"Wintertime Wager"

When I said I was going to write about the five Barks Christmas stories I hadn't yet covered, I kind of KNEW that someone was going to make my life harder by pointing out something I'd forgotten. And so, thanks to Pan Miluś: voila. He noted that a lot of people forget that this story takes place on Christmas, and it's true: I had forgotten. And for obvious reasons! Because if there's any story about which you could make the argument that just because it's set on Christmas it's not actually a Christmas story, it's this one. If "Weemite" is only tangentially Christmas-related, this is substantially more so. It doesn't even feint at being vaguely festive in any way. There aren't even any incidental holiday decorations in sight. BUT THAT'S OKAY! It's cold outside. The inside of the ducks' house DOES look pretty darned cozy, I must say.

I suppose it's actually a good opportunity to write about it, because we SURE AS HELL are not having a cold winter in southern Vermont this year (although we ARE getting our first snow today, HURRAH). The story kinda compensates for that. I LIKE the cold, dammit.

Of course, this story is best-known for being the debut of nobody's favorite lucky gander. I feel like this is probably well-trodden ground, so I don't need to spend a lot of time noting that there's nothing about "luck" here, and that he's really just a slightly more malevolent version of Donald. That's the way it is! I am always amused by just how goddamned stupid this wager is.

See? Pretty darned mean. Please note the Duck family's prize painting, which is of a bunch of duck heads gazing bemusedly to the lower right.  Let's hope that if Gladstone wins the wager, they'll at least get to keep IT.  Note also the implication that Donald was pounding back hard lemonades.

I always find it odd that it's "your" rather than "our" house. They do this repeatedly. Haven't we established sufficiently by this point that Donald and HDL are in fact a family? Seems strange. The other thing you always have to wonder: so, could I meet the terms of the wager? And I think the answer is: probably, yes. I checked the relevant wikipedia article and it sounds like if you don't immediately go into shock or inhale too much water--and if you're a basically healthy adult who knows what's coming, that's probably avoidable--you'll probably be okay if it's just for a few minutes. Not that it sounds super-fun, but really, with so much on the line, Donald really ought to flippin' just suck it up and deal.

Alas! Note Donald's "dejected duck" statue on the shelf, above the color-coded books. Also look at the way Gladstone's shoving the deed at Donald in the lower left. That's really effective in making Gladstone look big and intimidating, and I don't feel like we see that perspective very often in Barks.

Of course, for my money--most people's money, probably--easily the best thing in the story is Daisy's appearance. She's just so cool and controlled here. It has been rightly noted that Barks typically had no idea what to do with Daisy (putting him in a category along with...almost everyone else), but this is one of her best appearances. There's nothing I don't like about it.

So what do you think, is drinking two gallons of lemonade in an hour super-difficult? Again, I feel like I could do it if necessary. I mean, without having tried it, maybe I lack perspective, but...hmm. Whatever else you want to say, I don't think this is weather-dependent in the way that Donald's wager was. If you can drink it in the summer, you ought to be able to do it on Christmas. So I think.

Also, "do we sleep here tonight, or do we sleep in the park?" Jeez, that's brutal. It's not a pretty picture, though the good news is that presumably Daisy would invite them over rather than letting them freeze to death.

Finally, discuss amongst yourselves: which is harder, sour or thick and sweet? I'd tend to go with the latter.

One thing I'll say for Barks here: he certainly gives Gladstone more than his fair share of bizarre facial expressions. I like to just look at them and smirk quietly.

It has a better ending than most Barks stories, too. One thing I'll say: if they're making wagers like these, Donald's gotta be more smart about it in the future. Last time, he made the bet where he'd give up HIS house, whereas Gladstone's bet just involved Donald NOT giving it up. There's not enough of a penalty to Gladstone here for screwing up; all the risk is on you. Think about it.

So anyway! Does this story make you feel Christmasy? No? Well, don't worry, there's more to come! Just consider this one a bonus. Before I end, let me quote the following inscrutable inducks review of the story:

If you like Gladstone read Scarpa's stories! After all, Gladstone is unlucky in this first apperance! 8...

The comment's inexplicable in itself, but what really gets me is that trailing-off 8...hmmm...