Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for October 27, 2020

oh, girl, you sure know how to sour the mood

”Ugh.” ✨

Bernice not looking too happy.

Bernice is trying to find a way not to see him, methinks.

Bernice is annoyed. Bernice needs counseling.

see you was armoring herself so she didn’t let on this is a real struggle for her emotionally

Luann, ask your parents to invite Ben to dinner. But, don’t tell Bernice!

Luann needs to have a life of her own and stay out of others’ lives… She was looking for some juicy gossip and she was not helping things…

Aww, poor wittle…fish. Its tank is so empty with no rock in it.

I think that Bernice feels threatened by her brother. In other words her parents might favor him over her.

Oh no, Puddles. You’ve left nose prints all over the aquarium. Now Monstro can’t see. As For Bernice, yep, very weighed down and burdened with resentment toward his brother. Conflicted because she said OK to give her room to her step nephews and annoyed that her parents did not try to make space for her at home following the loss of her dorm room. Luann has no clue – she’s never experienced real life.

If they had published this on Monday nobody would have missed anything and we could have got through arc a lot faster.

I don’t think it’s threatened. She see’s that Ben has a wife and two children.

What is the heavy dilemma the poor girl is carrying!?

You tried Luann, now drop it. Whatever you do don’t keep bothering Bernice or worse, invite Ben over. If she wants to see her brother she will. DO NOT INVITE HIM OVER.

Bernice could legit be very angry at her whole family, and if she isn’t, she’d be a saint, IMO. Or maybe she’s very angry with herself for getting into this life situation. Angry or depressed or whatever. Lots of stress on her plate recently—not at all surprising she’s moody.

I think that long festering issues are coming to roost in these young adult (and in the case of Ben, young but maybe 5 or so years older) lives. There clearly is a problem which has to have arisen in the parents, both the vagabond free spirited hippie types lately on that houseboat in Belize, and the birth parents, boring and rigid in Pittsville. They kept the baby girl, gave away the baby boy. They are the root of whatever resentments, issues, problems these siblings are having. The weight of that is troubling Bernice greatly. And her brother. She is a drawing, but damn my heart goes out to her. Talk about projection! Can her goofball, but loving friend do anything? To me this is just the kind of storyline and arc, with humor, that keeps us addicted to this strip. Why is Bernice resentful, if that is the emotion, and Ben needy, if that is his emotion? I think I know what GnK have in mind, but I will hold my predictions for now.

Panel #3: Bernice has just taken the oft used Charlie Brown position of hopelessness and/or frustration.

Give credit where credit is due: Bernice handled it a lot better than most of us predicted yesterday.

In fact, methinks she’s doing just fine.

Other than being upset, that is.

But she didn’t dump on Luann, which is what most folks expected.

I feel bad for Bernice. And I realize Luann thinks she is helping. So I read Luann Again to check out happier times (Bernice running for student council against Tif, those carefree high school days).

I think Luann did what Ben asked, now she should drop it. Even very tone deaf people would realize that Bern is extremely uncomfortable concerning her brother. Certainly there is some underlying reason but whatever it is is not any of Luann’s business unless Bernice chooses to tell her. Heck, remember that she just got ripped out an RA spot at the Uni via budget cuts and no fault of her own. So unless she wants to sleep on a couch or foldaway cot, she can’t stay at home now that Ben and his step kids are there which is enough to create some resentment. If she is a bit frustrated and depressed you can not blame her…..

You might need some counseling Bernice

This is only Tuesday – We’ll find out more…

I don’t see anything wrong with how she handled this. Luann delivered the message and gave her some space. It’s up to Bernice, now.

I don’t like the fake nonchalance that Luann tries, after the fake buddy-buddy.

I don’t get why Ben and children are not in the foreign bounty with his wife (caring for her parents), if he doesn’t have a job.

Since his wife isn’t with them, why couldn’t Ben share a room with them and leave a room for Bernice? Just what are his plans and how long will he stay there?

