Canuk

going back over the story to remind me of some bits. I came across this: "...a feeling that something good was on the way began to swell in Jarek’s chest, only to shrink again when he reminded himself that nothing good happened to antisocial, self-conscious idiots like him. He knew that if he didn’t change his behaviour he was doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past, but feared he had little hope of doing that despite three years of Stephen’s praise and encouragement. Deep in his soul lay an acid bath of memories telling him he didn’t deserve success because he was unable to stand up for himself. For the last three years he’d toed the line in a job he’d grown to hate. Acted respectable—not that he wasn’t. Always feeling as if he was negotiating a path through quicksand—one false move and he’d be sucked in and drowned. He hadn’t told his girlfriend to pack her bags because he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. He shook his head as if to dislodge an irritant and told himself not to be a fuckwit, but grab this chance to be himself, whoever that was. With a grin he slammed his fist into his other hand. ‘Yes!’ a soft voice whispered in his head. ‘You’re going to do and say exactly what you please! You’re going to be honest! You’re going to…’ He laughed aloud. ‘Perhaps I can’t change completely,’ he muttered, ‘but I can at least modify my dopiness.’ " (my emphasis) Now not going to give up spoilers for those only this far into the story, but this passage does describe so well where Jarek is coming from.... the great part of the continuing story, is his journey from this point. Its a really wonderful journey. enjoy.

i write for myself alone! but thanks for the compliment tried the swimming hole-ice too thick! - so resorted to fantasy.... <sigh>

I have the feeling that the proverbial has not yet even begun to hit the fan. I think there will be news from Ashley that will really test this family. I really do not get his mothers attitude to him being gay. Forbidding a friendship not for what is happening, but what may happen in the future seems guaranteed to antagonise the situation. I understand that she needs time, but her actions seem self defeating if she wants to keep her sons affection.

Jarek is firmly among my heros. He really is an all round ideal man. And his "natural man" is insanely sexy. I an see why impressionable 14 year olds realllydo se him as a model and, if gay, as a lover. He on the other hand is able to see them as simply impressionable young men yearning for more. Sadly Jareks preferences mean that he is unlikely to replicate himself. Hopefully by educating others he will gradually show others how society can fix itself. Great character. Excellent story. Thanks.... (off to find a swimming hole in the bush...😉)

Yes, but how many lives are wasted just because mr montgomery (aka opportunity) didn't turn up on time. And this isnt only their own opportunity, its the opportunity lost by all of us, that the person who solves cancer, discovers fusion, is the next Michelangelo, Steven Hawkins, Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin or who enables one of those people. People are too precious to waste.

Jarek is a perfect fantasy male. He is very erotic. I am hoping like hell that he, Jarek, gets back to the camp before Zeno is butchered by any of those truly lunatic women. You write a compellingly sexy tale Mr Rigby Taylor!😘

How satisfying to read of an elysium, an eden, a heaven that boys could go to to really understand themselves. I imagine this was the original intent of Geelong Grammar's creation of Timbertop, however between going coed and the intrusion of civilisation, it has lost some of its original aim (for those that dont know, Geelong Grammar is a private school in Victoria Australia. Back in the 40s it created a campus in a rural area for boys in year 10 (14 or 15). Boys stayed for an entire year. It was initially rough, a step above camping. Now it has been "civilised". The UKs Prince Charles spent a term there in the 60s) Great writing, but i do feel a storm in the form of those radically stupid women....

the pressure on a 13 / 14 year old of social media/internet/pop TV programs.... I sincerely hope some one has a plan......

bloody beautiful chapter. much envy at an ability to write this, much envy at the truly beautiful environment you have created for impressionable old boys/young men on the verge of manhood. i am worried that there is yet to be a sensible woman in this world....they do exist, I know! but i would be immensely sad if these amazing young men, 80%+ of whom will be at least notionally str8, do ever get to meet a sane female. pls. (yes, "whom" is archaic, but I couldn't work a way around it...) I am enjoying this very very much! in addition to the Australian setting ( here its neg 16 on Easter Saturday... sigh) the characters and their dialogue. Very enjoyable. the interaction between Jarek and Leon, (insert smile) so like myself and a geography teacher... many happy memories!

@sojourn I now understand. I probably didnt react to your coments re politics and religion as i agreed....😆 its always so much easier when your reading reflects your own prejudices😇😆

Several modern Christian churches have a lot to answer for ( other religions too, I'd imagine, while I have a reasonable understanding of muslim, buddhist, taoist dogma, not too good at the actual delivery and social policies of them). Wile I attended a fairly high Anglican school in melbourne, it was a fairly live and let live environment. We had a couple of very out gay kids and a couple of gay teachers (one out the other not), but stil seeing and hearing some of the so called "evangelical" churches, youd think we were back in reformation Spain or France with the inquisition. Jarek (a slighly imperfect depiction of our Rigby Taylor😆) seems to be able to get through to those children. And I do think he has it; treat children with civility, guide them by example and surprisingly theyll turn out reasonably.

