Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for June 27, 2017

If Toni wasn’t a comic strip character, she probably wouldn’t have said “freaking.”

My granddad used to say that visiting relatives are like fish: after a few days, they start to smell. And, boy, is Shannon’s visit going to (figuratively) smell if Toni and Brad can never get their own personal time.

Bill Maher said there should be a holiday for those of us who opt to remain childless.

I tend to agree. ;)

When are they going to say NO!

Perhaps Brad & Toni need to subcontract Shannon out to another sitter.

But then, that would be easier if she lived with them most of the time. Under the present circumstances, it would make her feel that they don’t want her at all.

HA!! I WAS RIGHT!! I SAID he was texting her while standing on her doorstep!

Toni needs to learn to say no and make it stick. As long as she keeps enabling her loser A-hole of a brother, he’s going to keep using her. I know she may feel sorry for Shannon, but the kid may as well get used to the fact that she has a jerk for a father. Toni really can’t do anything for the kid unless she takes her away from Jonah the jerk permanently——-which would probably suit Jonah just fine.

I am sure Shannon sleeps every now and then. Sleepytime for Shannon is playtime for Brad and Toni.

.

“We’ll be out in a few minutes, Shannon – Brad is stuck in the tub and I’m trying to help get him out…”

.

Meanwhile, Shannon calls 911.

Another thing——every time he dumps on Toni, he always “really appreciates it.” I’m sorry, but if he were my brother, I’d pick up something heavy and smash his stupid face in. See how many gigs he gets then.

Toni can’t and never will say “no” because she loves Shannon. I am the same way with my grandson – could never say no to watching him – to me, it is not sitting but spending precious time with him.

Interesting timing. If Brad & Toni were on duty, they would have been forced to say “No”. Maybe Jonah is psychic.

What kind of huge acting gig does a guy get in the middle of the night that last for just 4 days? Hmm!

Is this the right time to say “I told you so”? Because I kept saying it, and so many gullible people kept insisting there must actually be something wrong with Shannon. Well, I told you so.

Oh, and I notice Jonah has inherited TJ’s shifty rictus grin.

I have a queasy feeling that this is the last we’ll see of Jonah, either he’ll skip out never to be seen again or something will happen to him like a car accident. Hope I’m wrong but I’m usually right when I don’t want to be.

Wow, most picked it. Jonah is again imposing at the worst possible time, on his sister, who I think was looking forward to 4 wonderful, private, pleasurable and joyful, stress-free days with the man she loves so much. Now along comes Jonah again, putting his needs above hers, taking total advantage of her, with someone she also loves, but who needs a lot of care and literal feeding, Shannon. Boy!! She is rapidly becoming my favorite character in this strip, except for Luann, who I as a Trufan always has to put as number 1. She is beautifully drawn in all kinds of situations. Mad, glad, blissful, even the way she pulls that robe, right on point. Brad had better be glad that temper isn’t directed at him, but I wish she would direct it at Jonah once and for all. He is such a selfish chump.

Brad & Toni could pay Luann to take care of Shannon for 24 hours – they deserve that time – but Luann shouldn’t be stuck with it for free. Then – Jonah could reimburse Brad & Toni with some of the money he got from his HUGE gig (however the money Jonah gets from his HUGE gig may be less than what Brad & Toni pay Luann) (anyway, Jonah would just say he NEEDS the money).

Worst case scenario: Jonah’s HUGE gig didn’t amount to anything – he’s broke – about to be homeless – and he asks Brad & Toni to get rid of TJ so Jonah can move in their place with Shannon. Brad & Toni take Shannon – then Toni spots Jonah sleeping on the sidewalk somewhere… (worst case scenario).

This might help Brad and Toni grow more as a couple, and Shannon likes Brad.

Some day Brad will resent and regret that he allowed an in-law to dictate to him. Time to be a man, Brad and put Jonah in his place. Learn one word: No. Unfortunately, most (not all) in-laws are blood suckers.

Another unhealthy situation- first the roommate, now the brother. Seems like each storyline revolves around who is the most obnoxious character? This is comedy? Frustrating.

Perhaps it’s time for Toni to tell Jonah to do what she was about to do.

jonah should lose custody honestly…..

Jonah is a single parent. He needs help, as do most single parents. Nothing in this strip has ever indicated that Jonah does not totally love Shannon. All we have ever seen is that he does. And, Shannon really loves her dad. Jonah does take advantage of his sister, but it doesn’t seem like he has anyone else to help. The big rub against Jonah is that no one likes his profession. He is trying to put together a career as an actor. All I have ever seen is that he seems to work really hard to earn a living. That he is willing to do what it takes get get work, including taking jobs at a moments notice. Jonah is not a bad person, he was raised by Toni. She gave him what appears to be a strong work ethic and a never quit attitude to pursue his chosen occupation. I like the fact that he doesn’t just dump his daughter on any old person as a babysitter. He wants someone that will love and treat Shannon well. He trusts Toni to do that, and he trusts her judgment that if she needs someone to help her she will select a good person to fill in. Jonah appears to be busting his butt to get ahead and take care of his daughter. Being an actor doesn’t mean you are some lazy bum.

