Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for August 11, 2020

Bernice – the forgotten daughter- third week!!!!!!!!

No kiddin’, Luann.

Accomplishing so much, so quickly. ✨

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/1988/08/14.

Memory Lane

Well if you helped a little Luann…

And the beatings will continue untill morale improves. As I said yesterday, this is the week that will make Luann look bad every single day. It’s like Bernice has become the old Tiffany, the constant pain in Luann’s side. I wonder when Mr. Fogerty will show up?

Bernice seems to have a lot of nervous energy. Perhaps she’s not getting as comfortable as I thought.

So are they trying to turn Bernice into a Mary-Sue?

When I’m a guest at someone’s house, I always help them in the kitchen. It’s just what people do.

Lookit Luann – THAT’S how I feel every morning (I’m not a morning person).

Sigh. Bernice is not taking the big fat hints that Nancy’s laying down. Stupidity is sure to ensue.

Come and eat sit.

Bernice doesn’t know how to relax. She is going way overboard. I detect insecurity. Where is Mrs. Phelps-Fogarty when you need her?

Luann is worried that her mom could see all bernice is doing and make her do more. I can see Luann trying to have a private chat with bernice and say “hey cool it with the chores, you’re gonna have me doing more” to which Bernice would likely reply “i dunno, maybe you should be doing more.”

Bernice she does not want you to do the dishes. That be for that long face Luann to do.

Luann doesn’t need Bernice to make her look bad. Every frame that shows her disaster of a room does that.

Maybe Bernice is doing household chores in lieu of paying rent?

Let it be a 4th week where Bernice starts School and invites her Study Partners.

But not bad enough to get up and actually help, eh Nancy?

And after breakfast, she’ll spend the rest of the morning writing up infraction reports.

Panel 2: “My, Bernice, what large hands you have” “Better to… uh, never mind…”

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Bear in mind Bernice has been an R.A., and has become used to keeping tabs on everyone, and shutting down whatever she feels is not correct. I’m betting she works incrementally. First, by gaining their confidence by cooking meals, carrying out trash, doing chores, etc, even if they ask her not to. Eventually, the former Dormenführer will be pulling all the strings in the household and telling them what to do and when to do it. At night, once she is sure the DeGroots are tucked away and sleeping soundly, she settles back on her bed with a cup of hot tea and her copy of “Mein Kampf”…

Bernice is helping out (which is nice). Nancy is worried she’s doing too much (which is typical). Luann is stuffing her face (which is all she’s gonna do). Only Frank & possibly Puddles are just enjoying breakfast, appreciating a good morning!

I’m still very unhappy with the way Nancy laughed at Luann in front of Bernice on 7-27-20. Bernice said she wanted to “at least contribute whatever Luann does.” Nancy went into hysterics. It wasn’t funny enough for that to be a sincere laugh. It was done deliberately to put Luann down. That wasn’t necessary.

I suppose, given yesterday’s comments, that someone will now claim that there is a clock on the trash bag.

Well the theme is that Bernice’s desire to fit in and please the family which is an unexpected and unintended consequence of Bernice’s need for a room and board to along with it, Nancy’s kind offer, and Luann’s discomfiture with the results. Even though Luann feels, quietly, it makes her look bad, and Nancy, that it makes her feel bad, that neither makes Luann inferior, or Bernice some over-anxious revelation. Bernice has never found herself in this situation and neither has Luann. The real story is how this affects the relationship between BFF’s and how it affects them individually, with fun as part. All the Bernie hating or Luann despairing might be nice for trolling, but misses the story.

So Nancy is embarrassed that a guest in her home is freely doing chores that neither her husband nor daughter would do without scolding; while Luann sits in the background, eating Bernice’s pancakes, looking all squiggle eyed at Bernice, and focusing only on her feelings of Bernice making her look bad.

Is there ever going to come a time when Luann quits worrying about whether others make her look bad and starts focusing on how to make herself look good?

Will Bernice clean and organize the bathroom?

Will Bernice patch the holes and fix Prudence’s old room with a new paint job?

Will Bernice teach Puddles to sit, rollover and fetch?

The Taming of the Shrew, day one.

Poor Bern. Trying so hard to please,

Shell be driving them all up a tree.

It just concerns me why Bern thinks acceptance has to be purchased.

I wonder what time it is now. Bernice had time to have her snack and get dressed for the day and make breakfast for the family. At least Luann has a conscience to know she looks bad.

Honesty, thy name is Luann.

Well, if she isn’t paying rent she feels she has to do something in exchange for that free room. I would have reacted the same way at her age. Something to do with education and a desire to not feel as if she was free-loading.

Is Greg trying to insinuate that he is trash since is name is on the trash bag?

I think Luann is afraid of being replaced.

And so it starts. Bernice showing-up and embarrassing Luann.

What’s next? Or more importantly, what will be the Last Straw for our young heroine, Luann?

Bernice painting EVERY room in the house? No, No, wait. I got it. Bernice cleaning up Luann’s room UNASKED, while Luann is at the dog park friend zoning Jack! THAT will do it!