The y way you describe Maria's calculation of her response was pure magic. Haveing raised two sons, sometimes their coordinated responses were so bizarre that as a parent you first had to stop yourself laughing, and secondly marvel at their ingenuity! As for your postscript... I am left confused and concerned; If people are expressing anger at you as author I am dismayed and annoyed at their rudeness. If someone disagrees with what you write, then they should stop bloody reading it! Or have I missed the point and there is some weighty piece of social policy you are advancing that I should be paying more attention to? All i can say, is I enjoy the writing, I enjoy the story. Thank you.

There are twists and there a double back flips with two and a half twists with pike! I thought I was clever realising the uncle was gay... I do feel for his mum. Her world has been turned inside out. Its all fine and dqndy to be squishy liberal parents in hindsight, but having your child change everything you knew about him, hoped for him, expected of him in one two hour conversation is not easy. Its mind blowing. She will sort herself out. She's a mother, they do.

You have created the most amazing leader! While i have had a few great teachers in my time, not many came close to Jarek! As far as hairlessness on men, i think its more of a fashion thing than a feminist plot. The ancients were fairly pro hairlessness, and no one would accuse their women of being feminists (Lysistrata excepted!) The 15th century Florentines, Regency period englishand possibly a few others favoured hairless/shaved men. The disco years of the seventies definately favoured hairy blokes and now beards are in in a way they havent been for some decades.... so I'd suggest feminism and hairless blokes more likely coincidence rather than cause/effect!

Its so sad when people avoid facts, research, advice and even their on logical reasoning to go along with bitter diatribe. I am sure the vast majority of those women at some time were rational humans, but theu have allowed themselves to be duped. It will end in tears for most and, hopefully, gaol for at least two of those appalling women. Meanwhile very happy for Zeno and Cador.

"Feminazis" are no different to misogynitic pricks ("grab'em by the pussy"); they are extremes of a continuum. When we stop trying to catagorise people and just live and let live, we will all be a lot better. Both extremes however look back or forward to mystical/mythical times when a "side" is, was or will be dominant. Utterly pointless. Complete waste of energy, time and resources. Many years ago, I was yelled at by a woman for holding a door for her, she literally scream that she was a feminist who didnt need doors opened for her. I responded that I didnt assume she wasnt a feminist, but I did assume she would have better manners. I walked off ignoring the invective that followed! As far as the story.... Cador's reponse was pretty close to what mine would have been at that age (without the Allah refs!). The boys do seem to have created a paradise, I do recall another story about a boys paradise; Lord of the Flies...didn't end as well as I hope this story does...😆

A belated comment. How can a parent behave so badly? Realise it is your writing skills that enable my ire to develop, but unfortunately, it is a version of true life. All children do test their parents. They seem to be put on this planet with that sole purpose at times, but never have I wanted either of mine to leave my life. Cador does seem to have fallen on his feet. Hopefully he continues as a model student long enough to embarrass his father and milk sop of a mother. Thank you!

Shocked! Shocked! How could those photos, all of them, get deleted? What an amazing, ah! No, unfortunate accident! I do hate crooked cops. Its a real betrayal of the trust society puts in them to maintain the law.

A darn sight lighter than the last para! I do recall a similar camp when I was at school. I do recall that one or teachers that were great at school were hopeless at camp, and vice versa. Not as much nudity as in the story, but certainly naked swimming, and midnight games of "soggy biscuit" ( yes, as revolting as it sounds!)

So much for Adele... Bindi? Dumb doesn't begin. ..

Well there is a dark view of relationships. Frankly its nothing to do with the sex of either partner, its all to do with the amount of effort both partners put into the relationship. As soon as it gets one sided, it is over and should be terminated. Of course the "effort" is all around communication. None of those blokes seem to be able to communicate with their spouses and /or their spouses fail to listen /communicate with their husbands.

Yes, me too, but this is giving me an insight into somewhere where I never thought I'd go.

Parents defending their young are capable of almost anything. That the revenge was righteous but not terminal indicates parents who are aware of the difference between justice and revenge. Great writing, tho' anything less sexy than a woman peeing in bed is hard to imagine!

@droughtquake; child support is not for18 years, its forever! At best you can hope they leave home at 18!

What he said.....