drsawzall

Well there you go...two great mysteries of the American southwest explained and solved with some clever ingenuity and prescient investing... If I remember correctly, Mac lost two siblings in horrific accidents and as I noted before, where in the F&Ck was the legal beagles and the lawsuits for wrongful deaths, insurance companies pay out handsome sums for such eventualities...If Mac's parents didn't explore that avenue...shame on them... Now...if only we were told one of the grandfathers spent time in Roswell New Mexico or what is now known as Area 51, we could have the answers to two more intrigues...

The most important issue is that you do what is needed to leave the hospital by the end of the month, we'll take you chapters as they come as you have the time...our thoughts and prayers are with you!!!

Ditto to all the welcome back's...you were missed along with the boys adventures!!

Thank you for our journey through Australia and a chance to live and travel vicariously in your corner of the universe!!

I would believe that Ronging is the former Principal Messiah's brother....and the craving they can't ignore is the need for more Mantis Glands... That's all I got other than...

Could not have said it any better tho I am wondering, if there is to be any hope for this world, how the denizens of the first two books, and those described below, pull off the miracle that's needed...until then I am hoping for the meteor to make an appearance... “There is a child who is the inverse of you,” stated the witch. “The child is trapped.” Her wings lowered, and the voice that came from her continued, “Then the I must do that thing which the I has always avoided because the I was afraid. The I must see the time that the I has forever refused to look into, and in so doing, reveal all the truth of the universe to the self.” The witch sighed. “And the I will be one.”

The Messiah's, difficult as it would seem, are not the only things beyond redemption. We'll be learning of the different societies that inhabit this planet, suffice to say it may be too late to wish upon a giant meteor to do the same as the one that wiped out the dinosaurs on earth... Perhaps life/evolution needs a fresh start on this forsaken world...

I couldn't agree more, reading thes stories set in Australia has been very edcuational, hence the following... https://www.dangerousroads.org/australia-and-oceania/australia/1679-buntine-highway-australia.html Thanks Quokka!!!

Loved this chapter as we saw things reach some resolution and clarity, leaving the boys better understanding each other and connecting on a deeper level, as long as they talk to each other honestly they should deepen their relationship. The one who stood out to me the most, and she was only a couple or so sentences and paragraphs, was Corey's mother...what I learned about her blew my mind and gave me a whole new level of respect... “My parents divorced when I was young because of me.” He said without much emotion behind it. “I was diagnosed with Aspergers when I was young, and it was rough on my parents. I wasn’t normal, I either didn’t talk or I talked too much, I didn’t like to be touched. I would do things on impulse and terrorize people when they tried to stop me. Eventually, it just got to be too much for their relationship.” I stayed quiet, this didn’t need commentary for me. I gave Corey the space and time he needed to tell me this himself. “My mom was adamant about helping me. She chose me over him and they just couldn’t find common ground anymore. Maybe they never had it to begin with. Either way, she got me the help I needed to understand the things I couldn’t. And we worked through them, and learned from them. We moved here in the 8th grade because I was at the point where she thought I progressed far enough that I had a shot at you know, being normal.” Chris seems to have benefited from his therapy session tho it's early days yet. Hopefully Nate will have his session soon and find a way to let Max down gently...Can Nate be monogamous?? Corey quitting football will have repercussions. Will Jess have a reason or two to use her spoon on Jackson??? Is this the proverbial calm before an incoming shitestorm???

Oh...the teenage angst and drama....so glad those days are over...If I were a betting man, what are the odds that Stacy catches Seth unwillingly helping Craig, dickwad/sexual predator, of the year out???

Hopefully Becket will find a way to cure the bad case of assumptions everyone (thing?) around him has...is it any wonder that Parallax lost his tail considering what we've seen of this world so far??? Why did the following remind me off an Abbott and Costello skit??? He yanked open the front door and glared out, ignoring the beautiful view in favor of the two large dragons that were taking up most of the space below the steps that led up to the tree’s entrance. They were just as annoying as Ire, but so different. He’d been one solid color of red, smaller, with wings the same color. Ire was tiny, the size of a dinner plate and these guys had eyes the size of dinner plates. These two were not just one color—or they were, but they were all the colors of that one color that he’d ever seen. One an array of purple, like a shiny gem, and the other black that shone like all the other colors the same way an oil slick reflected the light. They were rumbling at each other, bickering. Another way they were like Ire. “—said his name started with a B or something.” “He’s a human. They have many names. What if Ire was wrong. Besides, what do we say, “Come out, B something human?”

Had to read this chapter twice, it was a gut punch from the first paragraph to the last. We better understand the dynamics and the internal struggles each of the unique individuals are part of and going through. Where to start.... Jess, I would not even dare to walk or cross over her shadow on one of her good days...What's the old adage...When mama speaks... Jackson proved hisself to be 100% twat...and then some...will he take his dénouement like the putz he is, or will we see him acting out true to form...considerable face was lost here... Chris, while I suspected he might have his own demons to deal with, filling in for his beloved mother should not have been his responsibility...at least help is on the horizon...I think his bursting point just may have for all the wrong reasons, at the right time, gotten through to Nate... Corey, kudos to you young man for having the testicular fortitude to make a stand, fess up and protect Nate from himself... I suspect Gavin or someone just like him is entering stage left...the scene has been set... If I were to, or forced to, come up with a name for this chapter, I'd call it Catharsis... Well done Jeff...simply well done, one of your, and I am sounding like a broken record, best yet!!!!

now...now...let's not have any of that 😬!!!

