Editing 20: Ferret

{{comic
| number    = 20
| date      = October 14, 2005
| title     = Ferret
| before    = <big><big><span class="plainlinks">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060529063505/http://xkcd-drawings.livejournal.com/?skip=20#:~:text=1%3A16%20pm-,Friday%27s%20Drawing,-My%20brother%20has Original title</span>]: '''Friday's Drawing'''</big></big>
| image     = ferret.jpg
| titletext = My brother had a ferret he loved which died since I drew this strip. RIP.<br><br><span class="plainlinks">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060529063505/http://xkcd-drawings.livejournal.com/?skip=20#:~:text=1%3A16%20pm-,Friday%27s%20Drawing,-My%20brother%20has Original caption</span>]: My brother has a ferret. He holds it like that and generally adores it. I have to concede that it's pretty cute, if smelly.
}}

==Explanation==
This was the nineteenth comic originally posted to [[LiveJournal]]. The previous one was [[19: George Clinton]], and the next one was [[21: Kepler]].

[[Cueball]] built wings for his ferret and his friend asks why, indicating that it would be foolish to think that this would allow the ferret to fly. Cueball did, in fact, build these wings in hopes of allowing his ferret to fly, but dissembles in order to avoid losing face with his friend. Then the friend suggests they go play video games instead, while Cueball imagines the ferret actually flying. The fact that Cueball lies about his goal may be a commentary on abandoning dreams to avoid confronting societal expectations.

The title text refers to the fact that [[Randall Munroe|Randall]]'s brother in real life had such a pet ferret. As shown by the original caption, Randall drew this comic while the ferret was still alive, but then it passed away in between his posting it on [[LiveJournal]] and reposting it with a title text on [https://xkcd.com xkcd.com]. He now wishes that it will rest in peace.

This is the second in a six-part series of comics whose parts were randomly published during the first several dozen strips. The series features [[Barrel Boy]], a character that is different from what would quickly become the xkcd [[stick figure]] style. The full series can be found [[:Category:The Boy and his Barrel|here]]. After Randall released the full [http://liveweb.archive.org/web/20070207052159/http://www.xkcd.com/barrel.html The Boy and his Barrel] story on the site, it became clear that the original comic [[20: Ferret]] was also part of the series. The comics are listed in the order chosen by Randall:
* [[1: Barrel - Part 1]]
* [[20: Ferret]]
* [[11: Barrel - Part 2]]
* [[22: Barrel - Part 3]]
* [[25: Barrel - Part 4]]
* [[31: Barrel - Part 5]]

==Transcript==
:[A color drawing of a ferret with airplane wings and tail on it.]

:[Cueball and his Cueball-like friend (to the left) are talking.]
:Friend: Why on earth did you make those wings? You don't seriously think they could let your ferret fly, right?
:Cueball: I... of course not.

:[They continue to talk.]
:Cueball: That would be pretty dumb. It's just, uh... ...a Halloween costume.
:Friend: oh, okay.

:[They continue to talk. But now the head of the ferret can be seen to the far right on a table.]
:Friend: Besides, who would want a pet to fly anyway?
:Cueball: Yeah. Pretty lame, huh?

:[The friend leaves the frame while Cueball stays. The ferret cannot be seen,]
:Friend: Anyway, let's go play video games.

:[Cueball stands behind after his friend has left. He looks back towards his Ferret which can be seen more clearly this time standing on the table.]

:[Cueball imagines ferret flying over the ocean near the beach using his makeshift wings. The imagination is in color]

==Trivia==
The last panel of this comic used to be [https://web.archive.org/web/20211215200644/https://store.xkcd.com/products/flying-ferret-tank-top available as a T-shirt] in the xkcd store before it was [[Store|shut down]].

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Posted on LiveJournal| 19]]
[[Category:First day on xkcd.com]]
[[Category:Checkered paper]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Checkered paper]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:The Boy and his Barrel|02]]
[[Category:Ferrets]]
[[Category:Comics with xkcd store products]]
[[Category:Comics with lowercase text]]