(Strip Number 6115, Original Publication Date, 16 October 1983)
Panel 1: We start things off with John cracking up his wallet to pay for Elly's shopping trip. He explains that he's got a hundred and twenty-six dollars and thirteen cents and asks how much she needs.
Panel 2: Oddly enough, she needs exactly one hundred twenty-six dollars and thirteen cents.
Panel 3: As Elly puts her coat on, she tells Lizzie that she's going shopping and asks her if she wants to come with. Lizzie, who seems to not be paying attention, shrugs.
Panel 4: Elly then tells Lizzie that she can come with her or stay with Daddy. Since Lizzie is more focused on her dolly than on Mommy, she only hears the last part and says 'Wanna stay.'
Panel 5: She then says that she's leaving now and asks Lizzie if she's sure she's not coming. Lizzie mutters uh-huh.
Panel 6: They then trade farewells.
Panel 7: As we hear the car leave the driveway, we also see Lizzie look surprised and upset.
Panel 8: She then asks John if Mommy gone; John says "Uh-huh."
Panel 9: Lizzie screams that she wanted to go with her.
Summary: I'm sure that when Lynn wrote this, it was in response to an occasion in which Katie did much the same thing. That's because she impresses me as observing this and thinking the same thing that Kool-Aid Nation will: "Make up your mind." The problem is that Steph looked at this and wrote the following summary: "John gives Elly money to go shopping. Elizabeth not paying attention. Elizabeth gets upset." This means that Lizzie isn't being contrary-minded, she's just shorted herself because she tuned Elly out. Most of what's wrong with Liz growing up seems to come from this sort of inability to pay attention to her surroundings.