Summerabbacat

Otis revealed there was nothing sinister or melodramatic about his mother's death in the fire which consumed their home. She died by her own hand literally. She seemingly still had some depth of feeling for Otis, admittedly it was shown in a physically cruel fashion, but by cutting his face she apparently saved his life. And after all this Otis still cannot find it in his heart to hate her. He is a most remarkable young man in so many ways. As is his paramour Mr West aka Hudson. The calm after the storm @Laura S. Fox, and what a beautiful calm. After chaos and catastrophe, confessions and contentment.🥰🥰🥰🥰

He sure fooled me too @Mancunian. I thought he really had a "thing" for Peter. It turns out I was partially correct, but it was not the "thing" I thought he had. A couple of you guys have made the comment that Bobby might have a "thing" for Peter. Just maybe there might be something to that. If so, it might be a good "thing" as Bobby seems genuine, but then so did Mitch.

And so the delights begin @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I have read this story many years ago (possibly about the time Silverchair and Savage Garden were enormously popular in Australia) and remembered Matt and Luke and what the night held for each, but it was not until Luke's invitation to"Meet me under the pine trees" that the story from there on felt like a favourite pair of jeans (or in my case a favourite cat) wrapping me in a comfortable warm embrace. For me a good story entertains, but a great story does this and more, invariably invoking musical, cinematic or other literary references. When Matt uttered to Luke "the action is on its way" I heard Julie Brown's "prom massacre masterpiece" The Homecoming Queen's Got A Gun suddenly swirling in my head. I of course knew this was not going to happen, but just for a glee-filled moment I imagined Julie's (Matt's soon-to-be ex-girlfriend) head just did the splits. Alas it was not to be, the nasty snooty bitch (great and apt description on Luke's part) lived to create havoc, behaving like the entitled, spoilt, egomaniac that she is. Now to Luke and Matt's night of passion after the formal was over, and what better accompaniment than the seductive and sensual vocals of Marvin Gaye on After The Dance followed by Let's Get It On. What better way to reach the little death, the climax of such a momentous occasion. The first chapter was everything I remembered it to be @Mark Ponyboy Peters, a beautiful journey from best friends to lovers in the course of one evening, maybe accompanied by a little of Kiki Dee's haunting Amoureuse too. I look forward to witnessing again the journey Matt and Luke are about to undertake.

I think AIDS barely registers with millennials, what with COVID having been "the disease" of the current decade and prep being widely available and widely used. It appears to me that AIDS is now regarded more as an "inconvenience" than the truly frightening and destructive disease it was in the 80's and 90's. Dare I say it is no longer the "fashionable" disease it once was for disingenuous celebrities to earn kudos for supporting either, hence its less visible status in the celebrity obsessed culture that many find themselves attracted to nowadays. If Elizabeth Taylor were still alive I daresay she would be less than impressed.

Me too @pvtguy but I am not sure if Peter realises it yet.

What a wonderful chapter @Robert Hugill, riotously humorous one moment, warm and intoxicating the next. The Fags for Football proved to be warm, welcoming and very funny. "The language was just as colourful as his mates’, though Keith doubted that any of his mates would use phrases like ‘Get your arse into gear you great fairy" had me in stitches. Perhaps because I have recently been listening to Queen I immediately thought of Freddie Mercury and one of his reported famous quips "I'm as gay as a daffodil my dear". I was also very amused by Hughie's wry response to little Joe's question about what happens at gay football games “Same things as a straight one except the guys moan about their boyfriends rather than their girlfriends!” Keith's straight friends have proven their loyalty by treating him no differently than before, apart from the odd "gay joke" when they are laughing with him rather than at him. The nude jigsaw puzzle sounds fascinating. I checked them out on the internet and suffice to say it is obvious from what is available there are many gay men who share Keith's delight with jigsaw puzzles of the homoerotic kind.

