Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for December 21, 2021

Uh-oh… bring on the parents’ disapproval.

Not going well. ✨

Gunther guessed right.

Will Gunther stand fast or fold under pressure?

That was a whip;lashing turn of attitude. Al seemed OK with Bets being preggers but now he’s offended Gunther and Bets are having sex, Snd Bets says her family is awful. Gunther’s family seems a little Peyton Place

KABOOM! …Gunther’s dreams of them being okay with Bets living there are no more.

This is just Tuesday. There are four more days to this story. Where can it go from here?

Big switcheroo coming, Al and Gunther’s Mother welcome Bets, and push them for grandkids.

Ah cognitive dissonance! Last night bun in oven and do you bake, now that Gunther has said what the in love couple is planning, “hanky panky” and “behind my back.”. Doesn’t mean no though.

Oh my! Oh me! How will it all end? 8^ \

So much for informing them.

probably hanky, but so gas no panky…

Let’s see how that fly’s with your mom.

Looks like Al still thinks Bets is preggers when mentioning that marriage is a blessing. Living together is sinful even if she is preggers. Wonder if Gunther will remind his mom about Rosa who she allowed him to go all the way to Peru with compared to doing basically the same in her backyard. AND how would Bets react when she finds out about the Peruvian Rosa with whom Gunther lived before her?

Gun don’t crack under pressure from your mom be a man that you trying to present.

I think that we should package up these fruitcakes and send them all out as Christmas gifts.

Weird choice of phrasing from Irma there. Looks like the Oedipal apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

Some sand has appeared in the gearbox of connubial bliss!

Hanky-panky is a lot better than helter-skelter.

“You CAN watch but better to just watch her video thingy.”

I notice that Gunther (contrary to frequently-expressed characterizations) is acting as if he has a spine. Of course it remains to be seen how long that will continue.

I also notice that odds seem at the moment to be turning against my prediction that Irma would not put the kibosh on the plan of Bets moving in with Gunther. But the week is young and she may yet revert to her attitude of 2020/01/16-17. We shall see.

G & K continue to surprise us. Will they dart back to the family comic somehow – like Gunther & Bets just roommates? Well it was fun while it lasted…

OK, since Mordy hasn’t shown up yet, let me take a crack at the multiple outcome game:1. Gunther will hesitate or back down, and Bets will be outraged and walk out of his life.

2. The couple will stand up for their relationship, and Al and Irma will throw them out, which will lead to a “young unmarried couple living in an apartment trying to work things out while they attend college” scenario.

3. Al and Irma will realize that their love for Gunther and his love outweigh their moral misgivings, and allow them to stay in the guest house with restrictions.

4. Al and Irma insist they get married and provide grandchildren to stay in the guest house.

5. Aliens arrive and whisk them all off to Remulac.

6. Your idea.

Don’t do that in front of the Elf on the Shelf!

I think what Irma’s missing is that Gunther is an adult, and you can disagree with your adult child about something without it being the end of the world.

And I’m not sure I understand being more or less OK with them having sex in a car somewhere, in a motel room, in her dorm, or in the bushes, but God forbid it should happen in the Gulag.

Hey Irma, Gun’s not 10 years old anymore so stop treating like a boy when you want him to be a man. So he wants to spend time with an attractive woman. You want grandkids? How are you going to get them if you treat gun and bets like kids?!?

Heavens to Murgatroyd! Looks like Gunny and Bets are going to have to “exit, stage left…”

Thought just occurred to me: Uncle Al, Vegas, cognitive dissonance becomes a NO, then Uncle Al mentions Vegas and marriage chapels. Before we know it they are saying I Do’s. Could happen.

Telling you straight on, as opposed to how you broke the news to Bets about catching Tiff in the wet ‘n’ nekkid.

Dang – Gun & Bets looked good in frame 2. I’m on their side.

I don’t think she’s living with you anytime soon Gunther.

If there wasn’t a clause in the rental agreement or if there is no agreement at all regarding occupancy, The Greys will be in violation of The Fair Employment and Housing Act if they deny Bets based on her sex.

The house is a separate dwelling, meaning Gunther and Les can have a house guest stay with them regardless of sex or gender assignment. However, since she plans on establishing residency, The Greys have a right to increase the rent.

Shame on them if they didn’t have a rental agreement!

Time to get a job and move out.

Not a surprising turn of events. Glad that the younger folks found the courage to face at least one set of parents. I wonder if they’ll ever fact Bets’ folks. Anyway, this may be an interesting week after all.

Well, THIS just took a Predictable turn.

Gunther, do you see what your annoying, incessant “honesty” gets you ?

There are two old sayings you should familiarize yourself with and live by:

1) “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”

2) “Honesty is a good policy (But not necessarily the best).” – From the tv show, “That’s my Momma.”

