A meeting of G.R.O.S.S. convenes
G.R.O.S.S. (Get Rid Of Slimy girlS) is an exclusive club created by Calvin and Hobbes, with the primary purpose of excluding girls. Susie Derkins is frequently the target of the club's activities. The club is famous for their extremely long password, which is known to have at least twelve verses. It is all very tiger-praising and is always written by Hobbes (Because he doesn't need the rope ladder).
Members
There are many positions and ranks in the club, but thus far there are only two members, Calvin and Hobbes. During meetings, they spontaneously switch positions to suit the club's needs. Calvin is the founder and leader of the club and, periodic demotions forgone, is "Dictator-For-Life", while Hobbes is the club president or First Tiger (again, temporary demotions forgone). They are seen acting as if there were many other members, imagining the behavior of their audience.[1]
Whether to suit the club's needs or as temporary punishment, Calvin and Hobbes will change, lose, or regain ranks. The following is a list of known positions that they have exerced at G.R.O.S.S. excepting their official titles and self-promotions.
Calvin
- Top Scout/Head Scout
- Field Scout
- Chief Strategist
- Strike Force Commander
- Code Expert
Hobbes
- Club Secretary General
- Special Agent in charge of munitions
- Cartographer
- Club Mascot
- Court Stenographer
Meetings
At the beginning of each meeting, the last meeting's minutes are read aloud by Hobbes.[2] These minutes are usually filled with name-calling and fighting. The reading of the minutes sometimes leads to even more fighting, until the meeting is over, and both Calvin and Hobbes are satisfied with the "progress" made. Almost always, Calvin and Hobbes will turn to the audience (i.e. the reader) and say what a great club G.R.O.S.S. is after they are done fighting.
Calvin and Hobbes usually get "medals" (bottle caps) and new titles for themselves after they get in trouble.[3]
Password
Since Hobbes is capable of climbing into the tree fort without the rope ladder, he made up a password extolling the virtues of tigers that Calvin has to recite (and apparently, do a dance to also) in order for Hobbes to let down the rope ladder so Calvin can climb up. It is uncertain how long the password is, but there are at least eight verses to it.
Known Verses
Verse One: "Tigers are mean! Tigers are fierce! Tigers have teeth and claws that pierce!"
Verse Two: "Tigers are great! They can't be beat! If I was a tiger, that would be neat!"
Verse Six: "Tigers are nimble and light on their toes. My respect for tigers continually grows."
Verse Seven: "Tigers are perfect, the E-Pit-O-Me of good looks and grace and quiet dignity."
Final Verse (Presumably): "Tigers are great! They're the toast of the town. Life's always better when a tiger's around!"
Location
Originally, Calvin and Hobbes planned to have their clubhouse in the garage, but after the catastrophe of "moving" the car out of the garage (which ended with the car rolling into a ravine[4]), it was decided to have the clubhouse in Calvin's tree fort. In one comic, Calvin and Hobbes had an emergency meeting in the "Box of Secrecy," a cardboard box, because Susie had to stay at Calvin's home for an afternoon, much to Calvin's dismay. This was also the last known G.R.O.S.S. meeting.
The Club Anthem
G.R.O.S.S. has an anthem, which starts with its "hallowed refrain". The refrain starts as "Ohhohh Grohoss, best club in the cosmos..."[5] The rest of the refrain (or any other part of the anthem, for that matter) is unknown. The anthem has a melody line sung by First Tiger Hobbes and a soprano part sung by Dictator for Life Calvin (until his voice changes). The anthem is sung at the end of meetings (singing it before it is scheduled is a punishable offense), and all members present must remove their hats while singing the refrain. Failure to do so is also a punishable offense.[6]
Use in story arcs
- The first story arc G.R.O.S.S. was involved in was when the two wanted to have their club headquartered in the garage. They pushed the car out of the garage, but it rolled down the driveway into the ravine across the street.[4]
- In another, after Calvin and Hobbes' bickering almost leads to the dissolution of the club, they reform G.R.O.S.S. and Calvin throws mushy apples at Susie after she hears the two arguing in the tree fort.[7]
- Calvin planned an "ingenious" strategy of throwing water balloons at Susie if she read a code deliberately dropped in front of her saying she would ruin all of their "secret plans" if she went behind his house at noon.[8] However, the plan backfired and Calvin ended up being sprayed with a hose by Susie.[9] Calvin gave a speech after that.[3]
- In another, Calvin finds Susie's Binky Betsy doll on the sidewalk. He and Hobbes take it and hold it for a hundred-dollar ransom. But, Susie tricks them by putting a dud envelope by a tree; Calvin and Hobbes think it's the hundred dollars and go to it. Distracted, Calvin is powerless to stop Susie from abducting Hobbes. Finally, the two reached an agreement: Calvin gave back Susie's doll (along with 25 cents) for Hobbes.[10]
- In the last G.R.O.S.S story arc Susie stays at Calvin's house because her mother was working late. Their plan was to lock Susie in the closet by placing a tape recording of Calvin calling for help in the closet to trick Susie to enter. It worked until Calvin's mother heard Susie asking her to open the closet door. Calvin gets in trouble for that after Susie leaves. This was the time the Box of Secrecy was used. The "Box of Secrecy" may be a parody of the "Cone of Silence" from the TV series Get Smart.