Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for June 27, 2023

but who’s counting?

So it’s only Bets that gets a talking too? It’s only she that can’t be trusted? What? Is Gunther just a poor, innocent bystander to the whole thing? Please, join the 21st century.

Perhaps this is the start of an honest conversation. I hope these two ladies can air out their concerns and come to some meeting of the minds while remaining ladylike! 8^ )

So, she started sneaking through the shrubbery on April Fool’s Day? OMG, so many jokes.

welcome to adulthood Bets…

Where is Les anyway?

Apparently Rosa and Gunther never lived together the whole time they were in Peru. As if that whole storyline wasn’t unbelievable enough.

Well mama is no fool! And a lot calmer than I thought!

“Stay here” and “living here”are different things? Oh, please just stop. Tiffany was not only “staying there” but giving how hard it was to get her to leave she was definitely planning to “live there.” And the only reason Bets was sneaking around was because Irma refused to let Bets “stay there” the way she did Tiffany. And still unanswered is why it was OK for Tiffany to live with two horny men but Bets could not?

Also according to Bets summer is almost over and it’s time to go back to school. And it’s not ever July yet!

Bets and Tif are (at least) equally mature. Les was certainly interested in Tif, who we have no reason NOT to expect her to show interest back… but, Bets is the one who needs a talking to? Wow… double standards much? Maybe it’s because Irma doesn’t really care about Les, but “her baby boy” is the special one…

I’m not sure at this point in the exchange whether Irma’s use of “Honey” as an address is condescending or kind. VERY curious to see where this goes.

Another Mother knows best oration?

Is Irma going to make Gunther accountable for allowing Betts to live there? ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ ͠⁠°⁠ ͟⁠ʖ⁠ ⁠°͠⁠ ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

Oh wow…didn’t I say living together and staying are two different things months ago? Does Karen read the comment section?

Lady, ol’ Gunner ain’t gonna get many chances at girls. Give him a break.

I think Irma handled that well. Phase two will be her conversation with Gunther.

Irma, in two months and 26 days, whatever is going to happen has already happened. You had best just relax and be cool with what your adult son has chosen to do, unless you want to force him into a choice between you and the woman he loves.

Irma is determined to view gunther as the sweet and innocent boy while bets is a vile, cunning temptress.

Going home to your family?

Irma bakes cookies and wears house dresses that were popular in the 50’s. Sounds qualified to me.

Aw, they’re bonding!

Seems like it ws only yesterday

I’m not thinking very highly of Bets here. I know there’s a lot of Bets-hate around, but I always liked her and thought it’s great that Gunther has someone with in-common hobbies and interests and she could bring him out of his shell and help him work on his social skills.

“Dinner with the Grays” was a disaster, and she declared that she’s gonna be Gunther’s live-in girlfriend, while neither of them paid any bills and their rent-free housing is completely dependent on the goodwill of the Units.

Then she and Gunnie took to hiding her presence, like she’s some unauthorized pet and she degraded herself sneaking around and making simple comings and goings like a major Spy Operation AND she live-streamed these shenanigans for an hour acting like she’s all clever and a smooth operator and she’s pulling the wool over the eyes of those clueless Units, heee hee hee. It’s pathetic.

So immature. OK, Irma disrespected her at dinner, and she’s paying it back with disrespect. Looks really bad and both are in the wrong. Hopefully some steps are being taken to repair this relationship and start seeing eye-to-eye? Negotiations and a mutual understanding?

So, jpuzzlewhiz Irma did know all along AND is busting her for it. I doubt she is concerned about the naked window as you said. She was waiting to see if Bets develops a guilty conscience but realized that was not going to happen, so she had to go and confront her. What will happen tomorrow? Kick her out? Irma, you allowed her stay there there for 2 months and 26 days…you as well let her live there but now she has to pay rent. Even ask for back rent for that 2 months and 26 days.

Yes, Irma – Al built this place for Les & Gunther. But Gunther now has a girlfriend – one he might marry. That said, Bets could offer to pay rent -$500 or so – half of rent for one bedroom in an apartment. If they are having sex – I think they’re 20 years old. Irma should have nothing to say about that.

Doesn’t Irma realize that it was her behavior at that dinner party that made Bets “sneak around”?