BOTH, will serve you well especially after you get married.

Now, forget these two hypocrites and go see Tiff.

Chances are the Farrell mansion will be empty during the holidays and she can let you stay there.

And even if it isn’t, the joint is so big that it would be weeks before you accidentally ran into anybody, like Poppa Farrell.

With luck, you might even run into Tara’s cousin Stella or Ann Eiffel ransacking the place.

And the good news is, you wouldn’t be sharing the place with Les. ;-)

It is Al and Irma’s guest house. If Gunther likes living free, then he better finish school and get a job before playing house. That is what responsible adults do.

Or, B/G can have sex in the dorm. Either way, there is a good chance it will or has happened.

Just be sure to use protection kids, it’s way too early in your life to have kids.

sound like my parents, which was why I didn’t have sex for the first time until months after they were both dead and buried.

Do they hear themselves? Who in the world would want to do hanky panky with Gunther? I thought the only girl Gunther would want to do hanky panky with was his mom.

It sounds like they never made any rules concerning bringing girls to the guest house. I guess neither of them thought Les or Gunther would ever have a date.

And now it looks like Gunther will have to adjust his attitude of “We don’t need my mom’s permission”. it doesn’t help that his mother thinks he’s still four years old.

I told you so! By the end of the week, Bets will not sleep at Gunther’s!

Yeah as soon as I saw Gunther saying bets can move in and his mom would have no problem I knew this would be the result. Gunther got smacked down for his hubris.

Here’s the thing. If you’re old enough to play house with your girlfriend, you’re old enough to pay for your own house.

I’’m so disappointed… Al and Irma, I thought they were better than this. But it’s ok. Gunther and Bets have just started fighting. They are young and resourceful, they will know how to convince them!

Momma Gunth and Al’s idea of hanky panky ALWAYS involves leaving their clothes on. In fact, Gunther was mysteriously conceived while fully clothed.

Still trying to understand why this is a shock if Gunther was married previously. Or did he just run off to South America or whatever it was?

So basically they’re saying: “No premarital sex!” All it takes is one child born out of wedlock and they’ll kick him out for sure.

“My house, my rules”. If you don’t like it, find some other place to live.

seriously, what century are we set in here? This is just…antique. Not cute at all.

Gunther, you and Bets just move away! FAR, FAR away!!

Yeah, 2 teens living together was never going to fly (and Gun’s mom is okay with marriage, but not right now – when they’re older.) But I bet they wouldn’t mind Bets staying with them in the house during the holidays. Of course, Gunther & Bets could always get a place of their own . . .

Since they’ve been upfront, now Les can’t blackmail them to keep quiet about their living arrangements.

NOw, this makes sense.

“Hanky panky”. I think at this point, the olds should have retired that term. “Porking” would be more appropriate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsgKZb9jQ1s

Like I said a few days ago, the alpha pair (parents) won’t tolerate another breeding couple in their territory (property). It’s not old fashioned, and there are plenty of examples of this in nature. Either the college kids back down and accept a modified holiday arrangement (Bets or Gunther sleep in the main house) or Gunther moves away from home and they shack up together as independents.They don’t have jobs or a means to pay room and board so far as I know.It’s not a great way to start adulthood, but it’s not unheard of.I thought Gunther was brighter than to think this would be something his mom and step dad would approve of.He needs to use his brains and stop thinking with his glands.If Bets had some consideration for him, she would have not opened this can of worms for someone she cared a lot about.

Thank you Parents. Lead them back to the proper road. Gunther needs to dump this hyper-s3xed chick and get back on the straight and narrow.

Annnnnddddd they just hit the brick wall!

Gee…..does she want them to do it in front of her??

You should have said she will be moving in with you. As it is, by saying that she IS living with you, you told them that she has already moved in without their prior knowledge.

Did you write the book of love, and do you have faith in God aboveIf the Bible tells you so?

Now do you believe in rock and roll, can music save your mortal soul?

And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Hanky Panky must be out of the 1950s when the word SEX was considered a bad word (among others)that you never used in public.

I dunno if anyone has already pointed this out.

BUT, in reference to this “living together” idea.

It should be noted that Ann Eiffel once lived with Tiffany’s dad Tom Farrell.

And somehow THAT was “okay” aside from the fact that just about everybody HATED Ann Eiffel.

So it seems that a couple “living together” in the VAST Luanniverse is perfectly fine, provided that:

1) The couple are consenting adults who are waaaaaaaaay over 21 years of age and fully vaccinated.

2) And at least one of the couple is paying the rent/mortgage/property taxes on the residence they are living in.

That’s it.

