Rabble_Rouser

An amazing chapter Vance!!! AND THE FIRST TIME ONE OF MY PREDICTIONS CAME TRUE!!!! I got a good laugh out of thinking that karma really doesn't like Mr.Harris. All those "evil" gays keep crossing his path and catching the son of his ex-girlfriend making out with the nephew of the girl she cheated on him with!!! I still don't know where this is going with Kyle. His reaction to finding out about Cameron seems to be history repeating itself with the way Mr.Harris started a malicious smear campaign about his ex. I can't just yet accept that Kyle is a homophobe & a hypocrit (his little discussion with Cameron about how he wouldn't treat a gay friend badly but would just try to "save" them). He's acting like he wouldn't cross the street to spit on Cameron if he was on fire but I still have (a probably niave) hope that this is a front for his father. I think that if Vance was going to have Kyle simply end all ties with Cameron, he wouldn't be getting a mention each chapter... but what form will the conflict take the shape of? I can hardly wait for next Friday! Steve

No I hadn't heard of either brother but a quick google search gave me a link to the trailer for the movie (which looked really bad BTW) but yeah, that is exactly how I pictured Aiden. Disclaimer: Here's the link but I take no responsibility for any damage to your psyche caused by watching it... http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/trai...tml?v_id=259983 Steve

Well, here's my 2 cents... - I've driven a BMW 328 with a stick and it's definitely a sweet car! My buddy who owns it always tells people who are starting to drive a stick for the first time that it's best to "drive it like you hate it" until you get the feel of the clutch\throttle points. - I've always driven a stick and I love nothing more than spending some time on some country roads where I can enjoy my car (Acura RSX). When I'm forced to drive an auto I have the bad habit of trying to stomp on the clutch and grabbing the shifter before I remember what I'm doing. - My preference is a stick for everything except dense traffic (3 hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic gives your left leg a good workout) and the parking garage at the office (the genius who designed the parking garage obviously never drove a stick since the exit from the garage is straight ramp from 3 floors beneath grade with a traffic light at street level... and usually someone an inch of my @ss ). - One thing no-one has mentioned was the problems a stick can be when injured... I broke my collar bone in high school and couldn't drive because I couldn't shift! Remember, Drive it like you hate it!!! (once your dad's out of ear shot ) Steve

Great chapter Vance!! Too bad that Kyle's turned out be just as big a hypocritical and judgemental ass as his father. It'll be interesting so see how far Cameron is willing to take being open about Cole and will he tell his mother. Steve

Well Kitty, I could be putting my foot in it (again) but here's my rationale for my guess (and it really is just a hunch)... - She married Cameron's Dad to get away from her family which suggests to me that she didn't love him (not that he comes across as all the lovable to begin with) - She travelled the world to find herself which suggests that the life she'd established for herself was lacking something significant that she didn't see herself finding in the location and situation she was in. - She didn't use he\him when she described her lover, which can either be a hint or simply vague. She's desperately trying to re-establish her relationship with Cameron and MAY be hiding her orientation until she has established a foundation with Cameron. - I can't see anyone (although I'm sure it happens) just saying "well, I'm bored and I really need to get out and see the world" and abandoning her family out of the blue. There had to be something significant she was searching for to leave the stability she sought when she married and a sweet kid like Cameron. - We haven't had any fights or abuse discussed that would suggest martial problems, and even so, I would want to take my kid with me if that was the case. - Her and Mr.Harris not liking one another doesn't signify anything as we've seen plenty of evidence that Mr.Harris can find lots of reason not to approve of people and approve of actions most of us would find repugnant (Cameron's Dad's treatment of his son, his views on Cole's suitability to look after his mother, his reaction to Cameron's step-mom's family at the funeral, Cameron's Dad actions at the hospital and his lack of concern at the assault on Cameron (which is particularily puzzling for a police officer)). Or she could also simply have been immature and self-centred and that was the reason she abandoned her husband and child. Like I said, it isn't a strong conviction but more of a hunch... I guess I'll have to wait for a few more Friday's to find out! Steve

