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I agree. This chapter brings up so many questions. Did Stef still have Brad and Will followed? If not why? How is Robbie going to react if Brad and Will are kidnapped? What about JP and Stef? Who is plotting to kidnap Brad and or Will? God knows Brad has a long line of people who may want to do him harm. I only hope Mark does not make us wait a whole week to find out.

Earlier in the Saga I think it was Stef who said Claire had blond hair and green eyes like JP.

I just have this thing with eyes. In Be rad Chapter 37 Jack gives Claire a ring for her 16th birthday. A ring like Diana's which matches her eyes. I believe Claire's eyes are light green like JP's.

This chapter is different in so many ways. I don't think we have seen a character in so much pain as Will in a long time. Jeff had a lot of pain and guilt but he let it destroy him, to the point he took his life. Roger had pain to but he used that pain and not only restored himself but also helped Mouse. When I reread the chapter again I was almost overwhelmed with Will's pain. Over these last chapters I honestly have gotten to like Will more and more. For some one who is only 14 he has many of the qualities of people who are much older. Don't we want to help him? He is bottling all his pain up and that is not good. Jeremy, I understand what you are saying. Part of this is growing up. I believe that growing up gay, however, is harder than just growing up. Here in Minnesota we have a school district which has had a number of students kill themselves because they were bullied and they were gay. Years ago I and a friend who hung himself because he was gay and he thought no one cared. Joe was only 17. I have wondered what I could have done to help him. Will promised to spend the summer in Santa Cruz with JP. I think between JP and Stef, they will be able to help him. Again Jeremy I must agree with you. Gathan is maybe the first true bisexual. He is not leaning to either side. I think moving to CA and going to Stanford will change him. I believe JP is worried about him. JP has seen how sudden wealth can overwhelm a small town boy like Jeff ( it always comes back to Jeff. He's been died for 32 years and still is in the background. ) and Brian. Trust funds have destroyed a lot of people. In this case I believe and hope Gathan is stronger than Jeff and Brian. Still he has a lot to work out, We only have seen a small portion of his past. In short, Both Will and Gathan have tough times ahead, but they have people who loved them and care about them to help them on their way.

Paris is not the perfect place it seems it should be. In a way it is a sad chapter/ I feel sorry for Will. I am hoping this will not scare him. Growing up can be hard but growing up gay is even harder. I wonder if Gathan will find that out too.

Jeremy I wonder if she knew about it. Maybe with JP or at least she may have wondered. I don't think she know about Brian. Honestly I wonder if Bill did. I just finished reading CAP again. The picture with it that we get of Bill is a good old boy, but his relationship to JP seems good. What his problem was we don't know. When I think about this I am reminded of JFK and his family. No one knew about it then. Today it would be on the news, online and all over. How things have changed.

Mark, I don't know about that. It must be a great place to come up with these wonderful stories.

I agree with you. I can't see JP do that. Even the sex JP had with woman (Isidore) was done with Sam or Jeff. I wish I could see into Mark's mind sometimes but I can not. One question I have for you Jeremy where did it say Bill's wife had problems with bearing children? I remember Isidore could not have children after Clare and Billy but I don't remember any reference to Bill's wife.

One can only at this point assume but sense Bill was very active I can only believe he had more than one child with his wife. If so Kristin would be his great granddaughter or granddaughter. There is something more however. Another secret hiding in the background. The thought that came to mind was that JP was Kristin dad or granddad. That would be very interesting. I just have that feeling. I could be wrong but something tells me something important has not been revealed yet.

I still wonder if JP relationship to Kristen maybe closer than just a distant relative.

Sorry to bring this up but in chapter 15 of Poor man's Son JP eyes are light green not light blue.

George has remarkable luck. I think it really is both luck and skill. I think he will pull it out again. If not this would be the end of the story. I have great faith in Mark bringing us to the edge but saving George in the end. I wonder if George could return to wife and country and be the country gentleman? I think he would go nuts, he needs the sea the adventure, it's in his soul. torn between home and sea. Always wanting the place he is not. We are starting to see the danger he lives with every time he is out to sea. One thing I like about him is he is brave, smart, and very skilled. Hopefully that will serve him well.Thanks Mark for another outstanding chapter.