But this is the 21 Century so I guess Morality be damned, but financial obligations prevail.

Irma’s reaction I can kinda understand.

Al’s reaction makes little sense.

I mean Sheesh, he was the one making that tasteless “bun in the oven crack,” yesterday.

So what’s he saying today?

“It’s OKAY for Gunther to get Bets pregnant but not in HIS house??”

Any spanky in the hanky panky?

All this because Gunther seen Tiff’s goodies?

The best ending to this story: Bets gets really ticked off, and leaves the comic strip for good.

Wasn’t it Al who basically ‘forced’ Gun to move out of his own house? However, since it appears that Les & Gun are paying no rent, he still controls the building.

Bets,meet Fuddy and his wife Duddy…

Gunther hasn’t thought this through or considered his financial position. It’s like when a little boy brings home a stray puppy.

Hanky Panky!

You put your right foot in, you take your right foot out …

I guess mommy expects to be informed every time Gunnie wants to….. ya know…

His house? Isn’t this Mrs Gunthers place?

Uncle Al was cool when he thought she had “one in the oven” but not with “hanky-panky”?

Does Uncle Al know where babies come from?

At what age does Gunthers mother think marriage is “appropriate”?

Wow, I didn’t think Al was going to be so cross about it. I thought he’d be the “cool” one.

♬My baby does the hanky panky♬ — by the garage rock group Tommy James & the Shondells. Madonna did a version under the same title in 1990 that should have been titled Hanky Spanky. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukSVypfM6qU

Gunther has an obligation to reveal his intentions since he is living in Al’s guesthouse. The arc starts with Irma Berger Gray, then Al Gray walks in and is hoping that Bets is pregnant with Gunther’s first child. Bets tell everybody that she is not pregnant and the sudden change in attitude by the parental unit. Does Bets have the obligation to get pregnant?

Well, Bets will be a guest, Gunther’s guest.

Al; you do remember the biology yo had in school? If Betts was expecting, she and Gunther would have had to “do the deed” already, as slang from a generation around yours would say. So, why sweat the “hanky Panky” in the Guest House. Irma; still S"mothering" Gunther at his age?

“Hanky panky”? Well that explains a lot about Gunther. If he had to grown up and be okay with his mom and Al, they need to do the same with him and Bets.

Are there any couples in this strip that don’t have friends and/or relatives living with them? On another note, C’mon Gunther. You don’t shack up in the guest house your Momma and Al provide you for free while you’re studying in college. No one said you need to remain chaste, just don’t rub their noses in it.

I like that Al was ready to accept that Bets was already preggers so long as the hanky panky didn’t happen under his roof.

Why does the old song Brother Louie by the band Stories come to mind?

Gunther is so dumb sometimes. It would be much better to say “Bets wants to stay with me for the 2 week winter break because her dorm is closed”. That is the truth and much more palatable for the parents.

Its been said before, not just by me, Gunther needs to get a life away from Mommy and , now, Mister Grey

When I was in college and my boyfriend and I discussed moving in together, my father said to him “So, you want to live in sin with my daughter.” Boyfriend shot back, “No, Lynnebrook!” (name of apartment complex). It actually got a chuckle out of my dad.

Sorry, Gunther. If you want to play house, you’re going to have to do it in your own house, not your mom’s and Al’s house.

Bets will charm Irma and Al the next few days and get them to support the idea.

Can’t Wait to see Luann’s reaction when she learns sweet innocent little Gunther has Bets moving in with him!

I hope they all sit down and discuss this like reasonable human beings, weighing the pros and cons of live-in situations, respectfully exchanging ideas…

Wouldn’t that be refreshing?

Certainly better than some people automatically dissing the parents for having a long-term view of relationships. Let’s face it: If you’ve been around the block a few times, you know where the potholes are located.

let’s remind step dad they’re in the ‘guest house’ because you got mom to sell his home

this is going to get dicey. I predict they are cut off and have to get their own place….or, since Bets’ room is paid for for the rest of the school year, Gunther “lives” with her and Dez? He would have to be sneaky to get past the RA. He could be the next couch-surfing Piro!!!

Somehow, when we weren’t around, Gunther grew a pair. Way to go, Guns. If they tell you to vacate, then vacate and the hell with ’em!

Bets and Gun haven’t done anything yet. At this point it is all talk.

You expected ears of joy?……

OK, we have a story arc and today is Tuesday, so we have three days to resolve the crisis, or more likely it will be resolved next week, after Guns and Bets find somewhere to live, with Les’ unexpected help, and his mom and step-mannequin realize they don’t want to lose him over their pride.

I also expect the DeGroots to get involved somehow.

