(Strip Number 573, Original Publication Date, 16 March 1984)
Panel 1: It would appear that no one remembered to lubricate Humphrey's exercise for quite a while; that's because it's squeaking like the dickens. Since John doesn't know much about hamsters, he asks what the flying feather that is.
Panel 2: Elly explains that it's the hamster running on his wheel.
Panel 3: She then goes on to say that he's nocturnal and comes alive at night.
Panel 4: John storms out of bed and growls "Not if he wants to stay live until morning."
Summary: This, you see, is why in the real world, a teacher would check to see if a home is compatible with hamsters. So far, we've got a three year old who thinks he's a toy, an almost-nine year old who doesn't understand that dogs and hamsters don't mix and a grown man who thinks that the little critter is trying to screw with him; this means that the Foobs get an F as hamster-sitters. This is also why Rod wanted Lynn to 'tone down the characterization'; after all, he'd rather not be thought of as the hateful piece of flotsam we see here.