Again Mark has outdone himself. What relationship is Kristen to JP? Is it closer than we think? I found it very sad that Clara and Gathan's relationship is not as close. Both him and El are orphaned again. Truly sad, maybe nothing could be done to stop it. On the other hand Will and Stef seem to be growing closer and closer. Growing up can be hard but Will has a lot of caring people to help him. Again a wonderful chapter. Mark you only get better and better.

One of the great things about Mark's writing is that you can see, feel, hear and even taste this chapter. One only thing that saved me from dispair is Mark loves happy endings. When reading it I felt I was in the deck fighting along with George. Great chapter.

That could be. or maybe that kid will save Will down the line. Maybe the kindness will bear fruit and that kid will bring peace to his homeland. I think of all of Brad's kids Darius may enter the service. Maybe that kid will save him. I believe acts of goodness do come back to you. I would like to reflect the same feelings of the other readers in saying again you have hit the nail on the head with with the characters. Gathan in the restaurant ( for all those of us who have had to deal with people like that ) and Will and Stef in Paris. I was thinking how different Will and Brad are ( Brad was very shy and Stef needed to give him confidence. ) and how alike they now are. Will thank God never had to go through the abuse Brad did as a child. I believe that it caused Brad to became that powerful, overbearing person he became. It is only now Brad, maybe because of Will and Robbie, can pull back and modify his behavior. Just for the record I also believe Will should not move north, Stef is right. Its better Will stays put. Reason for the apathy is no draft. If the general public were drafted things would be different. Only a small percentage of Americans are suffering and dieing. The vast percentage of the American people have nothing invested in the wars.

Maybe it's waiting for the big one ( earthquake that is) that they can't take.

Little did Gathan know that his objection at the meeting would change his life. Was it a change for good or bad? I hope Gathan is strong enough to withstand the temptations of wealth. The image of Jeff Hayes always is looming in the background. Will JP fears come to reality? I hope Gathan can make it through this. For now he has things going his way. And who wouldn't want to go to Paris with someone they love.

You are 100 percent right. What is interesting is that Poor Man's Son has changed. It was Gathan's story at first but now is more Will's story. I read the blue parts over more than the black parts. I was wondering why that was. Both are young men who are smart and with great promise. Will is the one who has the world at his feet. Gathan until his meeting Robbie had to fight for everything. I think seeing the characters we have learned to love with different eyes has given us new insights into their feelings, lives and personalities. Seeing Brad and Will talk not at each other but to each other makes it one of the best parts in the whole saga. Over the last chapters Will has became more than a spoiled kid he is rather young gay man trying to find his way in this new brave world. Yes he has a strong will. That why it's called Will-power. He and his parents don't get along all the time. Who here hasn't lived through that. But there is something about him that draws you in. It makes you want him to find his way and have a happy life. Whether it is with John or who ever it doesn't matter. What we don't want is another Billy who dies too young, and leaves us with an empty place in the lives of all who knew him. I for one have faith in Will and of course in Mark, that will happen. I always remember that Mark loves happy endings.

Again Mark gives us a perfect chapter (13). We see Gathan and Kristen. Poor boy rich girl but to them in doesn't make a difference. We see Brad and Will having a true heart to heart. So perfect I can hear them speak the words. You can feel the love flow between them. ( As I was thinking about this chapter today I remembered that Billy, Brad's brother was only a year older than Will when he died. Brad always blame himself for Billy death. Having these arguments with Will can only bring back those painful memories.) Then to top it off Will and Stef on the way to Paris. You see how the past is always altering the present changing it forever. Jeremy said that he talked Mark into writing Summer Love. That book for some reason did not have the passion ( for lack of a better word) than the other books. I used to not like 1968 mainly because Jeff died, but also it was a bad year in so many ways. However, over time I have come to make my peace with it. Why are these stories so compelling? Why do we follow these characters so closely? Why do we wait for the next chapter like crack addicts awaiting their next fix? I believe we care about what happens to them. Mark. remember the reaction to Jeff's death. How was that different to Steven's death? We knew Steven was dead before the story began. We were prepared for it. Something I think you do very well. Even when Carson and Brian were killed we didn't flinch. Some of us could rationalize it as something that needed to be done. Of course our government killed Osama Bin Laden is front of members of his family. Please understand that I am not saying Bin Laden was innocent and didn't deserve to die. But my point is these stories are so real that sometimes I wonder if they are fiction or real life. They reflect history. That takes more than a good author, it takes a great one. Thanks for my weekly fix. And have a very Happy Birthday may you have many more!!!