Bernice is not an ‘open book’ type of person. She needs her emotional space and Luann should respect that. If Bernice feels the need to talk, she will.

Bern looks like she came to the realization that she should not have done that. In effect, she has put herself in solitary…

Since this plot seems, at this point, both obvious and predictable. (IE, that Bernice blames Ben for her homelessness and they eventually reconcile, say on Thanksgiving.) I wonder if GnK don’t have something else in mind that’s troubling Bernice. Maybe she;s learn that Kip has been betting on the outcome of his football games. Or maybe that Stefi hacked the college IT and gave Tiffany a failing grade on that Econ test? Or maybe she thinks Ben is an impostor. Otherwise if this is all they got, this is going to be a long and tedious arc that ends back where it began.

Studying is Bernice’s Sanctuary. A place to escape reality A place to avoid unpleasantries of life. In high school, the payoff was full- ride scholarship. Delayed gratification fatigue is wearing out Bernice. Bernice has made sacrifices to her master plan and Bernice is not happy about the adjustments she has made to accommodate others.

I think Bernice will be fine by Friday. That’s when the new season of Mandolorian starts. Who can resist baby Yoda?

Well alright! Luann just got right to the point. And it only took her about two Strips to do it. I would have SWORN she’d have hemy-hawed, and beat around that bush for at least a week. Good show, and mission accomplished! Your “obligation” to Benny has been fulfilled, Lu. Since the ball is now in Bern’s court, STAY OUT OF IT.

Just quietly observe what happens next. And be sure to take good notes. Since it appears that characters will only talk about college and not be shown actually attending college, it’s looks like no in class room biology class.

But FEAR not. Bernice is about to demonstrate how an “open wound” festers. ;)

What’s Bern’s secret? Hope we find out before the end of 2020…

Puddles wants fish sticks.

I don’t recall Ben saying he was annoyed. I recall him expressing concern/worry about how Bern felt. If so, Luann is adding her own interpretation and it is the worst possible spin she could put on it. It doesn’t say “He cares about your feelings” it says “He’s pissed off.”

She doesn’t want anyone annoyed, Luann, even you. Maybe especially you.Puddles is checking on Monstro and slinks out of the room. Sensitive pup!Bernice seems to be the only one doing schoolwork?

Waaah! Bern doesn’t visit! Waah! Honestly, Ben doesn’t know Bern that well and maybe it’s better for him if he doesn’t. She’s not a nice person.

Here’s a thought for you. Bernice isn’t staying at home because her parents are allowing Ben to stay there and she disagrees for some dumb reason. I’ll bet it has to do with his life choices and you know Bernice, has to see the wrong in people because she’s really judgemental

I wonder what Puddles and Monstro are discussing

Bernice looks overwhelmed. I was hoping she was sneaking around seeing Jack, but she looks tired, put-upon, and anxious. Maybe she needs some therapy (or a vacation).

I wonder why Ben and the kids didn’t stay in Manilla with the wife?

What Finn doing at Luann’s house? And where’s Gill, still at Marvin’s?

Hey jealousy!

Bernice keeps everything inside her. As always, she do not want others to know she has problems. I hope Luann will insist with her about Ben and why she’s lying to everyone. I can understand don’t say anything to her relatives or to Luann’s parents. But saying nothing to your best friend is too much! What is burning Bernice inside? She looks so conflicted in the last panel, she don’t like this situation at all.

As usual Luann gets it all wrong. Hopefully Bernice is realizing that childhood friends are very often outgrown. She hasn’t been friendly to Luann for weeks. I would have distanced myself long ago….except for needing a place to stay, that is.

What a great friend Luann is, doesn’t even take time to ask Bernice’s side of the story. Just ambush and try to force a meeting. Maybe Luann should just go back to harassing her mom about snoring. Oooh! Maybe Bernice should sit the two of them down for a talk! After all there’s got to be some conflicts there if she can show so little respect to her folks and it’s apparently funny.