(Psst! Hey Brad? Wanna have some Fun? Well, on the day this Deadbeat returns to pick up His Kid, pay Your sister a few bucks to look after Shannon for awhile and Tell Jonah):

Brad – “Uh Jonah? I got some bad news about Shannon.”

Jonah – “WHAT!??!” What Happened???"

Brad – “Well She Bit TJ, He got infected and is Threatening Legal Action. Also, She spray painted the neighbors cats and threw bricks at passing cars. But everything was fine, until someone called the Police.”

Jonah – “But….,”

Brad – “Don’t Worry, Shannon is in Good Hands now that Child Protective Services has Her! And They assured Me They’ll Find Her a Good Home! By the way, the Police want to talk to You.”

Jonah – “WHAT?!!? Nooooo…….,”[FAINTS]

[15 Minutes Later]

Brad – "Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty. It was all a “Gag.” Tough Love as They Say. Shannon is with Luann at the water park,and having a BLAST!"

Jonah- "Wow! You REALLY Had Me Goi…..,’

Brad – "Save it, and Listen. See this card? This is from the nice lady at the local C.P.S. You pull that last minute, “I got a Huge Gig and I gotta take it,” Crap again, I WILL Call this Number, Got it?"

Jonah – “Yeah, Yeah, I GOT it!”

Brad – “GOOD! Oh, and They’re hiring waiters and bus-boys at the Fuse. You SHOULD take the job, because You are one Lousy Actor.”

Jonah – “Oh, al-right!”

Brad – “And One MORE Thing.” (Punches Jonah in the Face)

Jonah – "What the Heck was THAT for?!!?

Brad – “THAT, was for Not Thanking Me when I covered for Your Sorry Butt When You almost Didn’t show up for Shannon’s Talent Show last Fall and darn near broke the little girl’s heart! And there’s MORE where THAT Came from!!!”

When are they just going to adopt her?

Congratulations to all the people who accurately predicted this!

Regarding in-laws, for what it’s worth -

“Mother in law” anagrams to “woman Hitler”.

Jonah is a bloodsucking leech. My wife has an offspring like that, the only time she calls her mother is when she needs a favor.

Maybe something bad happens to him on the way to his “gig”…and Greg kills him off, thus leaving Shannon with no other option than being adopted by Toni and Brad. The character of Jonah hasn’t developed much…he’s more of a vehicle to bring Shannon into the picture…so…killing him off would be easy and add another dimension to the strip. Brad and Toni and Shannon. Instant family. ….and then Toni can still get pregnant.

Call 1-800-LUA-NNNN!

“Ding-Dong!” . Yeah, the doorbell sure does peg him right!

This would seem a good time for each of us to read the character descriptions that Greg Evans and co. came up with for the characters, found on the link to “Luann Fan.com”, down below⇩….

I hope he gets a ten million dollar gig and we never see him again.

T.J. is a walk in the park compared to “Mr. Gig.” He camped outside their door before he called them. They don’t deserve this but Shannon deserves it even less, I guess.

What if Jonah actually starts having real success which requires touring? And has to leave Shannon with Brad and Toni permanently?

Yeah, Toni, and because you’re dumb enough to answer it, Brad won’t be freakin’ at your back door!

Toni and Brad would make better parents. But as soon as ’’Bwad’’ has that moment of fatherhood with Shannon, Jonah arrives to steal it away.

Let’s just have Brad and Toni go ahead and adopt Shannon, its inevitable.

I think that Jonah will never come home from the gig because of a drunk driver.

They just finished remodeling the house, and now Brad and TJ will have to take the sledgehammers to the walls again, when Shannon wanders off!

I think S-Dog called it by saying he’s right out front when he called. That’s not asking … that’s expecting! I used to have in-laws like that (dirtbags!)

Doe’s the word “enabler” mean anything to you? JUST SAY NO!

Thinking about Jonah meeting a fatal accident:: I’d think they would be notified when they were right in the middle of bad mouthing him for dumping Shannon and they realize that dumping her probably saved her life but they feel guilty for bad mouthing him.

Morons! No one can take advantage of you unless you let them. Welcome to the Hall of Fame of Doormats!

Please, can Jonah just disappear? This character is unbearable.

Jonah always appreciates it. Has he EVER shown any appreciation?

I wouldn’t exactly call this"urgent",plus I would be smacking that grin of Jonah’s face. I hope Toni gives him an earful.

I Say, WHERE is JAYBLUE Today with His Collections?

Hmmm, Perhaps I should start, while a search party is Being Organized.