Likewise, I always have something on in the background when I am reading, a favorite hobby of mine, though it may have something to do with the fact I'm a Gemini...

We can see from this chapter that progress can take many forms, let's hope the paving goes off without a hitch...food for thought...will the improved road bring new economic benefits and how will that change the character of the area?

The boys need to do a better job of talking to each other...not at each other!!! As @drpaladin noted Devin's habit of saying I'll tell you later is getting a bit annoying, to wit... “Our meeting didn’t last as long as yours, so when I realized your meeting was taking longer I decided to run an errand.” “What kind of errand?” “I’ll tell you about it later, because we have to hurry.” I was slightly annoyed that he wouldn’t just say what he’d done. He’s been keeping secrets from me since we were little, but he should know by now that he can trust me. He’s told me all about his family and how they became skinwalkers, so haven’t I proven myself yet and that I’m able to keep a secret? I still couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t just tell me, but I walked with him to the residence hall. If you have something to say that needs to be said at a later date, say it at a later date, to leave someone hanging like that is simply bad manners... “Did you also meet up with a person from financial aid?” “Yeah, but it didn’t take very long, because I didn’t have much to do there.” “Why not?” “I’ll tell you later, either when we get to the dorm room or on the way back to your place.” “Yeah, but it didn’t take very long, because I didn’t have much to do there.” “Why not?” “I’ll tell you later, either when we get to the dorm room or on the way back to your place.” The best parts of this chapter are Mr Rude getting a bit of comeuppance, and if I were a betting man...we'll see him again...the other part..was the mention of one of the best/worst/hokey/stupidly funny/atrocious movies of all time...The Princess Bride, something so bad it has become a beloved classic!!!

This is after all a story by our intrepid author Cia, stranger things have happened in her tales...

Should he be looking for Toto first????

Well done, each and every one!!!

One has to wonder if Becket is the "savior" that those who he is supposed to be helping , they might be just a tad, more forthcoming...Perhaps Becket should suggest he go home...so far, those he is supposed to be helping are very underwhelming...

At least they arent boring...😁

Like @weinerdog and @Summerabbacat, I also am of the opinion that Corey had interest' in Nate even before the fight... There are however some very serious, unresolved issues in the background...unresolved anger over the death of his mother, is a ticking time bomb, the frustration of watching helplessly as the disease took her away, if left unresolved will only get worse... “Whoa, calm down Nate!” He said realizing he struck a nerve. “What do you mean calm down, you’re over here acting like I’m in love with that asshole, when I’m clearly not!” I spat angrily. The spoon made a clang sound in the bowl as I chucked it and held my forehead up on the table with my hand. “Bro, I didn’t mean it like that, I was just joking I seriously didn’t mean to make you mad.” Chris said calmly. “I’m sorry, forgive me please?” I looked up and he was giving me those damn puppy dog eyes he had and I just couldn’t stay mad at him. “Fine, I do. But no more of this, him crap Chris. I’m serious, it bothers me.” I said, looking at him intently. Losing a parent, especially one's mother is never easy at any age and for someone like Nate, who was, for the lack of better words, very close is traumatic and hurts beyond belief. I strongly suspect Nate as a result of that loss, is unwilling to let anyone in or get close who isn't a family member. Again, while Nate's father realizes he needed professional help, Nate needs the same type of help, if only to show him how to sort through his issues...Nate...No man is an island...and on that note, while Chris is a rock, he needs to see someone as much as anyone... I was floored. He looked at me? Seriously? I felt something in my chest and in my stomach at the same time and I didn’t like it. It made me a little light headed and a little queasy at the same time. “Look at me.” Corey said as I continued to stare at the wall. My heart started thumping in my chest, was this some kind of game? Was he doing this to hurt me? “I can’t.” I said quickly. “I don’t want you to hurt me.” I said quickly, never intending on actually saying it. “I won’t hurt you Nathan, please look at me.”

Oh boy, that was a direct hit in the kisser by Mother Nature and glad to see no serious loss of life...property can be replaced!!!

You did this chapter and the inhabitants therein...proud. The complexity of the emotions and the nuances involved were handled splendidly. It was visceral, raw, and so true to life without being maudlin or trite. The action was seamless and flowed beautifully. I was particularly impressed with how you incorporated the medical aspect. It was barebones, no nonsense, and on point. That tells me you've might of had real life experience, and with the rest of this chapter, it was written from the heart...thank you. While in some sense, we can see the story arc nearing completion, I for one am hoping there's so much more.

It' s 7:27 PM on Thursday night here in Massachusetts...Ya think our intrepid author would post now for his overseas fans???