Fair to Middling

…is Les gone? Oh, thank God.

So long has it been since we last saw Wally, Rachel and Buddy that whoever colors these strips has forgotten that Rachel was a redhead, and Buddy is a Golden (not Silver) Retriever. Comparing today’s strip with this strip from nearly two years ago shows what a difference Buddy the Wonder Dog has made in Wally’s life. Back then, it was Rachel who dragged Wally to the fair, where his anxiety immediately got the better of him. These days, it’s Wally who takes the initiative (weirdly waiting until they are already getting into the car to suggest a destination). It’s unclear how the dog developed a fried pickle addiction in the two years since their last fair visit.