There are a number of half-plausible explanations that occurred to Chemgal (who sent it in) and the editors. But not enough to choose a best one among them, nor know how to promote a candidate to fully-likely.
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There may be other solutions, but my first thought is that Hammie’s sisters keep putting the soap, hairbrushes, toothpaste (etc.) in inconvenient locations, far above his reach, so he’s learned to climb to get them.
My thought is when people have an urgent need to use the bathroom, they are sometimes described as “climbing the walls” out of impatience. Metaphorically, of course, not literally.
I think the joke is he gets practice from scrambling over things quickly in an attempt to be first in the restroom?
Or @Kilby is correct, that also makes sense.
Well I think Karen A. has it; I’d have to say I’m only vaguely aware of the saying, so I wouldn’t come up with it on my own, but once reminded, yeah, that has to be it.
While I do recognize that expression of Karen’s, climbing the walls, I understand it as describing a general state of impatience and distress, from any cause, not specifically full bladder.
@ Maggie – The problem with my theory is that since I do not follow “Baby Blues”, I had no idea that Hammie was the middle kid; so Powers’ objection is entirely valid. I think Karen’s idea is probably correct, although I remember the corresponding phrase as “…crawling the walls…” Nevertheless, I still think it works.
The key is the instuctor commenting that Hammie is quick. He has to be quick since he has to be quick to get to the bathrom before his sisters. Climbing walls have nothing to do with the response.
Not really a good joke, as the youngest sister is too young to use the bathroom herself and the older sister is still a pre-tween and doesn’t spend time primping in the mirror. This joke works better in a Brady Bunch situation: six siblings sharing one bathrom (with no toileet!).
Even good comic strips produce the occasional clunker.
@ Maggie – Baby Blues is not what one would call a “new” strip. It’s been around for 33 years, but was syndicated by King Features for most of that time, which tends to restrict online visibility. It was switched to Andrews McMeel last year, and is (now?) available at GoComics.
P.S. Much to my surprise, GoComics has nearly all† of the Baby Blues strips in their archive. I think that may be because the author(s) kept the copyright for themselves, and used King Features only for distribution purposes.
P.P.S. † The gaps that I have noticed are mostly some occasional missing Sunday strips, nothing major or suspicious.
Another that switched syndicates was Crankshaft. That happened around the time Funky Winkerbean ended. They have about 20 years of Crankshaft on GoComics. The strip reportedly started in 1987.
Comics I Don't Understand 
There may be other solutions, but my first thought is that Hammie’s sisters keep putting the soap, hairbrushes, toothpaste (etc.) in inconvenient locations, far above his reach, so he’s learned to climb to get them.
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He’s the middle child so while Zoe might be a little taller, Wren is considerably shorter.
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My thought is when people have an urgent need to use the bathroom, they are sometimes described as “climbing the walls” out of impatience. Metaphorically, of course, not literally.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think the joke is he gets practice from scrambling over things quickly in an attempt to be first in the restroom?
Or @Kilby is correct, that also makes sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I think Karen A. has it; I’d have to say I’m only vaguely aware of the saying, so I wouldn’t come up with it on my own, but once reminded, yeah, that has to be it.
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While I do recognize that expression of Karen’s, climbing the walls, I understand it as describing a general state of impatience and distress, from any cause, not specifically full bladder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ Maggie – The problem with my theory is that since I do not follow “Baby Blues”, I had no idea that Hammie was the middle kid; so Powers’ objection is entirely valid. I think Karen’s idea is probably correct, although I remember the corresponding phrase as “…crawling the walls…” Nevertheless, I still think it works.
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The key is the instuctor commenting that Hammie is quick. He has to be quick since he has to be quick to get to the bathrom before his sisters. Climbing walls have nothing to do with the response.
Not really a good joke, as the youngest sister is too young to use the bathroom herself and the older sister is still a pre-tween and doesn’t spend time primping in the mirror. This joke works better in a Brady Bunch situation: six siblings sharing one bathrom (with no toileet!).
Even good comic strips produce the occasional clunker.
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I had no idea the cartoon existed, this was just my first assumption.
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@ Maggie – Baby Blues is not what one would call a “new” strip. It’s been around for 33 years, but was syndicated by King Features for most of that time, which tends to restrict online visibility. It was switched to Andrews McMeel last year, and is (now?) available at GoComics.
LikeLike
P.S. Much to my surprise, GoComics has nearly all† of the Baby Blues strips in their archive. I think that may be because the author(s) kept the copyright for themselves, and used King Features only for distribution purposes.
P.P.S. † The gaps that I have noticed are mostly some occasional missing Sunday strips, nothing major or suspicious.
LikeLike
Another that switched syndicates was Crankshaft. That happened around the time Funky Winkerbean ended. They have about 20 years of Crankshaft on GoComics. The strip reportedly started in 1987.
LikeLike