Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for March 23, 2017

I hope this conversation between Les and Pru gets settled when the Kafé Kablooie closes for the night.

Let’s hope the problem doesn’t compound itself.

Have you noticed? Les has mellowed a little when it comes to his name?

@Donny/Marian/Marbles: You really need to get those meds under control. You already irritated several other people here on the board yesterday. Some questioning your mental state. Do us all a favor – please, please help yourself.

Re: Les & Pru. Is the fuse gonna burn all the way through Saturday before the Cafe goes Kablooie?

Prudence is also an empath apparently. She senses a problem. Perhaps a disturbance in the force? Or is this like Spider-Man and her Prudence senses are tingling? I am like Prudence. I sense a problem too:

1. Prudence is using an old spoon to put ice in the glasses. Why doesn’t she do like every bartender I have seen and pour the iced tea from a pitcher already filled with ice and tea?

2. Prudence heard Leslie say, “Can I bring you a drink?” and she realizes he should have said, “May I bring you a drink?”

3. Prudence has realized that Mrs. Berger’s eyes move from one side of her head to another depending on which way you look at her and she suspects Mrs. Berger is actually a hologram.

4. Prudence noticed that Leslie actually pushed Mrs. Berger’s seat forward as she sat down indicating a knowledge of etiquette greater than she would have suspected of Leslie. Perhaps he is actually royalty in disguise or maybe he was once a servant in a great house.

5. Prudence has noticed the lighting and ceiling over the bar has mysteriously lowered from the first panel to the last panel making her suspect that the DeGroots have secretly hidden surveillance equipment in the ceiling in order to be able to eavesdrop on their employees.

6. Prudence has observed that the table where Mrs. Berger is sitting is completely bare as Leslie has failed to give her a menu and she is about to remind him about the procedure of seating the customer, handing them a menu, and then getting the drink.

7. Prudence has observed that Mrs. Berger is sitting in a table across from a chair with her coat across the back of the chair and is now engaged in a lively conversation with her coat.

So NOW she adds two and two together? She’s been oblivious for months. Pru, just tell him you’re gay and leave it at that. Case closed.

Pru senses a problem. She realizes that they are out of tea.

Prudence is not only lovely and sweet and kind, but a Jedi knight to boot.

WHATAWOMAN

Uh-oh, the moment of truth.

Everybody’s got problems, problems, problems….

Leslie has no problem serving Ma Berger, she of the henna-hair. But he does have a problem with Pru. And now Pru has a problem with Leslie.

It ain’t gonna get prettier, folks!

I think instead of Les plus Pru it’s gong to be Pru less Les.

Hopefully she’ll tell him the truth now and get that all cleared up.

“The Road Les Traveled”

“I Stink At Hearts And Bridges”

“Seek A Match, Play With Fire”

“The Kerosene-ic Route”

“You Made Your Bed Of Nails…”

“Trou-ble In A Diner Shop”

“Mr. Knox, Tear Down This Wall!”

“The Ring Of Truth, From A Close Call”

“Knox And Pings”

“The Policy Of Truth, Is The Best Insurance”

“Only A Clown Fools Around”

“Wool, You Leave My Eyes Alone”

or

“Lyin’ On The Job”

Why don’t you people who are using this comic to fight with each other STFU and take it elsewhere?

The repartee was well done in today’s strip.

First card from the house is down…

Oddly, I didn’t care for Pru when she was introduced by the Evanses, but now I enjoy the mini-arcs that involve her. Is that just me, or has she been “morphed” from a gushing over-the-top stereotype into a stabilizing force for the strip?

Here comes da bomb!

One big problem, coming right up! K2 at your service. Or will Pru and Leslie take it outside? I see her getting right to the point.

“Not a problem” vs. “I sense a problem”

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Panel 2: The little wry grin on Les’ face says, “It’s working, It’s working!”

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Panel 3: Pru’s look says, “This is NOT working.”

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Such a sweet gal, AND Jedi-wise – the type you’d hate to disappoint, or lose as a friend. Les doesn’t even know how much he’s needing industrial strength hip-waders right now. With the necklace and theatre stuff … a lot in play here.

