Al Norris

I was too emotional, last night, to respond to the previous few chapters. That Andy found the courage to tell most of his story to the family that Sunday morning was a thing of beauty. It showed a level of trust that we haven't seen before. Even if, in Andy's mind, he was doing it to finally be honest with people who had treated him very well. He was, after all, ready to leave after the tell. When Zander began to touch Andy's buttocks and Andy froze up, it was clear to me that Zander had read all of Andy's journal. While Andy may have not been explicit about what Uncle Ray did to Andy, that moment cemented into Zander's mind what actually happened. The Doctor needs to know about this. There is a good chance that Andy's rectum was damaged. How much only a colonoscopy would reveal. This is something that could come back and bite Andy in later years (colon-rectal cancer). Yes, people are routinely sedated for the procedure. I'm also of the mind, like many others, that Andy needs to see a shrink. Wonderful set of chapters, Parker. I'm loving the story.

I believe that Andy told Zander about his being gay and in love with Zander that it was important to get that out, considering what-all he was going to say "in the morning." To have that love returned was not expected but oh so cathartic!

Andy is now moving toward instead of away. That's a sea-change in his demeanor! Too bad that Zander can't be true to what he was thinking when he came out to his parents. Yeah, he's a teenager and it's hard to do. I couldn't have done it at his age, so I understand. But I never made that internal decision. Ah Well!

Maybe, maybe not. Since the story was complete, I worded the FIRST sentence of my post the way I did for a reason. It's an FYI for future reference.

Margorie placed a lot of trust in Andy to attempt to fix and go after the part to fix the snow blower. Trust in moving her car. I wonder if Andy realizes this? And then there is the trust Andy is putting in Zander by going to Kaz's party. Both of these things show how Andy is slowly bringing down his walls.

I see why you split the chapter up. It makes perfect sense, now. Despite the critique I left in the last chapter, I have to say that I teared up. More so, here, at the last bit. Not believing in a God, yet Andy still prayed to Him and his prayers were for others, mostly. Simply a wonderful chapter. Thank you, Parker.

Parker? Please allow me to point out some things that you might consider, should you ever write another story along these lines. You wrote that when Andy's clothes were taken off, he still had his teeshirt and undies on. Whoever took those clothes off would have seen the scarring. Consider that the way you have described how Stefan's dad beat him, it wasn't just his back that had scars. It was his buttocks and his legs. So when the pants came off, that scarring on his upper thighs would have been seen. That would have led to a closer investigation by whoever stripped Andy. No getting around that. When the attorney's office got the report card, one of two things would have happened. 1) The attorney or his secretary would have returned the mail with the notice that "No Such Person" was on the envelope. That would have gotten the school involved, immediately. 2) If the attorney was a criminal defense attorney, he (or his secretary) would have immediately investigated why a non-existent person's report card was sent to his office. Again, the school would have gotten involved. Back in Stefan's home, part of the initial investigation would have involved annotating the entire house. That would have included the basement. Blood spatters on the walls? DNA on the leg irons (we know they scraped his ankle)? Blood and feces on the hammer handle (we know Stefan didn't clean that up very well)? They would have found blood (Stefan's) on the father's belt. These are all indications that Stefan had been beaten and imprisoned down there. Let's even assume that these things weren't included in the initial stuff that the detective knew about, but would have found out after Stefan "flew the coup!" While there is no way that Stefan could prove he was still imprisoned at the time of his father's death, Stefan would now be suspect #1. He had ample reason to kill the man. The cell call to Andy's dad. After all this time (~6 months?), I doubt that the number would be valid. More likely that the number was assigned to a new cell owner. If not, that wonderful timely message would have played: "The number you have called is no longer in service." Theoretically, the police could still have a trace on the number and would know who the originator was (unlike conventional phone - land line - companies, cell phone companies are very good about keeping the digital information). Despite these 4 (major) inconsistencies, I am really enjoying the story. Although I want to know, like everyone else, when Andy is gonna catch a break! I mean a real break. It just seems like sooner rather than later, Andy's story is gonna come out!

So we go from Andy wondering about Christmas and the coming storm to a Zander dialogue where his Mom finds a half-frozen boy in the barn (who we all knew was Andy)... I wrote that you were an Evil Author. This just proves it!!! 🤬😡😭

I figure that the longer Ryder is around Danny, the more he will learn about Kat, and Kat had better watch himself around Ryder. Sounds like this Queen needs a bit of "batting them around."

Oh, this is getting good!

With Rory wanting to (virtually) rape Kieran? No way was it going to be kept "down."

I think that most of us were waiting for the shoe (LOL - any shoe) to drop... You certainly outdid yourself, Parker! I believe I have to promote you to "Evil Author" status! Welcome to the club ... Oh, wait... This was years before I got here! LOL!!! 😂🤣

There is that... Hmm, I thought we all commented on that aspect of Marc.

Andy may not be a runner, yet... But all that walking has to have built up those leg and thigh muscles! I kinda like how the group trapped Andy with the gift of runners. Poetry, thy name is friendship.

I can't see anything good coming from Andy going to Zander's party. I see nothing good with the report card going to the Attorney's office. Can you say Domino Effect?

So, Zander has yet to come out to his friends. Terry forcefully adding Andy to the mix likely prevented that. Zander wouldn't want to chase Andy away by saying he was queer at this point in time. As for Friends, this is all new to Andy. I'm sure that he is unsure how to take this development. As cautious as Andy is, he must be ready to run at a moment's notice. I still think Terry is going to notice the way Andy looks at Zander. Perhaps she will see how Zander is secretly looking at Andy!

I didn't intend commenting until I finished reading since I came in so late! But this chapter got to me. I had figured that Lunch Boy would be in one of the two new classes that Andy was going to take... But both of them? Nice twist, @Parker Owens! I certainly didn't expect that. I must admit that the scene with Zander coming out to his parents (albeit in a fit of anger) was just about perfect. Having Dad make the first move after that was genius. So while Zander may come out to his friends during lunch (which is what I expect to happen), it will be Terry that figures out Andy is gay... At least, that is how I see it playing out. Now I have to read on, to see how wrong I am!!!

It's clear, to me, that Adam does not understand the nature of a True Mate's bond.

I can actually see the clan utterly destroying the 'Director's' career and taking away his power and control.

Sooner is better!

The only thing that bothered me was that Gene didn't get off and nobody volunteered! The least Jake and DM could have done (since they were finished) was to double-up on gene!

Something tells me, by the way Jerry is reacting, that he is questioning or perhaps altogether gay. On to the next chapter and I will be caught up!

What surprises me is that the hospital staff didn't give DM a psych eval, just because of what brought him to the hospital to begin with. Personally, I would call that medical neglect!

Let's see... A not quite 14-year-old has just been in a vehicular accident. He wakes up in the hospital. First thing he sees is his Aunt and Uncle. First thing this Uncle tells the boy is that his family perished in the accident. Spends about six weeks in the hospital and rehab, and Auntie and Uncle scarcely visit him. On the day he is discharged from the hospital, his Uncle drives him to a boarding school. The upshot is that this kid has no idea if he even has a home anymore. It doesn't take any mental health knowledge to know that the kid needs help. ASAP! That it has taken this long for things to deteriorate is a testament to the boy's own mental acuity. He has been stuffing the events. Why it took Rod's actions to bring out the depression is neither here nor there. PTSD has surfaced. I hope DM gets the help he desperately needs.

Afraid of him? Don't be. He's a pussycat!!!