I got depressed seeing this...

Isn't Calvin a little too young to be cross-dressing?

Hmm... too profound or obscure for me. Still feel like crying a little though.

fools. Calvin is the dad in the background.

That is incredibly depressing. Why would you do that James! Why!

Due to recent hard times, I had to sell as much stuff as I could just to pay the mortgage. It got to the point where I had to go through all our books, and decide which to keep and which to flog. I got about a six hundred books together, boxed them up, and took a stall at a local book fair.
I sold almost none.
I was there for eight hours, and made just enough to cover the cost of the stall. My wife came down to see me, with my three year old son and five year old girl. I had to tell them that dad failed to come up with the goods. Anyway, my little girl started dragging a huge book about plants and animals out of a box. It was a book I used to love as a kid, and spent many hours looking up obscure beasties and stuff. She loved it, so I let her keep it.
Whenever it's story time on an evening, she drags this big book off the book shelf, and we sit together on her bed and look at the pictures, and I tell her all about the animals and where they live and what they eat (each other!). The time we have together with this old book is priceless, even though I failed to sell it for £4.50.

That is incredibly depressing. Why would you do that James! Why!

That's not depressing, Lebowski. Just let it go, and/or start breeding.

It didn't make me feel depressed, just old.
actually not old..... just not young.

The time we have together with this old book is priceless, even though I failed to sell it for £4.50.

that story is really touching, even given it's slightly take a break angle.

Due to recent hard times, I had to sell as much stuff as I could just to pay the mortgage. It got to the point where I had to go through all our books, and decide which to keep and which to flog. I got about a six hundred books together, boxed them up, and took a stall at a local book fair.
I sold almost none.
I was there for eight hours, and made just enough to cover the cost of the stall. My wife came down to see me, with my three year old son and five year old girl. I had to tell them that dad failed to come up with the goods. Anyway, my little girl started dragging a huge book about plants and animals out of a box. It was a book I used to love as a kid, and spent many hours looking up obscure beasties and stuff. She loved it, so I let her keep it.
Whenever it's story time on an evening, she drags this big book off the book shelf, and we sit together on her bed and look at the pictures, and I tell her all about the animals and where they live and what they eat (each other!). The time we have together with this old book is priceless, even though I failed to sell it for £4.50.

nice story. there's a lot of people who've done the old "how much have I made? oh, the exact amount to pay for this stall".. that's a dispiriting day's work. hope things are looking up for you anyway.

I know - I'll sell the story to take a break! I might make back that £4.50....

without approving of teddy's cynicism (I know he's only trying to be a bit more British) now you mention it it might be a moneyspinner. And crank the quality of the magazine up no end for that issue.

try "People's Friend" too.. though they're more your four-page fiction snorer.

Is that from an actual Calvin and Hobbes strip? That was never meant to happen!

Is that from an actual Calvin and Hobbes strip? That was never meant to happen!

digital drawing, doubt it. The illustrator is good though.

^^ that is just tragic!

thats just sad.

accurate reflection of a good number of America's children though. It is indeed tragic.

Puts me in mind of that "Garfield without Garfield" strip where Jon is just talking to himself.

More here

Whenever it's story time on an evening, she drags this big book off the book shelf, and we sit together on her bed and look at the pictures, and I tell her all about the animals and where they live and what they eat (each other!). The time we have together with this old book is priceless, even though I failed to sell it for £4.50.

When I was a kid, My dad used to buy me a book every fortnight.

They were great, not story books but book about Machines, Caves, Science etc. I used to love reading them when I was a kid.

I love Calvin & Hobbes. One of the best comic strips ever (not that that'll be news to anyone). I don't find the cartoon in the OP depressing, but hopeful and uplifting (except that the quality of the drawing isn't anywhere near C&H, of course).

My thoughts exactly, Oliver.

I agree, Oliver.

Having kids has meant getting out many of the toys me and the mrs played with as kids, which is excellent.
The other week i spent a very happy couple of hours with my oldest, setting up rival plastic soldier armies attacking and defending the fort. Then wiped them out with cannons that fire matchsticks. Flippin Ace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkhpnrGBTRc