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We have a cat, and I suppose I like her. She keeps the mice away... Is wife-bashing on the rise? Domestic violence has been historically sanctioned by our culture, and violence against women continues to be glorified in media and pornography. I would assume any increase in 'wife-bashing' is an increase in reporting. This is an interesting pamphlet describing, within a discussion of violence, the differences between Native Indigenous tribes views of and respect for women vs. European colonizers. https://www.niwrc.org/sites/default/files/documents/Resources/VANW Not Traditional - Handbook.pdf Someone should put you in charge of organizing educational curriculums, interpersonal relationships would be an ennobling addition.

Oh good, Sebastian and Rex are getting on well. The secret pornography setup is uncovered, but danger is closing in. Guapo and Con make a nice pair. Your men don't seem to have any luck with fiancés... Fee appears to be set up as a good person, but only time will tell.

Off topic... Macfife — Make filth? Can’t think of anything for the Alconas, except it seems like it should be All and then something referring to nudity.

So is Farzbuk -Fast buck? The only thing I’ve come up with so far is Farts butt, and that just doesn’t seem right... Guapo held up well to the barefoot hike. What was waiting at the end was not so great. I hope Guapo doesn’t disappear without a trace like Sebastian’s previous companions.

Aww...! This is the sweetest of all your chapters so far. What a beautiful blooming romance, my heart’s melting. Sebastian and Reginald make the perfect couple.

So, Sebastian is sans père no longer. I wonder how him and Rex Trovert will get along? (If his name is anything to go by, (ex)Trovert will be outgoing and friendly.) Mr. KnowAll remains a strong supportive character, I like him. Rodney reminds me of Terry from D.B.; however, Mr. Boy-love remains questionable. His misuse of power in a moment of sexual intensity is, I think, not such an uncommon occurrence. His admission of regret and shame to Rex is a sign that perhaps he has thought carefully about his actions and not repeated them. Ultimately though, if he is truly repentant he should attempt to support with either energy or resources those focused on correcting the problem of rampant negative sexual experiences in youths, as well as the 'questionably rape' instances resulting from unequal power structures, isolation and social disconnection, lack of healthy sexual outlets, emotional repression and need in youth and adults, and our cultural sexual repression which creates significant tension during puberty when the experience of sexual drive hits without any learned mechanisms or outlets to understand, control, or harness one's own sexuality; often leading to, and supporting, gross misconduct at the intersection of power and sexuality.

I imagine you are right to a certain extent about the blanket laws on child abuse, but I think that is only one symptom of the larger social disease which has negatively impacted adult/youth relations. It alone would not account for my lack of adult women friends/mentors as a female, since these relationships have never been subject to suspicion of sexual abuse. I was able to drive at 15, but found there was few places to go and no one who had time or interest to engage with. People in general were so busy that there was little room for relaxed and pleasant social interactions. In a sad twist, I think the only adults who went out of their way to engage with me as a teenager were doing so with sexual intent. No one else cared or had time to spare, or as you say perhaps were afraid of social stigmas and backlash. Even now, in my neighborhood there is only one other mom and I who engage with all the neighborhood kids, the other parents are always inside or at work. Yes, some people tick all the boxes, and they are ideal for seeking true friendship. Your summation of my character based on liking 'Dancing Bare' is very generous (if a touch egocentric), so thank you. It was my gateway book to the Rigby cannon.

I don't remember having any friendships with adults when I was a teenager; I don't think I had any experiences which were 'private' enough and also encouraged bonding and interest between adults and youth. A common problem, but not particularly helpful to those learning to navigate adult experiences. In some ways I think your social test is opposite of mine, I prefer to weed people out by their ability to keep up with basic banal social niceties. I have been too often around people who are sparkling, engaging, dynamic, and seemingly authentic and straightforward, but have not yet accomplished the traits of consistency and trust which allow interpersonal dynamics to be mutually supportive and grow over time. The most engaging, intelligent, and lively person is not interesting to me if I have to pet and impress them at each meeting to gain their time and attention. I liked ‘Dancing Bare’.👍

More naked wrestling Another Rigby theme, it would appear. Thankfully you've added several strong supporting characters for Sebastian, I think he may need future allies against Desole and Jack. Sebastian has an interesting personality, he seems to oscillate between a controlled and designed presentation of self to a sort of dumping of authenticity and honesty on people with whom he is close (Desole) or is becoming close (the principal and Achilles.) He describes it as a test of acceptance and to see himself reflected in the response of others. Hmm, an interesting model.

Yes, and always, what does the person want, who is telling me this thing?

Desole has quite the range. Just when it seems like she's exhibiting a healthy trait, her internal dialogue shows it to be a hollow parroting of good parenting, with sinister designs. Jack and the vanishing boys are also problematic. I suppose we should take a lesson, and be cautious when people say, "do it because it's the right thing."

Nature self-correcting, eh?

Another strong start. A visceral experience at the pools, really grabs the attention. Good for Sebastian, pushing social boundaries without being rude is a good way to change minds. Sad to hear about the high rate of male impotency, I think the numbers for female sexual dysfunction are similar... Bummer.

