Well, they’ve chosen their teams (Patreon)

So it looks like Candice and Gracie are getting Super Bowl ready.

Now, I’ll freely admit I’m no expert in American football, but I have been strongly encouraged to make things a little more interesting around here. Which brings us neatly to a familiar pair you may remember — Dolly and Amy!

who’ve decided to place a wager on the outcome. One of them is going to get a real kick out of winning that bet… but we’ll come back to that shortly.

Which got me thinking.

Ever stub your toe really badly? Did you cry… or did you immediately swear at whoever left that thing there, questioning their upbringing and life choices? I’m firmly in the second camp. And yet… a tiny pinch of the hair behind the ear and suddenly your eyes are watering. Funny how that works.

So where am I going with this?

Well, in my experience of when you are about to heat someone’s rear it’s rarely about going all-out. If you want real reactions, it’s all about why someone is in the situation in the first place. We’re talking about two consenting adults here and adults don’t tend to cry easy, they may shout and holler, but once they’ve had enough, that safe word is gonna be said.

Take the latest comic. Roxy knew the coach could not make her cry from just three paddle swats and so was feeling pretty smug, but the coach knew something else entirely: by punishing Mina, holding Roxy accountable, and then giving Roxy the lighter punishment that was meant for Mina… well, that was the part that really got to her.

Sometimes it’s not the force.It’s the meaning.

Which brings me to something a bit more personal — and a bit more revealing about why these stories land the way they do.

When I’m working with an actress during play, everything starts out knowingly theatrical. She’s quite happy for me to make sure there are two very clear red circles on her bottom, the bravado holds for a while and then the safeword appears. Scene over. Pause. Reset.

Usually that’s followed by a short spell in the corner — not as punishment, but as punctuation — while I admire those fiery cheeks and we both come back down to earth.

But every now and then… something unexpected happens.

No safeword. No panic. Just tears. Quiet ones. Unplanned ones. And instead of wanting it to stop, she lets me decide when to bring it to an end. Those moments are never forced, never chased, and always respected. They’re real in a way that catches us both off guard.

And that’s exactly why they don’t work for cartoons.

In our ridiculous little comic universe, we need the exaggerated stuff — the dramatic outrage, the theatrical indignation, the full-on “WAHHHH!” And honestly, that’s why the reactions Jenny Maxwell gave were just perfect. Pure, spoiled bawling. Big feelings. Big noise. Exactly the kind of meltdown she later said she probably needed — but no one had ever quite “cared enough” to allow.

Which is why, whether it’s Candice, Gracie, Roxy, or whoever’s next… the reactions will always matter just as much as the much needed whalloping!😉 .

right I’m gonna get some posts ready,

I’ll be back soon! 🍑😊🏈