Well Gunner, it seems the time has come for you to get a place of your own.Spread your wings and fly. I was also thinking about Big Al and Irma’s courtship.And let’s not forget your charming roommate Les. I am so very sure that he would beA bit of a challenge with Bets in the house.So yeah, a place of your own should be high on the “to do” list.Now to the problem of where to kanoodle for Christmas.

That kind of explains why Gunther is like he is.

Is Gunther’s mom implying that she wants to watch?!?

What is the appropriate age Irma?

The last time a similar couple’s family disapproved of their relationship this strongly, the couple left the family and renounced all ties in order to be happy by themselves.

Oh No! Al is going to buy bunk beds with nightly bed check.

When Luann and Tiffany leaked out a rumor a year ago, didn’t Irma give Gunther advice about using “protection?” Why this response now?

Time to move out, Gunth.

Poor Gunther and Bets. When I was 19 I was on the DMZ.

My intake on this is: he’s living in their guest house for free, you abide by their rules. If the rules are that there’s no living together, then it’s time to find your own place to live. But Gunther knew that his mom and stepdad wouldn’t approve. But Bets pushed him to do it. It should have been his idea or at least discussed.

Who said anything about hanky-panky? And who still uses that term!?

Do parents in their 50s actually still care about this for kids in their 20s? Really?

When I was 18 I left my home and made my own decisions right or wrong. At least I learn to be an adult. All the characters in Luannseem to be stuck in their development.

But they voted for the philandering whorechaser. And they will again.

Al and his mom don’t really seem that upset. I think they’ll be ok with it.

You can tell by the way Greg is drawing Bets and Gunther together that they are going to be permanently added to the cast of married or “significant other” couples this comic.

Apparently Al is OK with hanky-panky as long as it doesn’t take place in his guest house.

Al’s next statement to Bets should be along the lines of:“Alright, young woman, you and Gunther want to live together, fine. I’ll have my lawyer draw up a contract/rental agreement stating how much you will be expected to pay for rent and utilities. Gunther is Irma’s son, so I will help support him as long as he is in school. I am under NO obligation to support you, nor will I.”

yes Al… “hanky panky” or however you want to describe it.

And Bets thinks HER family is bad!!!!

This is just a little Peyton Place, and you’re all Berger Valley hypocrites… ##

He is an adult and was man enough to come and talk to you first.

Let the disco dancing begin!

A couple of takes on this here. Uncle Al says my guest house. So the Gulag isn’t for Les or Gun, it is viewed as Uncle Als property. Not our guest house, but his and his only. Uncle Al joked Bets was pregnant and that Gun proposed … but they can’t live together cause of hanky panky. Color me surprised, but I am shocked that Al and Irma isn’t concerned about them being an inter-racial couple, kudos to G&K for not going that route. But hasn’t Bets been over to the Gulag before. I remember the two of them positioned on a bean bag before. How has Irma and Al never met/seen/been introduced to Bets before? Gun, move out of the Gulag.

Oh, and Gunther, make sure you tell them “straight on” that you told Bets she could live with you absolutely free! That it won’t cost her anything for rent, utilities, food or anything else! I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to hear that!

I hope they are just kidding around. This seems completely out of character for Irma.

Umm I think Gunth’s mom is actually happy about the idea. LOL

Tomorrow: who issues the ultimatum(s) ?

Yeah, my baby does the hanky panky

I saw her walking on down the line yeah

You know I saw her for the very first time

A pretty little girl standing all alone

Hey baby, baby, can I take you home yeah

My baby does the hanky panky yeah

Seems like Al and Irma are completely unaware of Les and his possible shenanigans. Although up to this point, I don’t know if he’s ever actually gotten anyone to sleep with him!

They tell kids “Honesty is the best policy.” They lie.

Time to move out.

Couples that live together before marriage ARE more likely to break up.

Luann, who? She’s a guest star in her own strip. Sad.

Have Mr. Grey and Irma been doing “Ichabod Crane” for 20, or even 30 or more, years? Are they not aware that for better or for worse cohabitation before marriage has become the norm in this country (USA)?

And of course Gunther is right and trying to make himself heard, but he will need to speak up louder if he is to get his message across the generational divide!

Less than 500 comments.

Obviously, not that controversial.

I didn’t expect Al’s reaction. He always seemed more pragmatic and realistic.

Chill out.

There is just some sense of the bizarre about today’s strip that begs us not to think too deeply at each character’s supposed motivations. At least that’s my sense.

Typical uptight prudes! Got to have the strip “lean conservative” to keep it in certain papers! the fact that there is an inter-racial relationship may already be too much for some! I think it is wonderful Gunther and Betts should jump each others bones by the end of the week as a matter of fact! ;)

Both of Gunther’s gonads have dropped. He is now standing up to his domineering mother. He is a man!