When we engage in a relationship with another person in ‘real life’—whether that relationship is one of love, hate, work, play or duty— we are often able to think simultaneously on two levels. We may be using certain words to create an effect—such as affection, anger, co-operation, competi­tiveness, or responsibility—but at the same time privately thinking some­thing quite different. Comic strips represent this dual track of ideas by balloons for spoken words and bubbles for thoughts.