We like to cheer on the underdogs because their fortune is a kind of reassurance that there is, in fact, a way to beat the odds and succeed. The Pattersons encounter a few underdogs and it’s not always obvious who they are. Here are five of the most loved characters who we either didn’t expect to succeed, or whom we didn’t really think of as underdogs right away.
After the cut it’s number Four:
Feral cats get a bad rap. They’re seen by many as dangerous and invasive, most likely because they tend to be destructive of their surroundings and can be aggressive when cornered. It is also possible that there are some cultural hangups about them as well – we tend to think of cats as standoffishly affectionate, and feral cats are more standoffish than affectionate. But just like other stereotypes, feral cats can be just as companionable as fully domesticated ones and Shiimsa comes along to remind us of that.
My comment: What in the world is Lynn talking about? This is hardcore retconning. Jesse Mukwa shows up on Elizabeth's door in the pouring rain holding a kitten and declares that somehow that almost newborn kitten was abandoned by its mother, made its way to the porch and he found it there. The only thing "feral" about Shiimsa is that Jesse is taking Elizabeth "feral" her marbles. I thought Agnes Dingle's story was weak for being an underdog, but this one is even weaker.
When Liz first sees Shiimsa, she is resistant to taking her in. Gradually, Shiimsa wins her over with her playfulness and affection. Even her name (which is “little friend from the animal world” in Ojibwe) is a testament to the role she played in Liz’s life. Shiimsa is generally the mischievous cat that you might expect her to be, but she’s also super affectionate and she quickly becomes an integral part of Liz’s life.
My comment: Jesse plays Elizabeth like a fiddle and her "resistance" lasts just 3 comic strips.
My comment: "Little friend from the animal world"? Kind of awkward. The comic strip said, "Little animal friend."
My comment: "Shiimsa is generally the mischievous cat that you might expect her to be". What? She surpasses that. If Elly doesn't like you, you are evil incarnate.
Don’t make me fall in love with you.
My comment: "an integral part of Liz’s life." Integral until Anthony steps in. This is Shiimsa's last appearance. You would think in a blended household we would see at least one comic strip where Shiimsa would meet Anthony or Françoise, but no. Cats are for single women, not married women. March 21, 2008 was Shiimsa's last appearance and it is, not so coincidentally, the moment when Elizabeth starts planning her wedding. At least Shiimsa outlasted Dixie the dog by two months.
