Three men gather at a diner counter in John Darkow's September 15, 2025 cartoon. The man in the yellow sweater holds a cup and delivers the punchline about waiting until the grumpy figure sees the bill. The third man in the blue cap looks on with concern while the green-capped patron scowls at his own cup.

The image captures public frustration with higher prices for everyday items. Coffee serves as the visible example of broader inflation tied to tariffs enacted earlier in the Trump administration. The simple setting underscores how economic policy reaches ordinary routines.

Darkow uses the familiar morning ritual to highlight cost pressures without additional text or labels. The cartoon aligns with reports of rising import costs affecting groceries and beverages in the weeks before publication.