travlbug

🎵 "In a death angel's garden, in the shade." 🎶 (It sounds better when Ringo sings it. 😂) So, can Azrael read minds?! (Naughty death angel! )

Wow, Artie really is growing up. Despite his love for his mother and uncle, he realizes that he has to start trusting himself--to believe enough in how he thinks to act on it: This step is huge, as thinking for oneself is one of the great divides between childhood and adulthood. Not that Artie is an adult as yet (he is glad that his uncle is still by his side to help when needed), but he is clearly on the road to maturity. (Dizzy, not so much! 😂) In trying to learn more about his father, Artie puts himself at loggerheads with his uncle and believes himself right to do so: "For the first time in my life, my birth father is trying. And I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can reject that." Kudos to Adam in that he is willing to allow Artie to make his own mistakes (if that is what they are), acknowledging that the people who care for him will support him when things go wrong. I love this story and don't want it to end any time soon, but it's also nice to hear that a new novel--Ascension--will be waiting in the wings!

Sigh. 🥰

I love the letter from mom. Of course she knew! Uh, fluffing and buffing may have a different connotation depending on the p̶̶o̶̶r̶̶n̶̶ ̶̶s̶̶t̶̶a̶̶r̶ person. Hot pink briefs? Of course, it's Cassie! But you really know it's Cassie because of the perverted unicorns. (The same effect can be achieved by drinking too much! )

How does Cassie do it? She has a great writer! 💖

Sarah was a savvy lady. She could have refused Ezra's money to prevent custody issues down the line, but @Philippe gives a simple solution to this dilemma (of accepting money with no strings attached)--a custody agreement! I wonder if she asked him to sign such a document and he refused. If so, there may be an unsigned custody agreement amongst her effects, or Sadie may be aware of a failed attempt at getting Ezra to terminate his parental rights. In that event, Sarah's decision to forego Ezra's money makes perfect sense; but if this is the case, Ezra can be seen as disingenuous in sending money he knew would be rejected (the skunk!). So, did Ezra abandon Artie and is lying about sending money? Did Ezra send money in good faith which Sarah rejected in her pride? Did Ezra send money as a lure to entrap Sarah in a custody dispute? Or, did Ezra send money to make himself look good (perhaps in the eyes of his family) but knowing that the money would be spurned? (Please note that Ezra is a snake in 3 of these 4 scenarios--that the only scenario where he winds up looking good is the one scenario where Sarah winds up looking bad, and is that realistic?) I love the possibilities! My hope is that Artie isn't hurt when he learns the truth.

No more "accidents." No more 007-like murder weapons such as the poisonous golden scissors. The assassins have dropped their subtlety in favor of a brutal frontal assault with a rain of bullets--a clear escalation in the war against Leon. When the Queen is made aware of this latest attempt at Leon's murder, she will order him to her castle immediately, and he will no longer have a choice. The announcement that Leon is heir to the throne is imminent.

I love the idea of having Artie call Sadie about the money issue. If she confirms Ezra's story, then so much the better. If she recalls Sarah complaining about a lack of offered support, then this would expose Ezra as a liar. However, if she has no information on the subject, then no conclusions can be drawn, and we're back to square one.

While Henry cannot move of his own accord while inhabiting Jed's body, I'm surprised that Jed didn't bite down to make Nathanial withdraw: Perhaps he couldn't think past his panic, or it did not occur to him to do anything that might hurt Nathaniel. In previous manifestations/visions, the ghosts took over both Henry and Ed, so that they reenacted the sex being performed by Jed and Nathaniel: Is Ed going to wake from this dream to find that he has very personally killed Henry?

Ah, so the question remains as to whether Ezra is a liar. If he kept the returned checks in their original envelopes, he may be able to prove his claim. Otherwise, he will still need to provide Artie (and Adam) proof of his good intentions, and it will be interesting to see how he plans to do that.

Dizzy is an acquired taste, and Jose did quite well at lunch, especially with Dizzy in a mood to challenge. Like his boyfriend, Artie feels in a mood to challenge, and he contrasts Ezra's lifestyle with that of his mom and him. However, if he were trying to make Ezra feel bad about failing to provide them with support, his plan backfires, and he learns that Ezra actually tried his best to provide support but that his mother actively refused it. (Even in cases of hostile divorce, child support is given for a reason--so that the kids don't suffer--and I'm not sure how I feel about Artie's mom allowing pride to prevent her from giving Artie a better life and about her hiding from him that Ezra was indeed trying.) That Artie and Adam are simply nostalgic about Sarah's pride and don't hold it against her is a tribute to their love for her. (I wonder if Ezra will re-offer the money to Artie as a college fund or as a trust?)

Henry voted captain of the B team? Brilliant! (I love that personality beats physical prowess!) Clever, chavvy boy! Justin has just turned the ghost story on its head. I don't know if Justin wants to provide backup for Henry and Ed more to protect his friends or to kick some ghostly butt! 👻 "But Tanya said no." I'm glad that Andy explains why Matt and he weren't able to foster Ed immediately. Otherwise, I might be forced to think that they were reluctant foster fathers, when nothing could be further from the truth. Justin's birthday party is a moving tribute to a well-loved young man. Kudos to the author for a beautifully written vignette. (You made me tear up. For shame!)

