the surreptitious lover cannot always rely when visiting the childhood home.
Even old sturdy beds can be finicky – we once broke a hundred year old one at a presbytery (don’t ask).
If anyone is curious about anon’s identity, I looked at the IP address attached to this comment in the website’s back end and you can direct your queries to Mrs Doris Templeton, 42 The Larches, Steeple Bumpstead, Essex
“We don’t morally censor, we just want the money!”
https://youtu.be/9ULY64_KG8Y?si=pHNOS5mosvSLmBcM
Mrs Doris is definitely a…goer…eh? Know what I mean? Know what I mean? Nudge nudge. Nudge nudge.
Oh here we go with the semi-jokey comments about how a father most “protect” his adult daughter with violence against her express wishes
We’re still living with those tropes hanging around even if society has changed.
Also, Glenn started it, mind – he was nervous so he made a clumsy joke.
It’s not about a father that has to protect the daughter. But about a father that put his nose in his daughter’s life because he can’t accept she’s an adult. Also, remember that Claire’s father is pretty famous for how quickly he decides to use Betsy-Lou (his house hose) against people.
Gin is on fire! That’s got to be the simplest explanation of him being the object of back to back strips of Claire’s pashin’. As they say, Glinny, when in Rome, do as the romance do.
Kudos to John for showing restraint in not making Claire’s present Fishman-branded.
Well, it would certainly stop you getting pregnant by the simple expedient of putting you off sex.
We only see one side of it, though.
I assume it’s Amstrad
No need to merely allude to his likeness when the Fishman himself appeared earlier in the Ragged Stoat
Are fish even anatomically capable of using (or needing) such an object?
(Yes, yes. I know Des is only half mermaid, and I believe mermaids are half fish, so by that logic he’s only 25% fish. Plus, being incapable of using a thing probably would not stop him from endorsing it for money. Nonetheless, the question popped into my head unbidden, and now it refuses to leave.)
Some fish practice internal fertilization. Sharks, for instance, or guppies.
So yes, there is a piscine market for such an object.
I’m sure Des’ anatomy works whatever way we’d all find most disturbing.
Most disturbing? So, deep sea angler fish, then.
The astute reader will have noticed that Desmond is not currently a disembodied set of dangling gonads, but that’s just because he hasn’t met the right lady yet.
CLAIRE!! In the familial home, no less!! I’m impressed and slightly scandalized. Get it!!!
And in the room of one of Claire’s brothers that Glenn is supposed to be meeting today, at that!
If you take my birthday and work backwards my Dad once got a similar present around Christmas but without the packaging.
While clearing out my parents’ house earlier this year I found a packet of Durex condoms from the 1960s with the expiry date exactly 9 months before I was born!
True story
Two out of the three condoms were still attached (unused, just to be clear!)
Nice.
I’ve also done the math. Conception around Christmas, wedding on Saint Patrick’s Day. My birthday in early September. I don’t think they planned it, but they did stay married until their deaths. Dad at 67 and Mom at 77.
My wife gave me a similar present, and Mike will be 29 next month.
Don’t believe Big Condom!
What about the small ones. Can I believe those?
He’ll get the hose.
WELL
Do we know if this was on Gylrm’s wishlist, and is he the sort of person who hates it when people deviate from his wishlist?
I’ll go out on a limb and predict Glenn won’t be going back to the store for a refund.
He did last time, though.
Is there an implied time gap between Panels 7 and 8 that involves Glenn taking off his shirt or is that a visual gaffe?
Welcome to comics John L
Claire incinerated it with her mind.
She also telekinetically transferred the little present from Glenn’s hands to tuck it by his pillow and (off-panel) completed th3 crossword in yesterday’s newspaper.
You may notice that something similar happens to Claire’s dressing gown/robe between panels. We get to fill in the gaps and I love that we do.
Whew!
Thanks Daddy Glenn…..
You love is like Bad Machinery. Bad Machinery is what I need.
Some people are early risers on Christmas morning, and some see it as a travesty. I imagine Claire always woken up bright-eyed on Christmas about 5 AM since she was very small. It’s probably taken her a full hour to work up the nerve to put this plan into action.
Lovely little x kiss on panel 8, and the uncharacteristic steaminess is nicely undercut by the the very funny “Brad’s Room” denouement on panel 9.
Puts the strip in comic strip!
KNEW IT!