Re: Today’s Strip

♪♪ “All Day Sucker(s)!” ♪♪ – Stevie Wonder

♪♪ “Gosh-Darn, The Brother-In-Law!”♪♪ – Steppenwolf

♪♪ “Time Has Come Today(To kick Jonah down a flight of Stairs)” ♪♪ – Chambers Brothers

♪♪ “Show (Jonah) the Way to Go HOME! And Take the Kid WITH Him!!!!”♪♪ – James Campbell and Reginald Connelly

♪♪ “Bradley Don’t Take NO Mess! (Gonna) Punch Jonah in His Chest!!” ♪♪

♪♪ " Bradley Don’t, Bradley Don’t, Bradley Don’t, Bradley Don’t," ♪♪

♪♪ “Bradley Don’t Take No MESS!!” ♪♪ – James Brown

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While Toni is understandably aggravated at her brother, I think this sort of scenario is VERY commonplace and within the dynamics of many families.

Jonah is a relatively impulsive, relatively “care-free” dreamer sort, who is not the most responsible person around by a long shot. And, I suspect most of us have one or more relatives that would also fit that sort of description. Folks who are responsible (like Brad & Toni) often times get put upon by relatives of this sort because they are responsible.

So, I think Toni (and probably Brad) getting a bit grumpy about this is very normal… but, so is the idea that they (in the end) will take Shannon in and take care of her and make the best of the situation they can.

And, in reality, even though it was definitely not their planned four-day time-off together scenario… if they let go of the resentment they initially feel… they can still find a lot of ways to have a lot of fun together as a couple and also have with Shannon.

Didn’t Jonah say he was ‘mending his ways’ or similar, around the time of B&T’s wedding? … Hmmmmmmm…….

Reply

Greg, would you please kill off that waste of oxygen? Shannon deserves a better “dad”….one like Brad.

Jonah’s radar must be excellent. He can keep up with whenever Brad and Toni have a few days off to be able to take Shannon. Does he have someone at the fire station who keeps him informed? And he’s at the front door because he knows they won’t say ‘no’.

What’s the brat doing out at that hour of the night in the first place. Are we really going to have to look at this snot-head for the rest of the week??? No one likes this kid!

My dear grandparents took me on when they were in their 60s. They didn’t have to do it, but I will always be grateful to them. Wish I could have paid them back.

I do not understand Brad at all. Now I know Greg is doing a family comic here, but Brad is in bed with his loving and beautiful wife and he still needs to know why Jonah is calling. Meanwhile why do they keep giving into Jonah? The guy is a total flake who expects everyone to pick up his slack. If he was forced to carry his own weight every now and then he might just grow up.

I think he’s going have a fatal accident, and they’ll end up having to adopt her.

Inspired by the Jennifer Lawrence movie, “Passengers”, may I suggest that we put Jonah, TJ, Leslie, Hair, and Nil into sleep pods on a space ship taking the 120 year voyage to another planet. When they wake up, let them find Ann Eiffel.

When is this washed up, wannabe “rock star” going to grow up? I’m guessing never, not while Toni and Brad enable him. And I’m willing to be that this “four day gig” will only turn out to be one since he will be fired the first day, and he won’t tell them he’s coming home early. He’ll just bum around for the next 3 days.

Methinks Toni, by her reaction, is more disappointed in the interruption than Brad !

Isn’t Shannon old enough to go to school? What about daycamp? It would at least give Brad & Toni some alone time.

Sorry Jonah we’re fighting fires, guess you’ll have to take care of your own kid for a change.

I wonder when Shannon’s mother is going to show up in this comic. Maybe she won’t, I hope.

“Someone’s knocking at the door…

Somebody’s ringing the bell…

Do me a favor-

Open the door….and let ’em in… (♪)"

-

Or..maybe change it to: “Let ’em have it”?

“The Dumpster Rides, Again”

“The O-pen Is Mighty Surer Than His Word”

“Exit, Stage Bereft”

“Midnight Delivery”

“Before, Door Ring, After”

“Botched Choice…And Dim Sum”

“A Cornered Hen Isn’t Game”

“The Boy Who Cried ‘Wolf359!’ "

“Pass On The ‘Charges’ "

“Offspring At The Last Moment”

“Born To Run” (♬)

“Trained To Derail”

“A Squirrel And Vamoose”

or

“Enter The Draggin’ "

Get shotgun. Blow Jonah off. Claim you thought it was a home invasion at 3:00 AM!

Or, anyway, JUST SAY NO to these super-last minute audition fantasies of that jerk! I am really P.O.ed at him!

just think how much fun TJ will have making mud pies with Shannon !

One scenario would be for Toni to tell Shannon to go inside and see Uncle Brad while she has a word with Jonah. Toni tells Jonah he’s just going to have to turn down this gig, as she and Brad can’t take the child on such short notice. Sorry. (Admittedly, not a LIKELY scenario, but one that would be rewarding to see.) Someone here used the word “entitlement” – apt description of self centered Jonah.

10-1 Shannon is standing there on the doorstep by herself..

In the spanish version Toni says: “¡¡Está en la maldita puerta!!” which means “He’s at the damned front door!!”.

I wouldn’t just say “freaking”………