In what might be considered a minor miracle, Lynn returns to that course that Elly pretended to take; as I've said before, there's going to be a pair of obstacles in her path. The first obstacle is an incredibly average little boy who'll do something stupid in an effort to get attention; the second is a yutz husband who overreacts. Never mind that in the original, Elly flakes out because it's too much like work; we have to have a reason for her to own Mike's literary horses.
Panel 1: We start off with an exterior shot of the back porch; Annie tells Elly that she's washed some of Lizzie's things and Elly thanks her for doing so.
Panel 2: As they walk down the hall for a cup of coffee, Elly tells Annie she's wonderful. Annie says that it's no problem for her to sit for Lizzie (who, by the way, appears to have been dipped in a layer of asphalt) so Elly can send her over any time.
Panel 3: As Lizzie stands there waiting to get the tar hosed off before it sets, Annie asks Elly if she's still taking that writing course; Elly answers in the affirmative but says that she hasn't the time to dedicate herself to writing.
Panel 4: Instead of calling shenanigans on that, Annie asks Elly how much time she'd need; Elly replies that she'd need a year in a Spanish villa.
Panel 5: Annie gets all freaked out and asks if she can come with.
Summary: Okay, so maybe I was wrong about John acting like a Neanderthal; it seems to me that we're in for her deciding that since she has to dust the attic so the baby-sitter doesn't see it and do all the clothes every day, she doesn't have time to write.
