(Strip Number 7108, Original Publication Date, 7 February 1982)
Panel 1: We find ourselves watching Elly get ready for an evening out; she smiles as she gets her dress out of the closet.
Panel 2: As she puts on some lipstick, John, who's putting his shirt on, smiles and murmurs approvingly.
Panel 3: He then sets up the conflict by witlessly asking how his little pumpkin is. The reason I say 'witless' is that he doesn't listen when she complains about being faaaaaaaaaaaaaat and ooooooooooooooold and uuuuuuuuuuugly; he should know better than to dispute her belief that she's three other things she's not. He does so when she boasts about being a loving, fair, firm and attentive parent so he could at least do this for her.
Panel 4: Goggle-Eyed Elly repeats the word 'pumpkin' back at him in a wounded tone of voice.
Panel 5: Her comment "Of all the things to call me, John!! You know how sensitive I am about my weight!!" tells us what's bothering her: her delusion that she's somehow morbidly obese.
Panel 6: She then states that a well-meaning but insensitive and stupid compliment is really hitting below the belt. It should be noted that she's holding a perfume bottle; this becomes important later.
Panel 7: John says that he stands corrected.
Panel 8: He then idiotically turns his back on Elly and says that on her, it's actually evenly distributed; his attempt to lighten the mood earns him a perfume bottle to the back of the head.
Summary: I can't wait to see how Lynn justifies this; I suspect we're about to be told that it's somehow J-Rod's fault that she'd rather find things to complain about than take compliments she considers left-handed.
