Philippe

If tested it may show up on the periodic table as one of the dense elements;

Burned once, shame on you, burned twice , shame on me. Joel has pretty good reason to not be trusting people with is secret. Building trust when his life long trust was broken is a tough thing. I can understand why and how he feels the way he does. I was betrayed by my college roommate. He didn’t even trying talking to me, but he outed me and my friend to his friends and our neighbors. That started car vandalism and vulgar writings with oil, vaseline, paint, etc. My friend and I found us a duplex apartment with more limited neighbor exposure. Friendship, maturity, and betrayal is a fickled thing at that age, especially back when it wasn’t talked about and definitely not accepted openly. But even today, friendships can take unexpected turns as perceptions are preconceived, and the friend has their own reasons for paranoia.

Well, Colt was impressed with Joel’s ability to protect himself…perhaps Trace was too. Celia was less impressed and wanted Joel to talk; but not even digging that peroxide Q-tip into the wound could bring out the frustrating truth. Joel seems to be hiding and dreading his truth, but Trace is giving him encouragement to come out with it; that’s a pretty big sign saying that Celia has your back…just trust her. This after fight chapter took me back to my high school days. It was the early 70s with riots at least weekly occasions at the time. Procedurally teachers closed and lock doors at the first signs, but that often left some of us locked out in the hallways before the rumble of the riots reached the actual physical presence of the riots; it was an older raise structure with good old wooden floor joist that carried resonant frequencies of stomping or running. If locked out and the riot come upon your location, best to back against the hall and defend your position as otherwise the mob would knock you down and kick you repeatedly. So the evening after a riot cordoned off many to be suspended (first flaw in thinking), I sat guiltily waiting for dad to finish his weekly report so I could inform him of the suspension and the instructions to not call us we’ll call you (second flaw in thinking)… So dad finished then finally asked what I wanted to tell him. Well…tap dance around…until he asked did I get hit? Huh 🤔? Only indirectly… Was the other person hurt? Dad, it was a fast paced riot, no one was standing around fighting one on one. Well did you see the guy that you bruised your knuckles on? Huh 🤔…hey it’s an expected teenage response. Well, I did remember one guy’s eyes getting bigger right after I connected and there was blood 🩸 around his left cheekbone and eyebrow. Hmmm 🤔, so you’re suspended (as parents had heard of these new policies for trying to control riots)? Yes, sir. Ok, want to travel with me for work next week? …yes. So I know the feeling of do you disclose freely or let them ask. How much do they already know and just want you to come clean? 😗 Meanwhile, Joel is trying to get back within his old head, dealing with distrust after being outed in the first step of his family's betrayal. Next weekend I hope Cody comes over, setting the stage for the more comfortable and loving big brother to show up too. Perhaps building the bridge of trust might make quicker progress.

What concerns me is as the PIs put it before; assume nothing, yet I don’t remember anyone giving positive evidence that Ira Cohen is dead. The axe murder and the satisfaction of the job done is more along the lines of Ira’s violent and abusive behavior. Likewise, with the blackmailing and intimidation, I wonder if it wasn’t just coincident opportunities to pay off debts Ira had accumulated himself. Could the body be that of a debt collector, and Ira intentionally mutilated the head/face to facilitate his own disappearance? Could it be that there is a witness to Ira leaving the property already aflame? Would this explain the fear from Caleb’s mother, aunt, even the neighbors? Ira is a very violent man, the words/thoughts of the axe murderer are troubling as the profile of Ira would be the same. Who would dare cross a violent man that no one would suspect, as he is dead now, or is he a living ghost hiding behind a corpse? If I’m not remembering correctly I apologize, but I’m not trying to pitch red herrings that didn’t come from this stream..

