Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for February 01, 2021

A lot of you called it that it was Tara in Lu’s room, and I’m presuming that you didn’t mean they were in an intimate relationship.

Oh, it was Tara the other day, huh?

If there is one garment Luann loves Bernice to wear, it is the frothy snit.

OK. Tara voters win. Still… why the window and cryptic talk.

”Aha~!!” ✨

Maybe Bernice is going to get the boot from the DeGroot’s house?

Why would Tara need to keep her location hush. Is Tara in some kind of new trouble along with her cousin?

Why would LuAnn need to keep Tara a secret from her parents?

Crash where, Tara? No wonder Luann wouldn’t share her midnight noises with Bernice. Looks like Tara is coming to crash at the DeGroot’s house. Possibly room with Bernice? Or the sofa. I am sure Bernice will insist she go to the sofa. And parole? Figures. Tara is not exactly a reputable type – makes sense she has a criminal cousin. Luann, you are having a bit too much fun with Bernice. You could have told her you are helping out a friend in need and will explain later.

Tara Starr, “the Moony University Vending Machine Bandit”, needs to avoid unpleasantries of the law. Looks like Tara is currently homeless and needs a place. Maybe, Jack will show up and work out a solution. A possible solution, Tiffany has plenty of room and can offer Tara a job ?

Okay I took full Luannverse glory I called Tara early, although so many others did as well. I thought there would be some kind of reason Luann will communicate with Tara and possibly help her out, and this beginning gives a really strong foundation story. It seems that Tara wants to get away from her cousin, which was the reason she needed to crash with Luann and get back and pack before her cousin knew. Where is Tara going to stay? What is the back-story?

Oooh, didn’t expect that one. Let’s see what happens next.

It would be an exercise in futility, but I would strongly advise Luann to disassociate herself with Tara. I’m sure Tara is fun to be around, in measured doses, but Tara lives way too messy a life; these people will drag you down with them if you let them.

Well whattaya know.

Those of you who predicted Tara were RIGHT.

What’s MORE, those of you who said Luann was pranking Bernice were also RIGHT.

Disappointing? Yeah.

But hey. Congrats and a tip ’O the Hatlo Hat to each of you!

So.

No new “ground breaking” adult stories this time around.

All is well.

Or WILL it be? Luann just told Tara that she pranked Bernice. What are the odds that Tara will ask for “deets?” And Upon learning those “deets” will Tara urge Lu to keep to keep the joke going at Bernice’s expense. Right on up to and including “hooking Jack up with Bernie?” Or pretending to?

I dunno. I’m not a Bernice fan, but frankly I think what Lu did to her so-called best friend Bernice, last week was just a tad MEAN. What’s WORSE, Lu just bragged to Tara about it. The worse person possible.

Tara, the gal that once teased Luann about T.A. Howie liking her. And Jack went right along with it. Tara has ZERO empathy, and LOVES teasing.

Nothing GOOD will come of letting Tara know that Bern likes Jack.

Ha! Look what happened off panel, Luann and Tara went from casual friends to great friends! Now it’s okay to say Rosa and Delta call everyone back home all the time, Luann goes to work every day, and Tara explained why she stole that TV. It all happened off panel, so you can’t prove it didn’t happen!

Frothy snit…ha ha…I will use that one!

Tara has her own rap sheet. Now she needs a hush hush place to crash. Is there really a cousin? Or, is Tara not telling Luann the truth? And, will Bernice’s alter ego, the spy, be lurking in the bushes? Personally, I see Bernice squealing like a little piglet and the FBI coming to visit Luann’s suspected “safe house”. Don’t worry, Luann, they probably won’t water board you.

By the way, this is the second time Tara mentioned a “cousin:”

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2018/12/07

I wonder if We’ll ever actually meet this Cousin?

And Luann’s virtue remains intact, sealed behind a vibranium chastity belt. No gentlemen callers for this eternal virgin!

So Tara and Luann are making the beast with two backs? HAWT.

The fact that Luann didn’t take Puddles was a clue it wasn’t Jack that she was meeting up with.

So, I was right that there was someone in Luann’s room and that Luann was not pranking Bernie with an empty room, but wasn’t sure who it was. Someone here owes me a lunch at a drive – up window…

.

Oh, yeah – Luann, do not let Tara drag you into something you will be sorry for. I think she will be trouble.

Crash and burn. I take my lumps.

Tara sleeps over at Luann’s.

I’m not sure which is more disappointing.

That Luann is sneaking Tara into her bedroom at night.

Or that Tara returned at all.

Mister Mordock: Looks like a healthy dose of amnesia going on around here. I can’t think of a good reason Luann should be helping her out.

