Notches

Panel 1. A cricket match on a village green. Sam, twenty and sunburned, sits on a stool cutting a notch in a stick for every run. Caption: “Kent, England. 1646.”

Panel 2. A fielder grabs the ball right at the grass. Both sides start shouting. Batsman: “It hit the grass!” Fielder: “I caught it clean!”

Panel 3. Everyone turns to Sam. Sam: “It hit the grass.”

Panel 4. The game goes on. Sam cuts another notch. An old farmer leans over. Farmer: “Why do they always listen to you?” Sam: “I don’t care who wins.”