And I STILL wish the Gulag will burn down!!

They’re both being honest and sensible. Irma loves pampering Gunth, but after his trip with Rosa, I think she knows he’s a man more than he does.

It sounds like she’s been aware of their situation the whole time but respected their privacy… I think that’s pretty cool of her as a Mom!

We are seeing the serious side of Gunther’s mom today. And why did you just put your foot in your mouth, Bets?

In this strip Irma looks completely reasonable and fair. But that skips the horrendous way of treating Bets by completely ignoring her and badmouthing her to Gunther at the family dinner months ago (and who knows how many more times). I hope Bets reminds her of this and how uncomfortable she made her. Irma should apologise. But seeing how subdued Bets is today, I wonder if she might have trouble talking to adults, maybe it’s something related to her parents and why she always wants to avoid them.

Two months and 26 days… Amazing she could last that long!

Irma doesn’t trust Bets at all.

So will she ban Gunther from seeing her?

Honesty is always a good foundation for a long lasting relationship of trust.

I almost always get these things wrong but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I think that Irma’s going to suggest Gunther moves out and get an apartment with Bets. Wouldn’t that be a mind blower!

Isn’t she just staying there for the summer, about as long as Tiffany did? So really no difference. She isn’t moving in permanently.

Bets’ “you don’t trust me” is a valid dig at Irma, since she’s still left in the dark about why she got the cold shoulder at dinner. I’d really like to know what that was all about… but NGL it’s also kind of teetering on “guilting.” Bets playing dumb like deliberately breaking Irma and Al’s ground rules for months out of spite was just a normal, sensible reaction. I know we’re supposed to see Bets as a “sweetheart” but I see her as a crafty opportunist. If she (or Gunther) wanted, they could have talked to Irma one-on-one like this. Bets’ dismissive snark about hating the idea of staying with Tiffany or her family or the “dorm wackos” definitely sounds like the mask slipping and her showing why she really wanted to stay there. Not to mention shaming Tiff into moving out so she could slip in and do the same exact thing she shamed Tiff over… Let’s just say, this girl knows how to manipulate.

Gunther’s also looking unlikable this storyline for encouraging sneaking around for almost THAT long. Treating his girlfriend like a stray dog for almost 3 months and not talking to his mom about why Bets was given rude treatment. And undermining his mom’s trust? He SHOULD have a lot to answer for on both issues, but this storyline never seems to treat him like a participant and it’s frustrating. We know he’s a henpecked dolt but the characters at least should act like he’s better than that.

Tiffany was sleeping in a bed by herself and Bets is sleep with Gunther every night. Big difference. What does Bets mean by “You don’t trust me?” Don’t trust Bets to not sleep with Gunther or what?

Irma is being nicer to Bets than I expected. I think that is good, but Bets will still be leaving.

Grow a pair Gunny!

It’s a start.

Bets is showing respect to Irma. That ought to be returned with an apology for the earlier disrespect by Irma.

I knew it…double standard, why isn’t she talking with her son?!

OMG, are they STILL beating that dead horse?

Tiffany, Tiffany, Tiffany. Bets not only acts like a child she’s talking like one now.

The “Selfie Queen” half of the “It’s All About Meeeee” twins, after trying her hardest to also capture the “Sneak Queen” title, has the gall to inquire ….. of the owner of the home she’s been squatting in in the first place …. if she can be …. TRUSTED ?!?!?!?!? She really takes the cake … (probably literally)!

It’s only Tuesday. Plenty of directions this could go in, but Greg Kihn’s Breakup Song keeps playing in the background of my mind. We could be about to learn about Bets’s family in a roundabout way, or we could be bidding her farewell. This might all be leading to a shindig at Tiff’s for the Glorious Fourth upcoming.

…and now I have the music and voiceover from “Love of Chair” in my head (dating myself, big-time).

All Bets wants to do is spend more time with her man, but you won’t let her.

