Today we learn that Harry’s not just in town to “compare notes” (HA!) with his fellow music educators…in addition to being a retired band director, Harry’s also a member of that most esteemed class of humankind: Author and Signer of Books! Get ready for the sight of adoring music teachers queuing up for their personally autographed copies of Vol. II (!) of Dinkle’s autobiography. And what does Harry have in common with Les Moore, Westview’s other A&SOB? Why, both have published books with the same titles as those by Tom Batiuk!
Conventional Humor
The world’s least-retired retired band director, accompanied by his wife and his protégé, attend the Ohio Music Education Conference. Presumably Becky’s attended this conference every year since Harry retired, so it’s unclear why Harriet (a blonde when we last saw her a year ago) needs to point out Harry’s tired old joke.
The "Batch" -elor
“It’s like spring break for band directors…” And for retired band directors, and for the spouses of retired band directors, I guess. Rather than accompany Becky to Columbus, John takes advantage of her absence to “batch it”. Thanks, Inkwell, for looking it up; I was afraid John stayed home to “run a batch“, which actually sounds a lot more in character.
Does Montoni’s even make pizza without pepperoni?
Fred's World
Batiuk’s really just conquering my will to snark anymore. Just what the hell is he showing us today? Starting with a God’s-eye view of earth, zooming in on Westview, then along a street where neighbors wave to one another (and a postman not named Harry delivers mail, interesting), where Darin makes himself useful for once under Ann’s watchful eye. Then we’re looking up towards Fred’s window, and now we see Fred, in his chair, in his room, looking utterly helpless, fearful, and alone.
The only way I could cheer myself up after this was by noticing how much that picture frame in panel 1 reminds me of that weird “Phantom Zone” album-cover like thingy that they used to banish the bad guys in the first Superman flick:
Thish Shtrip Shucks
Ya hear that? Kerry’s “going to be around for a while…” (take that, Epicus!), at least long enough to contest Fred’s will. Psst, Kerry, your dad’s right behind you: stop talking about him in past tense.
Son of Stuck Funky 
