Link to today’s strip.
So, in paragraph one, Bull outlines Westview’s number one fear: My life will change. Ghastly, ghastly thought! No, no, no, life should be spent forever in one’s high school, in one’s birth town, among the only people you’ve known in your existence! Argh, away with you, change!
Bull then goes on in panel two to detail all the things he hates, wrapping up in the last panel with the fact that people will expect results from him in his new position. Linda thinks it’s just grand that more people will expect better results from Bull–after all, it means a better life for her and who cares if it stresses out Bull? He’s just a dumb jock!
It sure sounds to me like Bull is trying extra hard to talk himself out of taking the job. You can tell this is serious–they’re eating in a restaurant that is obviously not Montoni’s, a restaurant that has some half-seen pictures on the wall instead of inexplicable stains. Seriously, where is this place? Is it in Westview or–gasp–somewhere outside? Yikes! Obviously you’d only dine here if you were expecting some really bad news, or you knew you were going to die shortly.
Look at the poor old man in panel two, squinting to read the menu, hoping that the Act II Les Moore-shaped tumor sprouting from his head won’t kill him before he has a chance to eat something other than pizza. Quick, quick, he thinks. What’s something I’ve always wanted to try but was never able to until this moment of release? Uh…seafood? What’s that? Oh. My. God. My ticket is going to be punched at last!