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Mark accompanies Rusty on a school field trip to Washington, D.C. to learn a bit about government. Mark once again parries words with Ohio Senator Smalls, who is in town running for Congress. They also visit NOAA.

Wow, I’m learning so much just looking at these things!

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Look how amazingly disciplined these people are; they go from place to place, yet stand in the exact same positions and poses every time. I’m impressed. I think we can assume at this point that the woman is either the teacher or another chaperone. Wonder if we’ll get to hear from her. I don’t see any guides, however; but this is a comic strip, not a documentary.

Nor is it reality. What we see here is more like experiencing images in those old-fashioned View-Masters with their posed, cliché photos: <Click!> View <Click!> View <Click!> View! If you think Rivera actually presents a cynical view of field trips and education, I wouldn’t disagree.

But tell me what you think Rusty is getting at in panel 4.

Art Dept. The panel drawings today are consistently fine, and the clip-art fits reasonably well into the overall style. That’s a plus. I’m not sure why the other students are still colored in Rivera’s standard anonymous background person purple shade, since they all stand together. Surely Rivera can’t believe we’d get confused. If one of my children were purpled out, I’d be upset!

Cherry’s 24-hour deadline is pushed back a bit!

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I’m sure glad that Rivera drew that memory balloon of a sheep’s head in panel 2, just in case some readers get the mistaken notion that Mark’s historical note really refers to members of Congress. Otherwise, looks like the students did all fly, after all.

It’s also interesting that Rusty’s first question was not “Huh? Which war was that?” Wilson’s realized sheep cost less than hired help, so he bought the sheep and let go the groundskeepers. And the sheep’s wool was auctioned off to raise money for the Red Cross.

Anyway, it’s a good thing the kids are getting their visit done now, because things are likely to get a bit interesting in our nation’s capital over the next three weeks or so.  Say, do you think the woman in panel 1 is a flight attendant, a teacher, a parent-chaperone, or just an innocent bystander about to be caught up in a nexus of impending chaos and absurdity?

It was a quick in-and-out

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Rivera again pays tribute to Tom Hill, one of the original and possibly best of the Mark Trail artists in panel 1. Nice. But I have to subtract major points for the lousy signage. At least make it look professional, Rivera!

Still, I don’t get this setup. Did the rest of the class already go to Washington by the time Mark and Rusty returned, so Rusty has to catch up? Or did the entire class actually fly, as opposed to going on a <shudder!> chartered bus? Just how wealthy is this Lost Forest community, anyway?

Hey, you two! Get a room, already.

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I’m still snoozing, but I did notice that the Trail family seems to be shrinking, compared to their sizes yesterday (scroll down to compare). In fact, the sofa also seems to be getting narrower and squeezing them closer, reminiscent of the refuse compactor that Luke, Leia, Chewbaka, and Hans Solo were trapped in.

A little bromide to calm readers after all the action.

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No need to look for drama, suspense, or action today, people. Mark is done with his assignment and Cherry’s only real issue is finding temporary lodging for kittens. No doubt, we’ll have two more days for this apparent pilot for “Leave it to Rusty.”

Wake me if and when something happens, ok?

Sorry Rusty, you’ll have to spend even more time with your dad!

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No wonder Cherry feels bad. She knows that spending time with Mark is certain to lead to chaos.

Ah, Mark. You want to ensure that when Rusty goes to Washington D.C., he learns about how our government works and the importance of the rule of law we live under. Yes, that legal and ethical code of conduct you seem to break with increasing regularity and indifference, while condemning others for doing so. But wait, you say, “They break the law in order to harm others or to enrich themselves!” Sure. You only skirt the letter of the law or break it to stop them from harming others or enriching themselves. I get it. You are a descendant of the Monkey Wrench Gang.

The actions of an environmental justice vigilante are not always clear or defensible. But that’s the calling you answered, Mark. Your mandate has expanded beyond writing stories about fish poachers, forest fires, cave chases with bank robbers, and human-traffickers chasing you through a cave. It now includes combating NFT fraud; exposing environmental damage involving railroads and politicians; manhandling guys working out their job complaints by breaking electronics and leaving the debris in the forest; and navigating a house filled with free-roaming lions so you could then rescue a person stuck in yet another cave. It is truly a darker world you now work in, Mark Trail.