Luann, dear? Bernice is “troubling” Your ‘House.’ Perhaps you should return the favor and “trouble” HER’S It’s time for Bernie to “Inherit the Wind.” Why not go over to the Halper house and say hello to Bern’s brother, Ben? I’m SURE he’d Love to see you after all these years. And the handsome war hero DID have a bit of “thing” for you, and You, Him. And as I recall Bernice was none too happy that you two were getting close.

Do it kiddo and send a CLEAR message to your new housemate and long time friend. That is: “Bernice? You either act right and back off with the “Hazel Bit” or me and your brother start swapping spit!” – Luann.

STILL glad it was Bernice and not Tiffany staying at the DeGroots? ;)

Luann made Luann look bad.

Sigh, we love it when our daughter’s friends stay over. The house gets cleaned :)

Bernice is starting to get on my nerves! (And Luann’s nerves, too!)

Someone is very nervous

Luann looks sad… Let’s hope this will resolves peacefully as two good sisters and not as that kind of family fights where siblings stop talking to each other forever. Bernice is just nice and tries to hide her insecurity in this new situation by making herself appreciated ♡.

Luann, you don’t need any help to make you look bad.

Nancy’s response is the key here. I speculate that Nancy will try to get Bernice to slow down and enjoy life. Bernice’s Type A personality will not allow her to do so.

Bernice might do well as the accountant for The Fuse. Aside from that I don’t see her staying in the strip much longer.

Obsessive compulsive disorder demands order.

When you have no cooking talent and are a slob LuAnn, that’s not hard to do.

Bernice is an incredible pain in the you know what! If Luann is smart, she can get a personal maid and housekeeper out of this annoying behavior. Might as well, Bernice is ruining the friendship anyway. Honestly I have to say it is just really getting annoying how all of these characters are so inconsistent. It’s like they do a complete personality change..weird.

Work is an addiction (for some) and Bern is a worker bee. When you don’t know what to do with yourself, work can be a familiar comfort. Ever notice at large get togethers there is always someone, a guest who is not good with small talk who decides to wash dishes or wipe a counter? That said, eating or having tea/coffee while someone is stomping around washing dishes and taking out the trash can be a little un-nerving. Bern needs to learn how to walk that fine line of helping out while fitting in. Can she do it? Right now it seems she just sees herself as the “help”.

The sibling rivalry neither wanted.

Yea Bernice, make Luann feel bad for not doing anything at home. Maybe she will step up on her own now.

Bernice doesn’t like a messy house like you do.

Nancy: “Really, Bernice, you don’t have to change the sheets and make my bed!!!”

She wants to earn her keep. Sounds good, but relax, Bernice. Eat first. Clean up afterwards.

@Rhetorical Great observation! The -forgotten daughter."

This is Bernice’s defense mechanism. She’s not comfortable being relational, therefore, she makes herself busy. I, on the other hand, overeat when i’m socially uncomfortable.

OMG Tiffany had her Cinderella arc in the McMansion. Are we going to be seeing “Cinderella” Bernice with Luann relegated to a (not so) evil stepsister for a few strips? It’s lining up like that so sfar! 8^ )

Strange comments today. Bernice is absolutely doing the right thing. It’s difficult to fit into a new situation, and she is living there rent free. I totally understand why she wants to be of help to show her appreciation for having a new home.

Bernice and Luann will balance each other. Best friends will hang in there together and work through their differences. It would be to boring if they were the same. They have always been different and they accept each other as they are with the best part rubbing off on each other.

No, Luann makes Luann look bad. Is this the beginning of some sort of a story line where Luann actually starts growing up?

Frank looks like he’s going to enjoy having a second “daughter” around the house.

Whereas Luann’s nerves are starting to fray.

Bern’s time of peace and quiet was at 6 AM with tea and toast. Now she’s on a roll with what she believes to be the work she should contribute in exchange for free room and board.

Projection is the mother of Luannverse commentary, particularly when it involves Luann and Bernice.

5

Bernice is continuing to try to show her gratitude for the kindness the DeGroot family has shown her. She, as is often the case with her personality, strives perhaps a bit too hard to show her gratitude and appreciation, just like in many instances she perhaps works a bit too hard in trying to do the good, right thing…. that it occasionally backfires.

But, she is trying to be kind, trying to express gratitude, and is trying to do good. That is the hallmark of Bernice’s character. It typically manifests itself in working very hard at whatever she does.

It appears that Mrs. Degroot may end up having to offer a bit of “motherly” advice to Bernice, and probably the most successful way would be for her to acknowledge Bernice’s efforts, but to kindly explain that she does not, nor is expected to have to be so busy-bee working on things for the DeGroot household… and should relax a little…. and perhaps Mrs. DeGroot can couch her talk with Bernice around the idea that Bernice should focus a bit more on feeling settled and in her preperation for the Fall Semester classes, and/or perhaps help her family (brother) a bit during their transition as well. If Mrs. DeGroot would shape the discussion in this way, it would be something I think would “click” with Bernice and she would “get it” and be able to readjust her focus a bit.

