(Strip Number 4048, Original Publication Date, 17 August 1981)
Panel 1: We start off with a bored, understimulated little boy named Michael Patterson bouncing up and down on the couch simply to fill the empty hours in his life. This attracts the horrified attention of Elly.
Panel 2: Her reaction, of course, is to force
trumanf to check off items on his bingo card by narrowing her eyes and yelling a muppet-mouthed yell of "MICHAEL!! DO NOT TREAT MY FURNITURE LIKE THAT!!" so loudly that we can expect a lecture about going to the washroom on time as she does next morning's eight loads of laundry. Panel 3: She next makes him check off the Waggling Index Finger of (Self-)Righteous Indignation as she tells a small boy who simply wants something to do "A COUCH IS TO SIT ON!! IT IS NOT A TRAMPOLINE!! FURNITURE COSTS MONEY!!"
Panel 4: As she walks off, Mike SIGHS and mutters "Another day, another lecture."; since she can hear him, her eyes are bugged out in existential horror.
Summary: Tomorrow's strip has her totally not understanding how boring it is being a seven-year old who's never allowed to do anything that would require his mother to divert her attention away from gossiping, watching soap operas, useless busywork and feeling sorry for herself. It also features her thinking that his being bored is another reason for her to not like him very much.