And the crash and burn is, unless Jack stumbles across our soon-to-be threesome, it just became doubtful that this will become a Valentine’s day thing-a-ma-bob.

Tara looks good here. I’ve been saying she’s a keeper.

My theory just blew up in smoke. But I’m happy to be wrong — this development is wayyy more interesting.

Huh! Did not see that one coming at all. TBH I thought it was some kind of oddball scheme of Luann’s to set Bernice up with Jack.

That’s hilarious. lol

Those of of us who actually expected Luann’s overnight visitor to be someone Luann was getting “busy” are probably disappointed. Those of us who remembered Greg’s own guidelines for this strip aren’t surprised that it was something as relatively innocent as Luann lending a surreptitious hand to Tara.

I would think that Luann would have to tell her parents about letting Tara crash in her room, especially if Tara has a bad-news cousin who might come looking for her and causing trouble.

Oh, so “Sticky-Fingers Tara” is back… it’s no wonder Luann is hiding her from Bernice.. If you run with dogs, you’re gonna get fleas… and as much as Bernice is a basket case, at least she isn’t a lowlife thief from a lowlife family. When Bernice finds out about Tara hiding out in Luann’s room, she will have a major meltdown..

Since this is a strip where covid isn’t happening Tara wouldn’t have been worried about people finding she didn’t quarantine. Loot from heist is missing? Drug stash gone? Tara witness a murder? Hired killer looking for Tara for any of above? Writer just needed reason to bother Bernice and there is no logical reason for the hush?

oh so L didn’t have a guy in her room, it was a girl! Bernice will freak

Didn’t see this one coming! And it looks like Tara travels light!

Tara made it home, packed her stuff and was “Gone With the Wind”…

“Keep it hush”? Cheez, ya t’ink dey loined dat prison lingo on Da Rock ?

So maybe Bernice decides to play that game and Jack spends the night.

So, that’s what it’s all about. And all this time, Bernice thought Luann’s doing some secretive hanky panky.

I think Tara may be the one that broke parole and is on the lam!

I’M SO HAPPY TO SEE TARA AGAIN!!!!!♡♡♡!!!!! And I love the way Luann is amused for having caused Bernice to fall into deep suspicion. Whatever Tara’s problem is, is heavy and she asked for Luann’s help saying to keep the secret, and Luann is doing it ♡! I was sure their friendship was strong♡♡♡ and Luann’s good heart pushes her to help friends in trouble ♡. The touch of the small vapors near their mouth is excellent, it shows that this happens in winter more than coats. Now, I hope they tell us more about Tara’s problems and how it will be handled. If she becomes another Degroots guest at Luann’s house, Bernice will freak out. If she finds another place, I hope Luann decides to try to be more independent and move in with her. Again, Bernice will freak out! ♡♡♡

Yep these days, its not always a man you sneak in your bedroom. Isn’t Tara the gay character?

Now that Tiffany’s problems are largely resolved…until Ann seeks her revenge I suppose, I guess another friend was due to be in crisis.

I like Tara, glad she is back.

Kudos to all who figured out the Tara angle. And seems like me and others who thought this was Luann plotting to get Bernice together with Jack were wrong.

However, none of this explains why Luann left Puddles behind when she was going to the dog park. Why meet at the dog park at all? If the goal is for Tara not to be seen by her crazy cousin, why be out in the open?

(Also you’re technically not supposed to go there without a dog, you know. There are rules!)

Tara, why didn’t we see this coming?

Tara? I’ve only started following this strip for a year or so. Did I miss anything important??

Well, I went with the “ruse” theory. This plot turn is more interesting.

Ah, I said it was Tara on the first day of this arc, jan25th. So I’ll congratulate myself. (I think at least one person has mentioned her in the comments before me so I know I wasn’t the only one with this theory.)

That is the cushiest park bench I’ve ever seen.

to be fair, when Luann heard Bern talking in her room in the mddle of the night she pushed and prodded Bern to tell her what it was all about. Now it is Bern who hears conversation in Luann’s room at 4 or 5 am; she hears her name mentioned and someone leaving through the window. Wouldn’t any one wonder? Luann could just say a girlfriend from college has trouble at home and needed to spend the night. A frothy snit? Bern didn’t use language like that to describe Luann’s pushiing and prodding.

I’m just glad it turned out to be Tara and not Jack. Whew…

I don’t know how you guys even thought of Tara!!!

As usual, the Luann storyline has so many holes it could be swiss cheese. Supposed cousin “breaks” parole and stays home to be easily found. And what is “breaking” parole? Failed to show up for the check in? Started carrying an AK47? Robbed a bank? Makes no sense to me. I think Tara is a con artist and Luann, being a bubblehead, is an easy target. Maybe Bernice will intervene and call her out.