The negative feelings you’ve described so well about an unwanted sexual incident appear to me, from personal experience and conversation, to be relatively common (at least in the US) for first or early sexual experiences. It seems our ‘advanced culture’ has failed miserably to create an environment where humans are able to safely experience sexual awakening and learn healthy sexual attitudes and boundaries. You have a very interesting observation, it is worrisome that Anthony cuts off his feelings into a callous contempt for Deidre and chooses to pose naked with a stranger at the next opportunity. I wonder if his new confidence in talking to Stephen may be a result of closing off the feelings resulting from his painful experience with Deidre, and in doing so decoupling sexual encounters from the gravitas and social forms meant to contain and protect the center of passion and sexuality and the tenderness necessary to create a safe and pleasurable experience not only of hormonal delights, but also the ‘essential self’. Anthony falls prey to the unnecessary attribution of the self-created characteristics of the ‘essential self’, in this case purity, to outside experiences. I worry Anthony’s wound will be hard to heal because he does not have the support of his father, or a perspective which allows him to analyze and process the experience and reaffirm his inner self. I am afraid that by closing off these negative feelings, and therefore shutting off the part of his body and mind that experienced them, as well as letting his ‘essential self’ be affected by a self-perception that he is ‘soiled goods’, Anthony is likely to act with a callousness to his own delicate sexual emotions and in doing so will likely put himself into positions which will exacerbate his wound, creating further numbness and compartmentalization and making the eventual road to healing and realigning the body and spirit more difficult. Or Stephen will be a great guy and help him sort his problems out...

I doubt there is ever a point in throwing a young person into a prison system that only exacerbates violence and crime. What Peter did was foolish and dangerous, as he stated in his opening, but there is nothing that can be done to take back a past action. Maurice's guidance and love appears his best chance moving forward to live a full and healthy life without causing further harm.

Well, there’s a list of very nice things about the female sex. I’ll try not to let it all go to my head.😊 What an interesting birth story! So the electric shock was the trigger for labor, not conception, then? I’ve heard a few stories of babies arriving fast, but yours is exceptional. Were you a younger child? These things often speed up in subsequent births. I image your mother as a picture of health to have such a quick and (I’m guessing) relatively easy delivery. And it seems the electric shock didn’t do any damage to baby Rigby either.😉 Interesting to learn how all your stories tie together.

This must be a sample of the ‘unpublishable’ writing you’ve mentioned before. Canuck is right, you certainly haven’t ‘gone soft’. The Numans were an interesting creation. I was a bit sad to see women and children written off of the new species. Not that things ended well for Numans, anyway...

Well done Peter and Jon! They've made it out alive! Now they have each other, a cosy house in the woods with idealistic neighbors, an impressive art gallery on premium waterfront real estate, a content relationships with Hank and Celia, a solid friendship with the Alconas, and a possibility of future pleasant encounters with Matthew and his lot. To think all they had to do was... Oh wait, it was quite an ordeal, wasn't it? Well, how are you supposed to appreciate life if you don't struggle some, eh? Another excellent thriller.

An excellent web of lies and manipulation the young men have laid. Our heroes are entrapping their villains splendidly. I noticed, Matthew went from having two and a half children to three in a matter of days. Those breeders reproduce quickly. I feel compelled to interject a critique, 'non-working' isn't the exact adjective I would use for Matthew's wife, unless they've hired out for a surrogate, nanny, housekeeper, and cook...

Peter and Jon are closing in on MacFife. He seems to be locked up and secured, but I still worry now that they’ve left him to get Glaze. One more taped confession should do the trick with the police...

Yes, I have been seeing all about Jeff Bezos for a while now. My news feed is spammed up with the presence of his face and the plight of his workers. I think he is planning on using that money to fly to Mars with Elon Musk. Or something. He also attends Burning Man, https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/fashion/at-burning-man-the-tech-elite-one-up-one-another.html which makes him 'cool' or 'counter-culture, future thinking' or something... The giffs were just *fingers crossed* twice. Thanks for the editing tip.

"Rory pulled a face and turned to Lida. ‘What do you reckon?’ ‘We’ve done more dangerous things.’ ‘Not in Australia.’" and "That first day when you brought over that dreadful chocolate cheesecake that gave us all diarrhea, I thought, here is someone I can trust. " -ha ha! Nice to know a little more about Rory and Lida. Great people, stand-up neighbors for Peter. Hopefully, they will all make it out of this alive. 🤞🤞

Yes, in my fairy tale people will judge themselves accurately, but not harshly, and find a partner in a similar position. I think it’s better than the common plot of the lesser appointed character ‘reaching’ for a love interest who eventually relents when they discover the ‘true character’ of their admirer. Too many people waste time looking for ideals in others, when they should be trying to hone them in themselves. You are right, humans are not that complicated, but we certainly have a lot of silly things programmed into our delicate brains.

I agree, it's imperative to have good communication in a relationship. When this doesn't happen, there is the question of whether people have good intentions, but bad learned behaviors, or bad intentions. People with good intentions and flawed behaviors should probably aim to find a partner with a similar number of flaws, and practice patience with them in exchange for patience in return. People with bad intentions in a relationship will only hurt themselves and their partner. They must examine and work on the root of their personal problem on their own, for any hope of a future healthy relationship. I like your characters because they encounter these obstacles, but quickly and with a clear head move past them. Much literature is concerned with the varieties of problems a relationship can engender, and lets those problems fester within pretty writing. From what I've seen, rarely do published authors write about simple, healthy relationships, where couples work through stumbling blocks in rational, loving ways.