Artist: Reg Parlett
Type: Double Page
Printed in Issue: 4th January 1986

The Story

It's New Year's Morning and Stan's just broken his spade. He heads next door to see if he can borrow a spade off Ollie as usual and knocks at the door. Inside, Ollie goes to answer the door, and Maddie reminds him that the first visitor of the new year must be dark to bring them good luck.

Ollie answers the door and Stan goes to enter, but Maddie jumps up out of her chair and beats him off with a broom. She reveals that she's very superstitious and Stan can't come in. Stan goes off in a sulk, but Babs insists it was just because he didn't take over a New Year gift, so she goes over with a cake.

This time Maddie answers, but when she sees Babs there she slams the door and calls back that she can't allow anyone in unless they're dark. Stan decides they should try something else instead, like rebuilding the pigsty which they meant to do ages ago. The wood is pretty rotten though and it's not long before the whole thing collapses on top of the pigs.

Stan suggests they should get out of there as angry pigs can be dangerous, but it's too late and the pigs start chasing them. Next door, Maddie opens her door to see what the noise is and the Nice family run in, with pigs in tow. On the bright side, Stan tells Maddie that will all the muddy people and pigs in her house, she should think about the good luck she'll get.

Notes

Whilst the family are hammering on the pig sty roof, one of the pigs has his hooves over his ears.