original_post:_6/11/2001_______________ This was another instance where I felt the emotion and the pacing had to be in one strip. Splitting it up and having it be in several strips over several days would cause readers to speculate and date the surprise element out of the equation. Sometimes throwing a little extra in the pot can make it really worthwhile. So Tommy learns his lesson, but ultimately his feelings triumph because deep down, Emily is a romantic. Emily is too smart to realize anything other than Tommy's true feelings for her, which makes her a little unpredictable and fun.