(Strip Number 601, Original Publication Date, 27 April 1984)
Panel 1: After dinner, Phil stands up and tells the rest of the people at the table that now that they're all gathered together, he has something for Michael.
Panel 2: As he unwraps the present, Michael is awestruck that he's getting a birthday present from a real live grown-up. (This tells me that a 'gift' from an adult that ain't socks or tighty whities is a novelty.)
Panel 3: As Elly adopts the bog-standard Goggle-Eyed Frown Of Existential Horror™, Michael tells the crowd that he is excited to get his very own trumpet.
Panel 4: Despite the very angry look on Elly's face, Phil assures her she will thank him for this one day.
Summary: Since Elly really hates being reminded that Mommy and Daddy love Phil best because he plays discordant noise (and totally not because he doesn't give up and whine about how HAAAAAAARD things are at the first tiny little reverse), I really don't see that happening. As for the Lynnsight, one of the reasons she gives for Aaron failing is that one of his 'excuses' is that the trumpet was school property and had to be returned intact.
