Hoo-boy … do you think Rivera should have stopped at panel 2? Sure, we all know this is just a light, comedic story, nothing serious; and that’s just fine. The humor is built into the storyline and doesn’t really require anything more. That’s what I’m trying to get at.

Sometimes writers don’t know when to stop and just go too far, such as the time I wrote a story that … er, sorry.

Getting back to my point, I think gratuitously “irrelevant (and bad) jokes” (e.g. panels 3 and 4) to fill out a strip only tarnish a story that should not need the extra help. It’s like gilding the proverbial lily. At least, let’s come up with better jokes.

Art Dept. In spite of the strip’s writing today, I like the drawing of Cherry in panel 4, where the sway of the curtain Cherry stands behind is echoed in her pose and enhanced by the long coat she wears.