Blondie, 11/23/25

Two very important details here. One, Dagwood has his handkerchief out and at the ready when he knocks on Herb's door. He's already on the verge of tears and knows he won't be able to hold back once this conversation starts -- the conversation that he thinks will be among the last with his best friend while they're still neighbors, before they inevitably begin to drift apart. The second is that Herb clearly put Tootsie up to relay the strategically redacted information about his career prospects to Blondie precisely in order to set up this scenario, and to exploit his friend's soft heart. Never have I felt more tenderly towards Dagwood, or more harshly towards Herb!

Mary Worth, 11/23/25