Oh yes, Asher reflects on Arsehair; concluding he was crappy…to Kills. Speaking of amusement parks, Aunt Judy seemed to enjoy the ride on the musical carousel as they each test the other to not taint nor guide the others responses; a little tedious at times, but sets the stage nicely that it’s only partially familiar, with majority being unknown. But note, even after a similar confession of the dream/nightmare/visions, Killian still didn’t confess and confer or axe Aunt Judy hers thoughts. I’m disappointed that this awkwardness in Killian understanding and accepting the idea of gifts and that Seth is real..ly visiting him, but what about the foresight and murder?? That teenage fixation on wrapping his head around what he sees as more immediate, while an unknown murderer could visit for nefarious purposes. Yet, he and Asher do agree now, that Caleb has a lot to explain and could still possibly be the murderer; though I still believe his aunt and mother may be more involved they ever let on. Oh goodness, Steve and Micah can enjoy the popcorn while Killian tries to communicate with the dead Mistress of the Manor; could she lead Killian to hidden treasures too? Keeping in mind, treasures are in the eye of the beholders.

Spontaneous road trips are so much fun…and Joshua has the beach house available for such spontanastity.

Ping, ping, ping,…as the gaydar scans the room and finds Kevin pinging in return.

Yes, and YES!

It seems the ancient powers are awakening in more than just Ray. Stay tuned for our next adventure of The Old and the Greedy, as The World Turns towards the vampire realm, where they do not expect The Young and the Restless.

Ding Dong the Wicked Witch is dead

As Dallas’ dad said he was sorry boys, I have to wonder if it’s sorry for the way he acted when he found them intimatel or for what he may have done that they are yet to understand but probably involves Timmy, his dad, and the circles for which they spread homophobic gossip?

Yeah, but when you spoke of those eyes it brought that element to the forefront of my memory immediately. Nice visualization of a very real element of nervous violence and the risk of spontaneous escalation beyond what their original faculty thinking anticipated.

I agree but likewise sympathy does not equal innocence either. But there are reasonable arguments for special treatment based incarceration facilities and reduced sentences for progress and behavior; however, these programs need stress tests to validate progress before subjecting the unsuspecting general population to their presence. The laws are for order and protection of the populace, not an individual preying upon humanity just to do it again.

Having been at the end of a shotgun barrel from a perp with hopped up, deranged, jiggling eyes, demanding the money from the cash register while I see his finger already resting against the trigger, I can say that’s a look and experience I wouldn’t wish upon anyone…lest they want their brains 🧠 and blood 🩸 visited upon the cigarette rack behind them. Humans can be so vile at times, yet far too often some part of that behavior was learned; that vengeance is righteous, and those that don’t fit their mold should move along are motivated towards better logic.

The poor kid will be born with either great jousting skills or forever live in fear of being jousted once more.

He probably modeled them from college freemen free and wild from parental units; just re-cast them as high school freshmen all it’s about the same. 🤷‍♂️

Violence begets violence, but Claude had being on Ed for nine years. So while Ed was wrong to let it pile up to breaking point, or any supervisor ignoring the issues as boys will be boys should be fired with strict no bullying enforced both upon students and faculty/staff that allow or condone such behavior. So while Ed has been harassed for years, and assaulted this very day, it’s hard to lay all the blame on Ed. Ed may well need help, but how much of that developmental process was affected by Claude’s bullying him mentality and physically for years, when they’re only 14? So sad, so unnecessary, so hard to believe someone knew but did nothing…about what either boy was doing/living with.

Hopefully any kissing him farewell involves knuckles to that beautiful face or better yet, play kick balls; that’s bound to have him on a slowdown to think and reflect. 😈

Unfortunately there is no way the deconstruct the brain 🧠 and it’s infinite signals and then reconstruct after clearing any damaged nerves, blood vessels, or protective membranes. A field where many trials may be necessary and many errors recognized; many with consequences. Diagnosis is too frequently dependent on the patient themselves, but also for the treatment effectiveness or lack thereof. So the possibly mentally compromised patient has to provide key medical feedback on which treatment may be working…all with half-life depletion of one drug from the system while another drug builds to possible efficacy over time…all dependent on the patient themselves being able to recognize what their normal supposed to be. Both boys are still young and relatively still experiencing the stresses that can throw the chemistry of the body and body into imbalances that contribute to such conditions; my point is that hopefully the boys do not face a life long imbalance issue; where one successful drug loses efficacy or is discontinued from production….so the process starts over again, with no known expectation of duplication of the prior successes. 😢

Elephants, did they say elephants? Do you think they’re talking about us?