I have never understood the story of the Prodigal Son. He abandons his family and when it doesn’t work out he comes home and the father praises him and treats him better than the the son who was faithful and dutiful. I can relate to Bernice’ parents wanting to help, and to see their grandchildren, but I can understand why she feels slighted and kind of taken for granted.

Huh. Didn’t know Bernice KNEW the word, “Oy.”

The fact is, not all siblings get along. They may always love each other as siblings, but they do not always like each other. Best to leave it alone and let them sort it out.

The “problem” appears to be with Bernice. Whatever “problem” GnK have contrived for us. Some perceived slight by Bernice most likely.

Bernice appears quite distressed in today’s strip. Perhaps it will turn out to be the weight of all the upsets in her life recently. She needs someone to talk to. Nancy? Maybe. Dez? Neh! Jack? Maybe? BEN? Most likely.

That’s the problem with living in the same house as someone else— It can be hard to get rid of them. Especially if it’s THEIR house…

I wonder if Bernice is going to exit the strip.

I wonder if Bern’s comment about being busy with school is more than just a throw away excuse for her reticence and absences?

Bernice looks annoyed.

Airman proffered an interesting Charlie Brown analogy, above! To Bernice, he world has seemed to have pulled Lucy’s football trick on her. Kicked out of her home room. Kicked out of her school room. She’s flat on her back looking up at the sky. Even her final posture is Charlie Brown like!

It irony is if the situation was just slightly different people would be complaining that Luann is obtuse for not seeing that something is bothering Bernice and ‘_why hasn’t she tried to get BernIce to talk_’

Ben was puzzled and confused but he did NOT express annoyance. Also, why isn’t Luann busy with school? She could find a better time to approach the subject (which she is getting wrong) instead of ambushing Bern the minute she arrives home after full day and needing to study.

I love my family, I really do, but sometimes I wish I was born an orphan and was not expected to be social all the time. I feel for Bernice and her brother.

@PeterPirate says “I wonder if Bernice is going to exit the strip.”

YIKES! An extreme, yet interesting idea. What high drama that would be! Bernice as a background/parallel arc similar to Gunther in Peru. Ben’s dropout bug bites Bernice. She leaves for a period to “find herself.” That would be every bit as compelling a story as the Tiffany/Ann Eiffel arc!

Is Puddles and Monstro a metaphor for Luann and Bernice? 8^ )

Bernice: Trapped in a world not of her making?

Luann: Looking in from outside. Interested, but unable to experience Bern’s environment?

Bernice really is having a serious complex with her brother. I feel bad for her.

I’m sensing some stress in the house guest.

Just hit your head against the wall, Bern…. now do it again, only harder…. repeat…

Not too bright meet wound too tight.

Poor kid. Don’t know exactly what her problem is but it is obvious the situation troubles her.

Something heavy is weighing on Bernice and was doing so before Luann broke the news about Ben. This promises to be interesting, at least till G & K run out of ideas. Like, over at the Gulag, what’s cooking with Gunther, Les and Bets? And have G & K hit a dry patch in the plot line of Tiff’s organic food biz, that seemed to be poised to push Dez aside? The two writers just drop things right in the middle and never seem to pick them up again.

Well her intentions were good but Luann could have handled that better. She seems casual and uncaring. It would not make me feel like opening up to her at all. Clearly, Bernice does not feel confident in sharing her and her feelings with her friend right now either. Berniece’s family has become very complicated. Everyone is carrying a set of feelings that needs to be shared. I hope in the future they will do that. But I agree with several posters that Luann Has done her duty and now needs to stay out of it and let things unfold as they will.

We have to see how it plays out.

