(Strip Number 4336, Original Publication Date, 11 June 1983)
Panel 1: We start things off with an unbelievably dirty Mike, Gordo and Lawrence standing at the front door as Mike bellows "What's to eat? Can we have a drink, Mom?" Since we're clearly supposed to pity Lynn because small ones wanted to drag her out of the creative zone and eat her ability to enjoy life, there are muddy handprints all over Elly's nice clean walls.
Panel 2: He then asks if it's okay if Gordo uses the bathroom.
Panel 3: As the dirt-loving, mother-hating children spread their chaos into her house, Elly asks Mike why all the neighborhood children play at the Pattermanse. She then sets up the punchline by asking why they can't go to some other house for a change.
Panel 4: He asks her who wants a change. His refusal to immediately admit that he's an evil little boy that loves CHAOS!!! and despises the very idea that his mother should EEEEEEEEEver be happy dumbfounds her.
Summary: His question does not dumbfound me. This is because it looks as if they all go to her place because of some factor other than children and their love of filth and chaos that she cannot see. I remember from my childhood that kids tended to gather at the places where they didn't have to deal with barking dogs and adults bellowing at them to leave so the presence of a docile thing like Farley and a mother who made half-hearted comments about how maybe she wants some alone time would make the Pattermanse a safe zone for summer play.