In Brad's zeal to be on television, he has made his punishment even worse. (Now, thousands, if not tens of thousands, have seen his rendition of a chicken. )

I have never had good luck with an ouija board unless I imbibed the spirits first. Jed and Nathanial are able to possess Henry and Ed even during the daylight. Are the spirits becoming more powerful? So, the boys need to know something more about Nathanial, but not to help either Jed or Nathanial. (Do they need to know it to help themselves?) There is a danger to them not made clear, and "undeniably, a heavy body was pushing through the bushes towards them": A third ghost? One of the ghost boys trying to aid them? (The boys experience their vision or possession at this point, so the "heavy body" pushing towards them does not prove inimical--this time--even though scary as heck!) If the visions show a trajectory of the events leading to Jed's death, then what will happen to Henry if he is possessed by Jed while Jed is in his death throes?

Lucky for us, they finally decide to channel Brad's innate badness back at him; and it was the right decision, even if it ruffled some feathers! (Yes, I went there! ) Sorry, Kit, you were just collateral damage, but we won't lose any sleep over it either!

This chapter feels like we've turned a corner, with the worst finally behind us: Xander has decided to face his fears and face the public. Josh has agreed to a job on Cal's payroll, and he has softened toward Joe to the point of inviting him back into his home. Josh and Gavin's relationship is progressing nicely, even if they don't want to label what they have together. Yet, at the end of the chapter, Josh looks down at his cellphone and loses his smile and mood. So what was the message?

Andrew, Matthew, you could have saved us a whole lot of grief by stepping up to the plate immediately after Ed petitioned for care. Kudos to Justin and Nathan for harassing you into little crumbly piles. Congratulations to Ed and Henry on their joyful reunion. Also, congratulations to Ed and Henry for being out and proud, as they can now be themselves!

Happiness is a humbled Brad: I hope that the boys snap plenty of pix!

I love the growing relationship between the two sets of boys. Justin and Nathan's wish to assist Ed (and Henry) when the chips are down shows true friendship. Glad to see that Edward is now willing to be out with Henry, though not under the best of circumstances. If a way is found for him to remain at the same school, I hope he won't renege. So, Edward's mother has custody, yet she has moved away without leaving him a forwarding address, without calling him, and without providing the means for him to contact her (she has deactivated her voice mail). She has effectively stolen his possessions and abandoned him, and I doubt that any court would look favorably on her actions.

Why does this chapter feel like an episode of Mission Impossible? (I could hear Lalo Schifrin's themesong the entire time I was reading it!) Geron, the Come On Inn? Really? I love the double entendre, especially considering Annie and Cupper's antics.

"We had a movie playing - something with zombies in it...." Geron, I think your name will forever be linked with zombies! (I have to keep my eyes open now for zombie references in your stories--sort of like looking for Stan Lee in a Marvel movie!) So Kelly's plan has evolved to include a pinch of illegality. Hehehe.... (Joey, you've been vindicated, but Kelly's plan involves a drone and animatronics, so it's obviously better! )

Apparently, Kelly is the idea man, and I love that his friends put their faith in his ability to come up with the perfect evil plan. (Joey's idea--to "...sneak into Brad's room at night, drug him, take him into town, and tie him to a chair, naked, on the courthouse steps"--also sounds like a winner! It may be illegal, but what jury would convict?! 😂)

Bravo, Henry, for deciding to learn a bit of the local language. (Wherever I travel, I always try to learn at least a few phrases; and when I was younger and traveling with family, my sister made sure I could ask "where is the bathroom?" in the local lingo! ) Bravo, Ed, for thinking of the dildo and Henry's comfort. Interesting that Henry asks about the palace ghosts: If Henry starts seeing the local ghosts, then he may actually be a medium, with the ability to see ghosts wherever he goes! Can't wait for the boat trip--a mini gay cruise! Somehow, I think that Henry and Ed will continue to expand their eclectic circle of friends.

The twins would do anything for Jay, but Jay would also do anything for them, as they prove when Ben starts hurting the twins. (I truly hope that Ben is in for a world of hurt.) The mastermind has to be someone with something to gain from the twins' demise, someone who could get his goons onto the estate without raising an alarm, someone who appears milktoast-mild (to throw off the scent), and someone who likes grand entrances. As far as I know, only one character fits the bill--and he is also the character who tried to get Drew to abandon the twins: I vote for Daddy Dearest (but I won't put money on it! ).

Rothenia has turned out to be a pleasant surprise, complete with a nudist Spa and a tour-guide Prince! (Apparently, the Prince has a unique background, as he wasn't always a Prince. Perhaps we'll hear more about his elevation later.) The two most salient points: Henry and Ed are growing as a couple, both in terms of their sexual explorations and spiritual connection; and the ghost has not made an appearance, suggesting that it is tethered geographically (as opposed to representing a personal haunting).