I am not as angered by Mitch's actions as many of my fellow readers. I recognise he lied to Peter and certainly led him on, but they were not in a relationship (fortunately for Peter), so my reaction is not as furious. What I am really pissed off about on behalf of Peter is that he wasted his money, time, and effort cooking a gourmet meal for that lying, scheming, using, fucker. Peter has been dealt many savage blows in the past, both physical and mental, and in comparison this betrayal by Mitch is barely a blip on his radar. Peter will emerge stronger for the experience, Mitch however may suddenly find himself out of favour with more than one of his friends. I don't think Mitch is very smart. If he is as closeted as he indicated to Peter, he is playing with fire hooking up with guys without much if any forethought. He only has to hook up with the wrong guy, someone who assumes he wants more than a quick fuck, to be outed in an act of revenge. One has to wonder though how much of what he told Peter, and perhaps has even disclosed to his best friend, Bobby, is the truth. His act as the vestal virgin may bely the fact he is a kartrashian, a complete ho. Perhaps you should have named him Kurtis, Kendrick, Kane or Kyler @Al Norris. And finally, when is Uncle George going to admit to his nephew that he too likes cock? For someone who is as book-smart as Peter, he sure is blinkered when it comes to his Uncle at least.

Whilst the story dealt with some serious issues such as religious bigotry and intolerance and the difficulty of coming out for someone who was raised in such an environment, I chose the 'ha ha' emoticon for the two following statements: "I tall, well-built without being disproportionately large, he had dark hair, blue/gray eyes, with a boyish smile that won him over with the cheerleaders, and it was painfully obvious that he was there with a sports scholarship and not for his intellect or grades." and "I was all too new, and there was a small voice from my upbringing that called for me to stop sinning or I was bound for Hell where all the other faggots were, but there was a stronger, more powerful voice crying out that, if all the gays were in Hell, the orgies must be amazing!. I had no idea what a redshirt freshman is so consulted Dr. Google for an explanation. Being the avid sports fan I am (NOT) I just don't get it, even with the explanation from Dr. Google. Short and pithy @John Henry. Tyler was a surprise, a very pleasant one at that.

I think it was you I "horrified" when previously commenting on GA that I do not like The Beatles at all @weinerdog. I will probably horrify you again by stating that I am generally not a fan of what is considered the Stones' 1960's classics, but love most of their 1970's output, especially the albums Black and Blue and Some Girls. I do like You Can't Always Get What You Want. Boris certainly possessed many cars and many guns. Did he have a case of penis envy? If Boris, his wife and Albert had been in the 1975 GAZ-24 Volga one could easily imagine them having an "accident" without any "encouragement" from a third party. Both Manny and Rocky "grew" on me in this chapter; both are less obnoxious than what they first presented. I am guilty on many occasions of forgetting (usually purposefully, but not always) children have growing up to do and may transition from obnoxious brat into pleasant adult with the benefit of maturity. I have been remiss in prior comments in not considering Rocky is likely to be grieving the death of at least one or perhaps both his parents, and this is likely to be affecting his behaviour. I was pleasantly surprised when Bass chastised him that he did not throw a hissy fit and remind Bass that he was merely his "manny". I have the distinct impression that both Rocky and Manny are going to improve the temperament and character of the other, bringing out a side of each other perhaps not previously realised or displayed. Then again it may just be wishful thinking on my part. I like the pace this story is moving at @Lee Wilson. Although the events which have led to the present have been of a more "serious" nature, I relish the moments of humour and mischief you are injecting into the storyline.

