(Strip Number 4013, Original Publication Date, 30 May 1981)
Panel 1: In today's single panel wonder, we're in the Pattersons' backyard. Looking from left to right, we see:
1) John wearing a chef's hat and apron as he flips burgers on a charcoal grill and stares a baffled stare at his children.
2) Lizzie opening up her burger to be disappointed and confused at the burnt offering her inept patriarch passes off as being suitable for human consumption.
3) Mike angrily yelling "Howcome we always get the practice ones??!!!"
Summary: Because your mother hates your father enough for making her live in the horrific town of Lynn Lake to depict him as the sort of peevish, selfish sort of smug rat who keeps all the good things in life for himself and hatefully gives his family burnt hamburgers. The truth, of course, is that if Discovery Channel Canada were ever to have a reality show called "Canada's Worst Grill-Master", John would take home the trophy; as
howtheduck showed us, he burns everyone's burgers and steak. What he's practicing is how to make the food he's serving look like the briquettes he's using to cook it.