Stay out of it. Not their circus, not their monkeys. Clearly Bern wants Luann to bug out. Her attitude says “If I want your help I’ll ask for it.” If it makes her feel bad after she shoves Luann out the door, then she will have to deal with that, too. This is something she and her brother have to fix with each other if it were real life. But in a comic strip, I guess it means “hilarity ensues.”

I know Bernice lives there, but other than that connection, WHY is this Luann’s business?

Yeah, I get it Bern. This stranger swooped in, announced himself as a previously unknown brother, then left before you could bond. Then showed back up an took your place at home right when you needed it too. But get over it already and get to know him and his kids already.

Leave Bernice alone. It’s HER business.

I just wanted to make something clear: I’m not necessarily anti-Luann or pro-Bernice. I don’t make excuses for bad behavior or stupid decisions, because that’s what’s the key: BEHAVIOR. Regardless of the person who did it. I’ve been cornered by certain people, who asked if I’d be as hard on, say Brad, if he did some of the things Luann had done. My answer is “Yes”.

Shoe on the other foot. Luann stops talking to Quill… seems to be avoiding him. No explanation… she’d just absented herself from his life and he doesn’t know why. Quill bumps into Bernice, and asks Bernice if she can ask Luann, “what’s up?” to clear up any possible misunderstanding. Bernice approaches Luann, but beats around the bush, asking inane questions, while Luann is clearly in a foul mood. Then Bernice botches it by saying “Quill is annoyed at you [for not being in touch with him]. Will you see him?” Luann shoves Bernice out the door, but looks upset and distressed… and keeping something to herself.

So what do I say? "Damn it, Bernice! You’re smarter than that! Don’t you know the difference between the word “annoyed” and the words “concerned/worried”? Way to go, Botch! Making the situation what it isn’t."

See? Same thing. Apples and Apples.

And yet, for some reason, she’s annoyed.

Bernice – just pick up your cell phone…call Ben and get over this…what ever ‘this’ is. Rip off the band-aid…you can do it!

hmm…the game’s afoot

Oh I know what it is. Bernice has discovered that Ben is involved in illegal activities and she doesn’t know what to do about it.

If this were just about any other strip depicting the life of college age young people, one would expect Bernice’s character to possibly have a substance abuse problem. I do not believe Greg will go there, but just saying.

A couple theories: 1) Bernice is genuinely overworked with classes and not liking living with Luann but doesn’t see how to get out without hurting her feelings. Not unlikely given Bernice is (sophomore at least?) at University and Luann is at community college. 2) Bernice found out something about Tara being up to her old tricks but doesn’t have proof, (this IS Bernice, if she had proof that she was “right” I’d guess she would have blabbed all over the place by now), and doesn’t want to get between Luann and Tara (Interesting but unlikely). 3) Bernice asked out Jack and got shot down (also unlikely).

“Get between Luann and Tara???’

Since when are Luann and Tara all that close?

Uh oh

Bernice needs to get web out of her panties. She’s lucky to have a brother.

Bern’s hair looks good after taking off a hat. That never happens for me. Anyone?

It’s a Bern disaster! The one who demands perfection is facing a few shortcomings, it seems.

The best thing to do is mind your own business. Getting in the middle of another family’s problems is a good way to loose friends.

Try as hard as you like, Greg and Karen. I will not feel sympathy for Bernie, no matter what her hangup is about her blood-brother….

Bye Now. I have to Stress Out about this.

It a while to sink in but Bernice did not say she had been studying at school, only that she has been busy with school. And as she pushes Luann she says she has to study now. So she wasn’t studying then. So what could be going on at the college that ;eaves her tired and stressed? I tend to believe that she’s at he university researching Ben because his story seems a little too good to be true.

Bernice is a smart mouth jerk!

“God forbid my brother who had me kicked out of my house should be ‘annoyed.’” I’m with Bern on this one, I think. Ben shows up out of the blue with two kids in tow, and boom…Bernice is booted to the curb. No, Bern is NOT being a jerk. Bernice is HURTING.

She doesn’t know what Ben looks like.