One of the things I like about your writing is that over time you add little hints and wrinkles along the way. It always keeps us guessing. I believe nothing just happens in these stories. Each chapter is crafted. This chapter is even more so. Will Gathan change his plans, because of his new love life? How sick is JP? Why is JP really going on this trip to Paris? What will happen over the summer between JP and Will? All of us just waiting to see what happens. At times, I wonder how far and how much detail you plan or do the characters write themselves? Your stories only get better and better.

I've been thinking about chapter 12 all day. Not knowing the mind of Mark, I can only guess. However, I think I was wrong about JP teaching Will to take over. I think JP is giving Will a time out. Time to think and let the pressure go down at home. Who could say no to JP. Will gets time to be a kid and get out of the Drama. A big plus is that they get to know each other. JP is a little more reserved than Brad or Stef. To get to know him you need to take the time and effort. The rewards are worth it.

I am a little worried about this new chapter (12). Is Mark going to kill off JP? I hope not. There are a number of very interesting things about this chapter. Gathan in love. I think this will help him a great deal with his problems. Being loved and loving someone can over come a lot. I wonder how Kristen and related to JP? I do hope that Gathan will still go to Stanford. The second half is more puzzling. Is JP sicker than he is letting on? I know a number of people who caught colon cancer early and are living healthy lives. I also know one dear friend who didn't and died a year ago. I also find it very interesting that Will and JP are spending most of the summer together. I wonder if we will finally see the inside of JP's safe. All the letters and papers stored there. Is JP preparing Will to take over down the road? One thing we know Paris will be interesting. i

Have a Great Birthday, Mark!!

Maybe I'm wrong, but I see parents as guides and mentors to their children. Jeanine seems like Will is her servant or slave just to obey orders. Children are not servants. What is really interesting is that Robbie seems is the best place with Will. Robbie asks Will to do something and Will does it. That is partly due to how Robbie asks and what he asks Will to do. He does not demand. Robbie is more laid back. At this point I remember a scene from a movie in which John Lithow as a minister giving a sermon. He was talking about raising children. He said, "How can our children learn to be trustworthy if we don't trust them?" Parents need to protect their children not smother them. If parents don't step back from time to time how will their kids learn to walk, ride a bike, learn to drive, became adults? Brad used to be my favorite narrator, Will is fast becoming my favorite. Even though Poor Man's Son is only 10 chapters so far I believe it is the best book. Part of that is the duel narrators Will and Gathan. Seeing these two young guys change and growup is going to be really interesting.

I can't remember who it was but as far back as Bloodlines it was pointed out that things would get harder as Brad's sons grew up. I agree Brad's household has not always been united as JP's was. JP and Isidore were much more united on the some page. The one problem is that Brad is so dominate person, he uses all the air in the room. Long ago I learned that you must judge people from were they are and see their progress. I believe that is how we should see Brad and his family. None of us are perfect and at 13, 14 most of us were messed up. Will seems less messed up than most. Not perfect but improving. That is as much as he can do. Where we any better at that age given his situation? At 13, 14 my father had died and there were times my mother had difficult getting through the day. We can only to our best. I feel Mark is taking Will from where he was to where he could be. I was rereading Millennium, JP's comment about Jim and Rich compared his family. His point was that in the long run Claire and Brad turned out pretty good even though they had an unorthodox family. I think Will has the ability to become an outstanding person.