If it felt like this little vignette was rushed through, well, there was a reason. It’s kind of a message to a couple of friends of mine who’re going through a bit of a rough patch right now. They’re not the most communicative at the best of times with anyone. You know, the “strong silent types” who can sit through an entire dinner party and never say more than a dozen words. Put two of them in a relationship, and you have the strong silent wall on occasion. So hopefully they’re reading this — and if they are, let me just say, Ben? Hank? START TALKING TO EACH OTHER, OKAY?? You’re too cute as a couple for us to have to deal with a divorce this close to the holidays. Are we clear here? Good.

OK, it’s time for some serious fun in this strip. So we’re gonna drop back and punt with a couple of one-shots while this somewhat surreal piece of a giggle-fest percolates a bit more. Hopefully it’ll come to a proper boil. And if not… well, we’ll see.