Dumpster’s dumpy overly protective mommy is a racist. How does she know Dumpy’s relationship with ❤️Eiffelette Tiff was different than ❤️Eiffelette Betts? Besides, the fact that Dumpster changed his name to Sister Mary Elephant, painted his face white and marched with The Sisters of Perpetual Motion drinking Bud Light last Saturday should give her a clue. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Besides, Hawt Betts can do a lot better than Dumpster. Fi*JI*! Fi*JI*! Fi*JI*! Great job manipulating, Betts, Now’s the time to grift the old bag for an Airbnb and blank check spending account with Gorgeous Ann❤️Eiffel and the other ❤️Eiffelettes as they stroll the beach in thong bikinis and hang out waring micro mini little black dresses in expensive hotel bars trolling for Shoog Daddy geezers. Oh my… how we ❤️ Ann❤️Eiffel and long for Ann❤️Eiffel’s return! LONG overdue and I’m sure you lowly worms agree, BTW, Count ❤️ers… getting ready for the Taylor❤️ Swift concerts Friday and Saturday. Taylor❤️Swift comped your Beloved Count front row tics and VIP invites to the after parties… Eat your ❤️s out. Dilly! Dilly!

“You’ve been sneaking through the shrubbery for who knows how long.” “My FOLLOWERS know how long, that’s who! Would you like to know who backed up the plumbing from eating too much spicy food? Because they’ll tell you!”

I’m really surprised that Bets has put up with the sneaking for this long. I’m also surprised that neither mom nor Al have confronted this already since Bets has been putting it online all this time.

Gunther’s mom is actually a pretty cool lady.

Not how I expected this to start. Maybe a middle ground CAN be reached! One can hope. Ladies actually talking gets a lot done.

But Tiffany was still STAYING AND LIVING THERE, without rent free, Irma!!

And she was Sleeping in Les’ Bed, for Heavens Sake!!

Jeeze.

Bets? You could argue the fact that Irma has apparently been aware that you’ve “living” at the Gulag for awhile (two months 26 days,) and choose not to do anything about it until today, would seem to indicate her temporary tacit Approval of “arrangement.” At least her tolerance of it.

On the other hand, since Bets unfortunately BLURTED out that she’s spending the nights there for two months 26 days, (Which is about the same length of time Tiffany stayed there) Irma could counter that like Tiffany, it’s time for Bets to go.

Gunther? Since you’re about to LOSE Bets to the manse and possibly Kip, it’s about time you had that long overdue STAY THE HECK OUT OUT MY BUSINESS, talk with Irma. And prepare to move out and live on campus plus find a part time job.

But with YOUR luck, G&K would make sure your boss is Ann Eiffel……,:-(

She should be talking to Bets and Gunny together. Irma didn’t exactly make it easy for either one of them to be open and honest with her. I hope Bets doesn’t let Irma manipulate her.

“You don’t trust me”, said every young person to an older one. It isn’t that they aren’t trusted, it’s we’ve been them and know what we did when we were younger. ‘The Cycle of Life’ Did we listen to those older and wiser?

Who’s counting?

I’d be looking for some backstory on Gunter’s father running outand the deal with Rosa out of the USA not working out…There may be a lot more here than the suburban appearance

Condensation is very ugly on stupid Irma. Go back and sit with your gangsta husband.

Nice to see mom handling this so well.

Goofy-looking house.

If we step back for a moment, it appears that Gunther is getting a free ride in two ways. First as an adult, he gets free room and board without the obligation of being self-supportive. Second, he gets unlimited conjugal comfort without the commitment of being a fiancé or a spouse. For a young man, that is the best of both worlds.

So as this arc unfolds, I hope that this encounter pushes Gunther’s character development toward maturity and the responsibilities that come with it. While this is a comic strip, we still have the situation where a grown man is being taken care of instead of getting out there and being his own man.

Too late Irma; I am with child, bun in the oven, enciente, preggers, KNOCKED UP. So drop d…uh Irma, Irma, get up off the ground, Irma.

Aha!!

I hope they remain civil. Not sure why they specifically need to be “ladylike”.

she looks like gunth’s mother

April 21, Bets realized that staying with Gunther wasn’t working out – but they kept this up for over two months. https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2023/04/21 Will Tiffany once again be the voice of reason?

The Gulag is a 2-story building?

You can’t trust those who lie to you? Who knew??

(I have seen people quote those who constantly lied to them as if those other lies didn’t count. Personally, after the first lie, I have to check everything they say each time they say it.)