I know I've said it before and I still believe it. It makes sense as a good reason for what she did (even if Cameron's father is an ass doesn't count) Steve

David...Great Chapter! I feel sorry for Ryan, especially after reading the information Toby provided about the "date". The poor boy certainly got it with both barrels from Conner. Not that he didn't have it coming for his actions over the past few months but I think Conner had built up the anger about Mikey, Maggie's talk to him after the breakup, the mis-interpreted "date" with Sally and the anger at the rapist and dumped it on Ryan. I agree with Kurt that Ryan obviously still has feelings for Conner (another example was his reaction to his belief that Conner had hooked up with Toby). The poor guy now has 3 weeks to think about his confrontation with Conner before he gets to sit down with him and talk about it. I'd still like to see Conner with Ryan but I think they both have done things that may be difficult if not impossible to get over. Steve

Great Chapter Vance!!! I'm not really surprised by Mr.Harris and couldn't help but smile when reading Cameron's responses back to him. It's good to see Cameron's mom had him pegged for what he is. My first thought about Kyle's reaction was that he might be mad at his Dad and putting Cameron back out on the street... guess I'll find out next week! Steve

Ibuprofen, I'll make it easier for you... if you get your highspeed from Eastlink you're using a cablemodem which most people call broadband (CJames is right that DSL,microwave,satellite are all forms of broadband) and if you get your highspeed from Aliant you're using DSL. Hey Beast... just a suggestion... make sure that you test any changes you're contemplating with IE v7.0 that they have the beta released for as I've seen some sites that are not working well with it. (and before anyone gives me a critique of the Microsoft product... I'm not saying it's right just that it's what most people will be using in 6 months) Steve

Another great chapter Viv! The coming out scene was great and I'm sure it made Jesse's day! Cheers! Steve

Another great chapter Vance... I'm trying to be patient for the next chapter to come out! My first thought (and I believe the most likely answer) is that the "peeper" is Kyle. Another strong possibility is that it's Cameron's mother who got bored and wanted to see Cameron and was sent over there by the Harris's. Just a hunch (which I'm notoriously bad at) is that Cameron's mother is no stranger to same-sex relationships and this will eventually be revealed to Cameron (and us). The only thing I'm basing this on is her discussion about her time in the UK and the strained pause when Cameron asked her if she had a boyfriend. Steve

I'm back from vacation and getting caught up on all my favourite stories... I was somewhat surprised by Ryan dumping Conner but not really either. As Conner stated in this chapter, Ryan had isolated himself from everyone else he cared about and dumping Conner completed the task. My guess is that some event (whoever suggested Conner going on a date I think hit the nail on the head) will force Ryan to deal with his feelings for Conner. I'm assuming that he really still does love Conner based upon his reaction to Toby & Conner's newfound closeness. As for Conner's thought's during his conversation with Maggie, I didn't find it all that strange when you consider that Conner is only 16 and still lacks some maturity , he's pretty emotionally raw from recent events, and combined with his experiences with his mother make this seem pretty mild compared to what I would expect. We saw the thought but it's not like he acted upon it. I'm looking forward to the next chapter because LBIT put alot of depth into the story and characters that make it hard to predict where the story is going which makes it a must read! Steve P.S. We should all be thankful that the only Grandmother in the story has passed away or Nicky might be latching onto her as a romantic figure for Conner!

I just can't help but shake my head when I see these people! I've always heard that this family funds their cult by lawsuits... looking at the last video, I can imagine there were more than a few images that were used without copyright permission... If I was the family targetted by one of their "protests" I would be taking my vacation time to camp out by their church on Sundays and do everything within the law to annoy the hell out of them. :2hands:

Another great chapter! I like how Cameron is just getting his feet under him and then you throw in an estranged mother into the mix! Cheers! Steve

OK, that was just EVIL ... and I leave for vacation Monday and won't have access to a computer for two weeks! EVIL! Another great chapter and you've started to develop the characters of the twins more whom I'm starting to like more and more. My first thought was that it was Toby who's swan song the chapter title implied but after thinking about it for a few minutes, I think it's Mikey that's the reason for the late night phone call. I think that if it was Toby, Connor would have mentioned Maggie crying or being upset. Now I just have to wait two weeks to find out! S'est toujour triste qu'un jeune est mort!