I think to date they have been exclusive @Cane23. Whether by design or default I am uncertain, although I do recall (hopefully correctly) this question being discussed as Dan revealed he has not had much success with relationships. The corpulent Martin and party boy Bart are an odd couple, which I am certain Vaughan alluded to in a prior chapter. I have known several couples in my time whose relationship dynamic was quite similar, one party extroverted and somewhat tactless and indiscreet, the other more reserved and admonishing at times. Suffice to say on occasion things could get quite prickly and heated if the extrovert was admonished a little too like a naughty school boy. It appears both Martin and Bart are very interested in the "comings and goings" of Frances Heyward. I doubt either will learn much from Vaughan or Dan as they both appear to be very conscious of Dan's position and ensuring it is protected. I imagine anything salacious Dan becomes aware of will reach the ears of Vaughan, but he certainly gives the impression at least of not being one to pass on gossip. I found much humour in this chapter @Robert Hugill, whether intentional or not. Whilst kept civil and without any malice the relationship between Martin and Bart was most amusing, but could it turn nasty at times? Perhaps, perhaps not. I also enjoyed how Vaughan toyed with Bart in particular, giving him little if any information to satisfy his lust for salacious gossip.

And a delightful debut too @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I have read many of your stories on Nifty and Crvboy over the years and have enjoyed all of them without exception. If you intend posting your historical works on GA may I suggest the various works which form the "Thompsonville tales" might be a good place to start and would I believe be very popular. As a fellow Aussie who grew up on the north coast of NSW I loved these works particularly. Your recently completed works Stockroom Secrets and Beyond Salvation would also I believe be a treat for readers on this site.

You have lost me @Lee Wilson. To quote Meatloaf, I would have said that thus far Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad. And as I have read far fewer books than watched films or listened to music, I may have missed a literary reference opportunity too.

I have always thought money was Calvin's motivation for returning to "claim his boys", but it never occurred to me that said boys may be the beneficiaries of an estate or at least Calvin thinks they are/may be the beneficiaries of an estate. You may well have hit the nail on the head with this speculation @JohnnyC. Clarke's questions to his client certainly did not paint him in a favourable light nor did the texts between Calvin and his mother. By the time Billy finishes cross examining him I believe (hope) he will have lost any pretence at civility and let his guard down completely to reveal what his true motivation is for wanting to "claim his boys". Crusty was surprisingly fair for the most part during Calvin's questioning. Was this legitimate or merely window-dressing (or maybe cross-dressing? could this be the "Achilles heel" which Charlie discovered when researching Crusty, knowledge Billy revealed to Crusty in chambers?) I eagerly look forward to the next chapter, one in which I hope we see Billy's rapier-like wit and eloquent destruction of Calvin's claims in abundance. Well done @John Henry.

Mmmmm. I am not liking Rocky much. An entitled little snot isn't he. He is 13, looks 9 or 10 and is concerned Manny might fancy him. Clearly his ego is larger than his physique. Bass is apparently over 7 feet tall. I had an immediate image of Richard Kiel as Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me. Let's hope for Manny's sake Bass does not have a mouth full of metal otherwise sex may be painful. Let's hope for Manny's sake that Carly Simon was correct. Rocky's grandfather apparently had some shady business connections which may have led to the death of Rocky's parents. Methinks if the Russian mafia are involved it may not be as easy as sending them a message that Rocky wants nothing to do with them that will stop them in their tracks. Let's hope for the sake of both Rocky and Manny that the man with the passion for poison has no score to settle with Ivan. More intrigue @Lee Wilson. I love a story which invites literary, cinematic and musical references and this one is certainly lending itself to at least the latter two thus far.

I immediately speculated a "romance" angle between Manny and the manny. Suspicious Minds think alike @drsawzall. Elvis or Fine Young Cannibals? I am not an Elvis fan (except for Viva Las Vegas and Edge Of Reality), so for me it has to be Fine Young Cannibals. Taenov? According to Google, a family name most popular in Kazakhstan. Family wealth from ill-gotten gains quite possible. Human rights abuses quite possible. Links to organised crime quite possible. Intriguing most definitely. Manny improved somewhat in this chapter @Lee Wilson. His boss, Charlie's, assessment of his character was hardly encouraging, although he at least appears to be relatively pleasant.