Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for June 25, 2011

We become the parent our person warned us about.

Luann sure shows her smarts today!

Some fire depts. are laying off….I’m under the (maybe mistaken) impression that many are hiring, especially experienced people. Start looking, Brad. Anyway, it sounds like he could be rehired once the local F.D. has another vacancy. Don’t give up!

Yes Luann is a smart girl, with GREAT LEGS.

Actually it did help, because that’s important….

As a 16-year-old, Luann is quite familiar with “momisms,” I’m sure….

1st Square

brad isn’t stupid – he is just human. toni yakked about her flaky brother and praised brad for his steadiness with his job…and now he was laid off. it is a reasonable deduction. now i wonder what you have to say about luann – it doesn’t take much wisdom, you say? she is 16 – the kids at that age don’t have this kind of wisdom, usually. they usually go “omg. you think? what will ya do?” no, luann did not go that route. she thought about it and figured going for someone based on job security is not love. she has smarts.

I’ve been thinking about today’s strip, and I cannot easily recall another one that is more impressive. We see great humility, concern, empathy, sympathy, wisdom and insight. Considering that these two characters were set up and run as natural foes, we now see that they have come a very great distance. The last panel reminds me how my Brother and I bonded a year ago after we finally realised how silly our dear Mother has often been during our past six decades.

if Toni blames you for being laid off, then to %$&#^ with her!

Toni won’t stop loving you cause you lost this job. She WILL stop loving you if you roll over and play dead. Start looking and find the next closest firefighter position.

Brad – you seem to forget that the cut’s that are being made at your station house are being made all over town. Toni might be in the same boat as you when she next returns to work. She was only hired six months earlier. And if that is the case, as uncertain as things are, it might be a good time for the both of you to consider some long term plans – together.

First thing: Brad, losing Your Job is NOT YOUR fault, okay??Second thing: Wouldn’t it be WILD if TJ’s father was put into the “Witness Protection Program” and the Government pays the DeGroots to HIDE him at the Horner House? You’re right, it wouldn;t be wild. Coffee time…,

Oh, a THIRD thing: What if Toni’s feelings DO change about Brad, now that he doesn’t have a job? Sure it’ll TICK most of us here off, but even WORSE it will have (DOUBLE GASP)proven certain posters on this forum right.

@ProfessorChaos (from yesterday)Not to continue that stream, but I guess that explains Australia’s low population growth. :)

Wiley would be proud.

Isn’t Luann looking quite disgustingly smug in the last panel?The thing about Frank and Nancy’s reaction that strikes me is that they aren’t, in any way, acting like real parents would act. Let’s say your son suddenly lost his job in an economic recession. What would your first thought be? “What job can he find? How can we help him find a job?” Right?Of course, this being the Luannverse, flakiness is normal.

..I thinks lazy brother is going to get Brad a job…

Why is Brad still wearing his uniform?

Aww this is so sweet and totally true!

Even thought it is doubtful… one of the other commenter offhandedly mentioned the possibility of Toni being laid off as well…. If that were to happen (which is possible since Toni does not have much senority either and is likely low-person at her station)… imagine how the story lines could evolve with the “couple” of Toni & Brad both being laid off at the same time. Perhaps Greg timed this story arc specifically with Toni having the day off (and taking care of Shannon) so that Toni did not immediately learn of her pink slip at the same time Brad did? Very interesting possibilities, indeed.

OK, if we have a job we have an income…and can carry our end of a relationship…but we haven’t the TIME to really get to know the other. If we have the time, we’re likely broke…some really great women got to know me well. Maybe in a well-functioning American economy, ONE person could support BOTH. The working one learned the world of work and society, the supported one learned the inner work of society, the FAMILY. As a man, I got lucky and learned about the family, the reasons for the Constitution and where the American Dream is born, lives, and is enshrined.Thanks to all the wonderful true women…great souls… who supported me to learn that.She can support him. He can struggle, and lead a Hero’s path, something America always needs. Soldiers overseas, under strict command and trained to zombie-like obedience…I was one, shut up…are NOT American heroes…for Americans…we need to see Brad, stumbling like so many young American men, looking for a way to fit in and contribute to building More and Better.

@Professor Chaos – about 7 hours agoHey, you callin’ me old? Flaky is not ’70s. My wife and I still use it in the same manner as Toni and Brad to describe people of an undependable nature. In fact we were talking about a “flaky” friend just yesterday.

Does anyone like Baby Blues and Zits? They have a comment area now, too.

what about the parents?? we have 2 daughters – - one with an 8 year and who was unemployed for a year and a half with an ex son-in-law that is variously employed or unemployed (in jail and out) and another daughter whose husband of many years moved out in favor of being able to see his female colleague in another town whenever he pleases puting our daughter underwater on a house and a second mortgage . . . . Brad and Luann’s parents should be considered here as well as Brad , Luann, TJ, Toni, etc.

Just wondering if anyone’s noticed that the clothing has not changed on this strip in the last week. So all of this is happening in one day, give the guy (both Brad & Greg) a break, he JUST got laid off a couple hours ago, I assume the unemployment office & job service were closed by the time he got the news. As for Luann & Brad’s relationship, it’s like mine & my little brother’s when we were younger, could stand each other, but God help anyone who would try to hurt him!

“Will she stop loving me?” Poor Brad, I suppose you’re going to have to suffer your worries in silence… while you wait to see what Toni will do… unless of course you find a job… then you’ll find something else to feel insecure about.

Brad has a steady job in this strip — unless Greg decides to lay him off.

If Toni is annoyed, it will be because Brad doubts her.

I’m glad my girlfriend isn’t like Toni. We met while I was unemployed, so she loves me for who I am, not for the job.

I doubt very much that Toni only loves Brad for his job. Have a little faith in the girl! Anyway, if worse comes to worst, aren’t there any other fire stations in town?

If that Happens Brad’s life could get much worse.

HMmm… If Brad and Toni work at differnt firehouses, and the whole department is under budget stress… Toni has been a firefighter a little longer than Brad, but she would also still be near the bottom of the seniority ladder…I wonder if …. Nah. How silly of me. Toni is beautiful.

There is NO WAY that a fire station will layoff an individual fire fighter. To do so would limit the station’s effectiveness. This sounds like a consolidation where one or more stations are being closed.

Two words for Brad: “Lateral Entry.” However, I’m thinking there will be a stint at WeenieWorld before that happens…

Oooh… Chuck373 you just stole my fire.. I was thinking the same thing for the past few days. Toni might very well be in the same boat as Brad.Hey here’s a good one…. TJ might have a secret cash stash and get his own place……. Brad moves home and brings Toni with him……….. Dad will say yes (it’s only fair) Mommy Dearest gets on of those “nuclear mushroom clouds” drawn over her head. But really… let unemployment kick in for a month or two before everyone gets desperate.

True

There was sibling rivalry just three days ago, when Luann, eyelids at half-mast as usual, smugly informed Brad that her “job” as a reader at the library was, indeed, a job, and not at risk. Are we reading the same comic?

@ladyfingers: Dunno about that. I’ve been out of work for over a year, now. That’s the longest I’ve EVER been unemployed, and no end in sight.

I think it’s actually helpful, and it’s true. You wouldn’t enjoy a relationship with someone who is only with you for your job even if you had a job.

Zits and Baby Blues are on ArcaMax.

I know