YES! Micah pumped the brakes before they were riding the runaway train. What a wonder step in learning each other. Micah would had regrets that he wouldn’t have known Killian is a virgin, Killian would have had regrets in not knowing if he had made a clear and rational decision or had let alcohol infused hormones drive the train. Poor Seth, living with regrets is tough enough, but he will forever lament his lost chance to experience romantic love. Yet Seth takes dead much like life, logical, and with acceptance for things he can’t change. Hmmm 🤔, did he like Killian’s outfit too…compliments to Seth taste in apparel? So once again Killian is referred to see Judy, perhaps this is the way that Killian can learn what Seth is not allowed to say. That should prove most interesting, as is it proven, or untested theories that Killian may have to try when/if the need arises? The suspense itself is a cliffhanger. 😊 Great chapter, with lots of growth between our young…longing lovers. Thank you, @Josh Aterovis.

I can only hope that he will break that generational chain. It’s difficult at times as his parents do care but only in their known way. But likewise he has come to me for breakfast or lunch, then takes care of his bathroom needs and ablutions. He will tell me casually that they (the city) has cut off their water again. This summer I bought him a summer pool pass with him promising to do his best taking the swimming lessons I also signed him up for. He spent hours playing after lessons too; so it seems it was a good investment, with physical activity vs gaming all summer. Plus he got himself a very nice tan on his little body; don’t worry, he was sprayed with spf50 each visit. 🤣

May the spirit that compelled you be purged; be gone you creature of darkness. Let Jeff return to himself, by himself,…be gone you evil monster. 👺

I have a 9 year old neighbor boy that loves to spend time with me or over at my house. His likes vary like seasons; board game Monopoly, computer games, and watching shows we enjoy together. He helps me outside too, but mostly because he gets to drive the tractor or to burn boxes to start wood fires; marshmallows, fireworks, occasional come with that. Yet he is a third generation of a family much the same, but not urban nor rural, just rural suburban. He loves to go “help” shopping; we need this, we need that, etc. Hmmm 🤔 , and I thought he just liked going for the Costco pizza we usually get, but I’m constantly needing some of his other favorites, ahem, I mean our favorites. It would be easy to turn a blind eye to much that goes on, but I just try to explain in response to his often very intelligent and observant questions; then he’s usually happy, sometimes frustrated, but he understands well for his age. The chains holding him and his family are much the same, because they don’t understand how they could break the cycle, so they just accept that it’s their lot in life. So, no blind eye, yet I’ve been called early and late, and have even been woken in person as he let himself in to see when I plan to get up. 🤦‍♂️ Yes, he has much freedom but not unlimited, so it wasn’t that out of place and wasn’t rude..other than the waking me; but the time was reasonable except I had a rough night with chronic injury pain. He’s a smart kid. I’ve been asked to accompany on field trips and to attend open house parent night…ironically I was his only adult representation. I don’t put any of them down, but when I comment, it is within normal reasoning…i.e. well maybe they won’t be too tired to come and see this with you next time, or hopefully your dad can figure out the car problem soon; though I know they don’t want to have him in the car without registration and insurance, as they’ve been warned and expect they could be arrested in caught. Sometimes, the worst chains to break are our own, as we haven’t been believing in ourselves and may dismiss others as ill informed; because they dare to imply otherwise.

I just hope it’s totally consensual and not a pressured or manipulative exploit between the two…that I think JJ finally saw on the balcony. He may not wrap his head around it until that voice is replayed in his head, but then it’s probably a head shaker for the unexpected pairing.