LBTW, I loved what I've read so far and I hope you make this a serial novel. If you really want to make this your writers block storyline, (and I can't believe that I'm saying this....) maybe you should do exactly that and just start releasing the chapters when you're done with it... either way, I hope you continue with this story. Steve (who's hiding behind a tree to avoid the things being thrown at him)

Happy Birthday Doc! Hope you made it an extra-long weekend to celebrate! Steve

Another great chapter Vance! I continue to be surprised at the turn-around that Cameron is making but it's fairly easy to accept when you read his inner monologue for his rationale. I wasn't too surprised at Cameron's (fill in your favourite expletive here...) Dad's actions in the hospital as I've seen people lash out when they are upset in unjustified ways but I hope this at least gives Cameron another push to put his past behind him. One thing that surprised me with Mr.Harris (besides his being able to accept that he can be wrong) was that he didn't even mention charging Cameron's Dad with assault... you'd think knocking someone out for that period of time and being the straight-laced law enforcement officer that he is that he'd want to at least broach the subject with Cameron! I'm looking forward to seeing where things go with Cole as they both seem to provide something to the other that they need. Thanks for another great story that ranks up with Shane! Steve

Vance, you should know that people LOVE your stories... I started pestering you for more when you were still writing Shane! Steve

I may be a country boy but I'm not exactly from an area where the "men are men and the sheep are nervous"!

Vance, Another great chapter and another great way to end the week. Although I'm kind of surprised at Cameron's reactions to the recent changes in his life, I can also understand the justifications he provides. As for the actions that Mr.Harris took in this chapter, I don't find them particularily surprising given the paternalistic 50's stereotype that he's been presented as up to this point... even though I think the reason he coerced Cameron into seeing his Dad was probably pretty valid. I was pretty surprised that Cameron didn't put up more of a fuss at giving blood for his Dad's operation (might have been shock) and the lack of caring the hospital staff seemed to have but the good news is that, given Camerons past behaviour, he must have passed the STD checks for the blood transfusion. Like Buddha, I can see that you've really opened the story up in the last two chapters and I can't even hazard a guess where the story is going but I'm sure looking forward to finding out! Cheers! Steve

LBTW, Another great chapter and a happy conclusion to the Connor\Social Services cliffy! I kinda get that this chapter is a bit of a pause before we are propelled into the next bit of conflict. Thanks for the great story and for giving me something good to read on a crappy (cold & wet) Saturday. Thanks also to Kitty for all the work she's putting into editing this story... editors tend to be the unsung heroes of GA! Steve

Do I need to bring up Luke and Gramma Alice?!?!?

Hey LBTW, Another great chapter and you must be trying to work yourself up to the level of Dom with the evil cliff hangers! I agree with the general thrust of most of the comments so far (especially Kevin's) but one thing that has been sorta nagging at me is the complete lack of opposition that we've seen from Ryan and Toby to having Connor placed in a foster home. My thinking is LBTW has something coming up in the next chapters to enlighten us... or I could be wrong... again.... Steve

Once again I'll agree with the Zot... I'm more concerned about Dom being so busy that the pace of chapter releases have slowed and forced Nicky to start fantasizing about the goat (and then even more worrisome is the subsequent goat recipe fantasies ) I'm think that if the goat does play a role in the story it might be a little lawn "nugget" that Emily slips and falls on on her way down the aisle... Growing up, one of my neighbours raised goats and, while they are cute when they're little kids, the adults can be mean and destructive little buggers! OK, enough of my enabling Nicky's goat obsession! Steve