Luann appears to be being set up by Greg still, to be a bit frustrated/jealous with Bernice. I was hoping he wouldn’t take the story down this route… but I suspect it will be a short lived path and that he will be bringing Luann and Bernice back into their normal, full friendship again quickly.

Luann literally had just gotten up. (Yeah I said ‘literally’, deal with it)

She had all the intentions of making breakfast for everyone. She came into the room and found that all her best plans were already done. So she sat down to eat. However, because she is not ecstatic about the situation, she is somehow self centered focusing on how she feels bad.

Yet some assert she should focus on making herself feel good.

Her intent was to make others happy, and yes, get a little credit for her efforts, her and Bernice.

But no, when that ceased to be possible, she of course is considered a self-centered girl who needs to take another ‘life-lesson’ according to the holier-than-thou contingent.

The dish soap would be next to the sink or in the cupboard under the sink. It would be much harder to locate all the ingredients and equipment to make pancakes.

…and so the piss on Luann remarks continue. I am more annoyed at this than the ANN crap, and I thought that was horrible. Comments on a comic board may be just that but they are a reflection of real people and there are so many sanctimonious judgemental people here who cannot even remember what it was like to be young.

Now we see the sibling jealousy inherent in the friendship. Bernice admires Luann’s attractiveness, esp. with boys. Luann admires Bernice’s wit and intelligence; esp. “ability to get good grades.”

BTW IMHO. Wit and intelligence go hand in hand.

I usually keep my dish soap atop the counter, behind the faucet.

Luann is the only character among her peers that hasn’t shown any real signs of maturity and still acts like a kid in high school.

seriously?

Luann might be happier in the Zits cartoon. She’d fit in with Jeremy just fine.

I find it extremely disrespectful and irritating when a guest assumes the duties of the homeowner without asking first if the homeowner would like some help or if they may use the washer, dryer, etc.

People deny that they hate Luann. Just today, there have been numerous negative comments about Luann: she “sullenly pours tar on her pancakes”, she is “a graduate of the Sami Brady school of self absorption”, “well, if you helped a little, Luann…”, “bet she never took out the trash before”, “the long face Luann”, “Luann doesn’t need Bernice to make her look bad”, “Luann’s room is a pigsty”, “Luann is stuffing her face, which is all she’s gonna do”, “Luann disobeys and disrespects her mother”, “Luann, you don’t need any help to make yourself look bad”, “When you have no cooking talent and are a slob, Luann”, “Luann makes Luann look bad”, “Luann is the only one of her peers that hasn’t shown signs of maturity.” Why do people hate Luann so much?

Why is Luann pouring motor oil on her pancakes?

It doesn’t take much for Luann to look bad.

This one hits a little too close to home for me… (I am Luann here)

I cannot believe what I’m seeing! Bern is taking the trash out in a PLASTIC bag? Why don’t they have an active compost pile in the backyard? This is really not forward thinking.

There’s nothing good about this scene at all – the GMO-based pancakes, the fact that they are not social distancing – WHAT IF BERN GETS CORONA?

I have another appointment with my therapist to decompress after today’s strip. This is simply-too-much.

We need to see more of Mr. Gray in the shower, please. A sight for sore eyes!

Can we get Aaron Hill back from Hawaii?

Luann’s “morning face” in the first panel hits close to home. I feel ya, sister.

Bernice has a home, food, and friends. Why not be grateful and help around the house?

That’s a big stack of pancakes that Luann is eating! I’m a pretty big guy but anymore I couldn’t eat that many, as I find pancakes to be very filling (but I still love them!). The wonders of youth, I suppose.

A person’s room should be her sanctuary. Consider agreeing on a few ground rules—like laundry goes in the hamper, and dirty plates and food packaging get brought to the kitchen promptly—and then let your kid be.

would not take much to make luann look bad

There’s an old Yiddish word for Bernice: Balaboosta, methinks.

Bernice is setting the bar high for herself also: they will expect this kind of performance from now on!

I’d never imagine this would be luanns biggest challenge yet…

tomorrow: Bernice waxes Frank’s Oldsmobile, and Nancy is not amused. ;-)

Copied a comprehensive list of LUANN put-downs from SallyMargeret, who apparently sees the mean-ness as much as I. I don’t think half of you ever look at yourselves in the mirror.

I know Bernice is being helpful, but I think she’s sucking up a bit too much

Looks like the Degroot’s got the last bottle ever of Aunt Jemima’s pancake syrup…

Is that Blackstrap Molasses Luann is pouring on her pancakes?

Greg labeled the trash bag with his name.

I wonder why Bernice just can’t stay at her parents house , they all live in the same town???

Washing dishes before the table is cleared. Bernice isn’t making Luann look bad at all. She’s making Luann look rational by comparison. Someone give Bernice a hobby, please, if she really needs something to keep her busy. Maybe she can play Candy Crush.

Bernie the Useful Drudge shows the DeGroots as pampered and/or lazy. Oh, this comic breaks me up! Ha ha ha ha!

That doesn’t look like real maple syrup.

So Bernice puts out the “trash” (in Canada we call garbage “garbage”) wearing the same rubber gloves she was wearing when about to wash the dishes?