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The thing is: Prudence is a very attractive, New York gal – She’s HAD to have experienced this before.

7

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So, which direction? A) Will Pru simply tell Les that she is “not into” him for dating purposes and leave it at that, or B) Will Pru go into the explanation of her “Lesbian Thespian” orientation? The choice will be interesting in revealing more about Pru’s own emotions. If she chooses (A) it would suggest to me that doesn’t want to wear her orientation “on her sleeve” so-to-speak… meaning, while she is comfortable with herself that it is not the primary focus that she wants others to have when they think of her. If she chooses (B) it could suggest she is i) wanting to let Les down as easily as possible or ii) she is simply being a “free spirit” and is willing to talk about her orientation anytime. For B)i) the suggestion would be that, “because of my orientation, it would not be possible for us to date.” A) being more vague, could leave Les to think he was simply not “good enough” in Pru’s opinion, to date.

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So….

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A) to me seems the most “insulating” way for Pru to respond to protective of herself. But, this also seems the way that Les could feel the most upset or “insulted” because he could presume Pru doesn’t think he is worthy to date. This is the situation where I think Les would be most likely to “act out” in some inappropriate fashion.

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B)i) to me is to me the most empathetic way for Pru to respond to Les, but it may open herself up in ways she would not really want to be open about. She may feel very comfortable discussing her orientation with closer friends (like Luann, etc), but not feel as comfortable in doing so with acquaintances or co-workers, which is definitely her right. Although perhaps more emotionally risky for Pru, I think this route would be less likely to induce Les to “act out”.

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B)ii) to me is the way Pru may respond if she is completely open with her orientation to everyone. My read on how her character has been portrayed thus far suggests to me that she is not THAT open…..

B)ii) [continued] … THAT open. And, that is not a bad thing in any fashion. Most of us are not 100% open about everything in our lives to everyone in our lives. In fact, I think being 100% open to everyone about any myriad of personal issues is quite rare.

So, I guess…. I am predicting (A) will be the route taken.

Lets see what the “problem” is before trying to predict. I am going to contradict that though. I don’t necessarily think it will be with Pru’s informing Les she is a gay female. I think it get more to the basic issue of who Les really is, and why he is the way he is. I notice that Greg has drawn him in a more sympathetic way, that the big bully he was first presented back when the characters were still in high school. He looks smaller, more vulnerable. Perhaps Pru’s skills as an empath will come to fore here? I do know we have two more days before we hit Sunday, so will it just be a a dangling participle in Luannverse, or a resolved plot line? Only Greg and company knows.

I sense an anti-LGBTQ hate-crime brewing.

Get ’im, Pru!

“Problem??” What “Problem,” Pru? Just tell Les You’re not NOW, nor EVER Will be “Interested” in Him. It’s up to You if You wanna give Him the ‘reason’ why. Then give Him His necklace back and Assure Him that if He ever approaches You as ANYTHING other than a “fellow employee,” He’ll be “Sleeping with the fishes.” There, “Problem” Solved.

Now, Let’s find that Friggin’ TV…..,

I take it that Ma Berger is in her 40s. Her manner is more like somebody in their 60s.

Why did Ma Berger show up at Kafe Kablooie?

Pru senses a problem. I sense a disturbance in the force.

to quote the inimitable Mr. Rogers, ♫ " It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!" ♫

@SCHRODINGER’S DOG: I grew up with ‘Mr. Rogers’ as one of the few programs we were allowed to watch (television was a rare treat in our house). He was one of our home-grown success stories in Pittsburgh. We won’t see his like again, and more’s the pity…

The problem is about to hit the fan!

Frankly, I don’t think Pru needs to tell Les about her sexual orientation. The fact that that Les (in her mind) may be to referring to her as his girlfiend (while she knows nothing about it) is problem enough.

“Les, you knew I was gay, right?”

Actually, I can’t even speculate where Greg is going to take this. When in doubt, try honesty……………tell Les that she is a Catholic nun on a leave of absence and, as attractive as he is, she just isn’t free to be with him.

Ms. Berger, in her 40’s? She looks and dresses like she’s on Medicare. Look at Nancy, same age, still hot.

Which is it: Gunther looks like a woman, or Momther looks like a man?