How stupid. Irma stating that the guest house was built for Les and Gunther has nothing to do with her objections. The bottom line is that her “no shacking up” moral rule still stands, yet she has let it go on all this time??? And Bets’ sulking complaint about not being trusted is just as stupid, because she’s been defiantly doing exactly what Irma told her not to do, and she knows it. Meanwhile, Gunther is wondering how to tell his mother that he’s quitting school to become a professional clothes designer.

(We all know that the ugly blanket in the window was the final straw for Irma!)

Not that she’s counting, mind you…

Now comes the sob story, Erma relents and Al builds an extension to the house. Problem solved

Sometime parents need to test their kid’s determination and perseverance before accepting a big commitment. Irma may have thought it was too soon three months ago . But now it’s evident that the prohibition did not stop them. It’s time to accept it and move on. Let’s see if Irma’s talk is about reconciliation.

Imagine if the strip went shocking and demolished the wholesome, sexless thing and had Irma revealed that before Gunther left Peru, Rosa fell pregnant with Gunther’s baby and informed Irma. Irma’s hid the secret and helps pay for the baby hoping to keep the information from Gunther so his career isn’t derailed. Irma figures if she has him close to home she can make sure that kind of “whoopsie” doesn’t happen twice. Given Irma was a single mother and gave up her aspirations to have a baby she developed a pathological fear of that happening to her son.

Forgot hrs+mins Betts

Never underestimate old people!

ladies dont have to sneak…..just saying

Gunth really needs his own place. Where he can live with Bets if he wants to, and he won’t have to live with Les.

Perhaps Irma is hinting that Bets should start paying rent. Since the house was built for Gunther and Les, but not her. The guys get to live there for free, because that is what Al and Irma intended.

As I have said before Gunther and Bets need to respect Irma and Al’s beliefs. Whether you think they are being prude or living in the past it doesn’t matter since Gunther is not paying any rent or utilities that we are aware of.

@Tyge – Hopefully……

If you gave Gunther a car, would you want to tell him who could ride with him ? If Les were so fortunate as to inveigle some hapless female into his bed, would you belabor him with your righteous blather? Puh-Leeze just shut up.

Irma is wise when she says that staying here and living together aren’t the same thing. Not at all!!!! The former is just playing at it while the latter means taking responsibility for your lives. She knows they aren’t ready to take that step yet.

In my experience, when I tried to have a reasonable discussion about my boundaries the other person would start screaming irrationally making false claims about my character. So far so good.

Will Irma ask Bets to stay in the house with her and Al -until summer break is over? nah

Just hope Mr Grey doesn’t come floating in during this talk. The Macy’s parade is several months away.

Mom has a point that if it’s her property, she can decide who lives there. On the other hand, her son isn’t a little boy any more. It’s time for Gunther and Bets to move in together somewhere else.

Of course, Gunth’s mom being happy he has a chance to actually show some growth is less important than keepin him tied to her strings.

shes been sneaking because Irma has had an attitude towards Bets

Good Point. Where’s Les?

tomorrow: The “Riot Act”? or acquiescence? or truce/accommodation?

Irma waited so she could build her case, which is not about the sex itself (no one can stop that from happening), but the issue of living together. Even though Gunther is clearly part of it my sense (hope) is that talking to Bets alone allows her have a relationship with Bets and hear her side without interference. I could see Irma saying something like “if anyone knows the consequences of living together w/o commitment, I do; Gunther was the result of that”

The old gal admires Bets’ stamina

Given how chaste this comic is, it’s not like anything interesting is happening.

But who’s counting?

Irma’s being a lot nicer to her now than she was when she came to dinner. I think she shares some responsibility for not being the kind of person either Gunther or Bets could talk to about this.

No, Bets, she doesn’t trust you; by your actions you’re given her no reason she should.

My prediction still hasn’t been answered, but there is still time.

Irma is no fool and Bets you folded like a ton of bricks.

I’m surprised Irma is talking to Bets in a cordial way. Up until now she has literally ignored anything Bets said.

… and five hours and 16 minutes …

So far, this little talk between Irma the Obstinate and Bets the Suddenly Timid seems to be going fairly amicably. Maybe there is yet hope for a “diplomatic solution.” But I would not count on it. And, either way, I forecast Gunther the Loser….

We’re finally getting this conversation! Thank goodness Irma is more straight forward than Gunther.