I give the guy a lot of leeway ... a look at the comic book debut of Uncle Scrooge McDuck! At least the response to the cover has not been quite as bad as some of the response social media had ...

Bob 'pleaded' which shows he is worried about being punished by Scrooge. Obedient How is Cratchit like this? Bob takes orders from his bad-tempered boss, Ebenezer Scrooge without complaining.