If her cousin broke parole, Tara is wise to get out of there, but unless her cousin knows Luann, I’m not sure why it all needs to be quiet.

OK a little bit of a let down for me! ;o[

I’m just wondering who left the car seats out in the open at the dogpark?

So where will Tara live now? Luann can’t keep it secret if Tara moves in with the DeGroots.

Why did she need to be hidden if luann was just helping out a friend?

Thanks to those who posted the links. Be well everyone.

Tara was the mysterious midnight visitor…called it!

Ah rats. Nobody did anything wrong.

The big question now is What day will Bernice show up at the dog park? Will it be Wednesday or Thursday or later?

Lol, I’m sorry Luann, I doubted you too. I really did think it was a guy, now to find out that it was just Tara, lol. Sorry Lu! Now back to this, why was Tara sleeping over in the first place and why doesn’t she want anyone, not even Bernie to know? I thought they were all friends?

Ok. I would understand Luann sneaking someone into the house if her parents disliked her, but in this case, not unless it was 2am, I would assume she would just let her in and out the front door.

Greg, Greg, Greg,,,,,,,, you did it again.

Broke parole? Acting weird? Yep, Tara, time to go… Luann’s a a good bud….

Fortunately all the “Luann” characters have neighbors whose houses do not have windows as well, or they have signed an agreement not to look out of them, or we might have a parallel story arc involving the rumor that Luann is actually bisexual and all the relationship ramifications of that.

So it was Tara. Luann a good friend.

so the question is where is Tara going to live now? Looks like she has her essential belongings with her in a travel case.

Tomorrow Bernice shows up with puddles whom luann forgot to take to the dog park.

T hats right, we know Tara stole tv from dorm. She may be on parole or probation and ordered to stay away from other offenders.

Okay, I give up. All y’all who thought it was Tara were right. I stand chastised.

And not just Bernice.

Well, this is a little surprising, finding out it was Tara staying in Luann’s room. But not too surprising, since Lu’s not exactly the type of girl to sneak guys into her room at night while her folks are sleeping. Anyway, nice to see Tara again after a long absence. I always thought she was an interesting character….

Okay, I really have to take a stand for Bernice here. She may not be my favorite character in the strip, but the way Luann is treating her is not funny. Lu may be getting a kick out of “pranking” Bernice, but I’m pretty sure Bernice isn’t laughing. A joke isn’t funny if it hurts. And Bernice is already having issues of her own about being abandoned, and already feels like an outsider. So, no, I think Lu is out of line here. She’s offering aid and comfort to Tara, which is fine. But there’s no reason to hide her unless she’s on the run from either the cops or her cousin. For those people who say, “Lu was only joking. Can’t Bern take a joke?” I say, “A joke isn’t funny if it hurts somebody.”

Does Bern know of Luann’s “friendship” with Tara? I put friendship in quotes because the last we saw of Tara she was being obnoxious in Zebo’s class and sabotaging Luann who was Zebo’s TA. We haven’t seen them together since. If Bern shows up with Puddles there could be problems. Bern played a role in getting Tara expelled from Mooney; probably neither thinks much of the other.

I forgot all about the post-juvenile delinquent, Tara. Honestly, why the huge hush? Take her home to mama Degroot, reel out the sob story and they’ll set up an air mattress in Luann’s room.

Huh, so Luann didn’t lose her V-Card after all?

Tara doesn’t want her cousin to find her.

And a coming out of nowhere is, Tara. I didn’t think Luann would sneak a guy in her room, but it is strange that Greg can’t give her a normal, young adult relationship. Luann did not prank Bern: she merely let Bern believe what she wanted to. And she knows that Bern and Tara are like oil and water, so she wanted to avoid any scenes.

The only thing about this better than getting Bernie into a frothy snit is seeing Tara again. I hope she sticks around for a while and for a few storylines this time!

You shouldn’t torment your friends.

Cold out!!!

Puddles lied to Bernie.

I suppose someday we’ll get the back story of why Tara is really “on the lam/homeless,” how she contacted Luann, why Luann chose to go the “sneak in and out a window” route and why it was necessary to dupe Bernice and her parents about Tara???

Well, that’s the end of this story.

BTW -

ICYMI, Tara had a roomful of stolen goods when she was caught vandalizing the vending machine.

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2017/04/29

Probably not the first time – or the last.

wow, what a B you are Luann…

Looks like I, like a lot of others, was fooled into thinking it was a scheme to hook up Bernice with Jack.