Pete Bruno

Cliffhanger? No, a reason to celebrate; I may be a party of one, but I will be happy to see the back of her. Ever since her little act with Brad all those years ago I've had little time for her; not to mention the current haughty self she has turned out to be. Maybe a little flashback scene of who she was and where she came from all those years ago might serve to remind her of the debt she owes JP. Thanks for making my morning. By the way, drank my coffee while reading, less chance of typos!

I'm using the Word 2010 and it doesn't (thank God) correct or even green line it. What I do find interesting is if I place a period of Mr or Mrs it red lines it as incorrect. Yet another style issue!

This is the beginning of an email I received from a reader about my story. This may back up my point about the time lapses between postings. Hi A big thank you for posting your story and allowing others to look into the lives of the guys. I realise I may be missing something but is there more to come ? The reason i ask is that I waited till crvboy posted chapter 50 and said complete before I start reading. This is to stop me getting annoyed when a story stops with no warning and the end nowhere in sight. I hope there is a book 3 as there were so many loose ends at the end of book 2. I can also say that I began receiving much more email about the story after I reached about twenty chapters. Pete

A very helpful thread by Cia about Dialogue Punctuation prompted this. When I was taught to type (way back in 1970) it was mandatory that we double space after a period. The explanation I recall being given was that the period was the expression of a complete thought, unlike a coma which a brief stop or pause. So I continue to use the double space, even though it is not the current style, and I find that it is much easier to read. Here is a link to a great article I have found on the topic http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/how-many-spaces-after-a-period/ I would also like to include a part of a great comment from a reader named Kevin, I think it sums it perfectly. "Double Spacing allows for people to more easily recognize a hard break in the cantor of the speech or narrative. It’s also an visual reminder that the comma is a short breath while a period is a definitive pause."

It was a thrill to wake up to a new chapter, even delayed my coffee in a rush to read it. And then you leave us with one of the undoubtedly the biggest cliff hangers ever; totally unfair. I will now spend the most of the next few days contemplating what the captain’s reaction will be. Not fair Mark!

I agree about being a few chapters ahead. One of the main reasons is that it takes the pressure off both author and editor as chapters go back and forth to be polished. Currently I am about fifteen chapters ahead, plenty of leeway if I decided to change something. I have just started posting on GA but have read stories here for a long time. From a readers point of view I find that it's much more enjoyable when there multiple chapters posted since waiting for the newest chapter can be excruciating. Another point from a readers position is if you too much time lapses between posting a reader may lose track of the story and have the time (or inclination) to go back and refresh their memory. So in the end, I think the most important consideration is the reader, and holding their interest. Good Luck! Pete

I have read every chapter of every story you have written; and many multiple times. This chapter, in my opinion is one of, if not the finest you have written, and like Mrs. Solcumbe "I am unanimous in this!"

Wow! Now I know exactly how Will felt, knowing you're right and being chastised for stating it. And so exactly what was he trying to accomplish by pointing out my mistake? Secondly, why should I be careful? Can one be expected to be banned from this site for standing up for one’s self? My example was not personal, calling attention to my error was. Ban me if you'd like, but I will not stand for ad hominem attacks. It seems Orwell was correct, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

"I think you mean "pretend" not "portend". To portend is to be a signal or warning.." I would be happy to have a friendly discussion about sports officiating or the latest chapter of 9.11, at any time. However, I find the above quote off topic, unnecessary, and down right bitchy. Just as you chided another poster for not addressing one of your issues in their comment, pointing out my error was completely gratuitous.

I couldn't disagree more. I am channeling Tonto for this response. Will may have not delivered his message in the best of ways, (like when Tonto slapped her brothers face when J.P. came out) however everything thing he said was correct and to the point. Additionally, if Isidore and Claire were as classy and loving as they portend to be they would have 1) never let the offending boys be invited 2) not removed Noah without at least explaining it to Will. Speaking of classy, let's not forget who called to apologize. Your sports analogy really got me going. As a baseball fanatic, I watch a lot of umpires really screw up calls (seems to happening more and more these days, think Culbreth http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/5/10/4319932/umpire-fieldin-culbreth-suspended-for-not-knowing-the-rules ) So under your scenario a manager watches a ump call the same pitch as a strike for the opposing team all game, then at a critical point in the game he calls it a ball for his pitcher, potentially changing the outcome of the game. He loses it and argues with the ump, but because the ump doesn't like his demeanor, the manager gets tossed. Regardless of the fact that his bad call is not has changed the game. That is complete BS! And it's BS that Will's valid points should be dismissed because he offended the sensibilities of two hypocrites that demand respect yet refuse to give it in return. And it would seem that the one and true arbiter, J.P. sided with Will by banning Claire and Isidore from the party and making Marie leave her ring. That said I like your idea about spilling over to Claremont. However I would not hold out any hope of that happening.

I will take you at your word regarding your intention; after all these are your characters and you know them intimately. And like a father you would want to defend them when they are being attacked. However I have accepted your challenge and pondered my own life in regards to getting caught up in the 'now' and what becomes the norm. While it is true that one may lose temporary sight of the result of one’s actions upon themselves and others, I think we all basically remain our true selves regardless of what is swirling around us as we live our life. Think of it this way, you encounter an old man. He is grumpy and irritable, and just not too pleasant to be around. So you write it off as being a result of his age. But I have always believed that if you are grumpy and irritable when you are old; there is a good chance you were no different when you were young. The only difference is when one is young; one tends to hide these traits behind a well-polished veneer and then in old age one doesn't give a damn anymore and shows their true self. From this reader’s point of view, in Claire’s case I think that Will confronting her with the cold hard facts of her actions and the actions of her daughter has caused a bit of her polished veneer to come off exposing her true self. And with this quote: “I expect they’ll both be back for the Bastille Day party,” Claire said. She looked directly at me. “I want you to know that if he apologizes to me for treating me so rudely, I will bear him no ill will.” She showed her true self. Her concern is not repairing her relationship Will, or at least explaining the reasons for her actions, only that she receives an apology. I also think it is important to note that neither she nor her mother addressed Will’s concerns, only his actions. It appears that they knew they could not defend the indefensible; or more importantly felt they need not explain or defend. And not for nothing, but the ones who say the least usually say the most profound things when they finally do, and that person would be Frank! There was so much packed into this chapter I could go on forever, but that is what makes this story so great. Thanks for writing it.

Another brilliant chapter! I had the pleasure of reading the entire CAP saga in a matter of two weeks, much like a novel. The impact was much greater than reading it in a serial version; and like others, I was thrilled to hear J.P. again. It appears that I was correct; the trois femmes are more worried about apparence and social standing: "My daughter, Claire. She sat there near me, so angry and upset that it leaked through her normally cool and composed demeanor. She was quite like me in that way. She tended to enter into a conflict or discussion with the gravitas that came from being respected, and she was usually heard because of her calm and cool approach to things. But when Will had called us out on focusing on appearances instead of substance, he’d hit the bulls-eye with Claire. She wasn’t as concerned about controlling people, as Brad was, but she was very concerned about her image. She fostered her external appearance meticulously, and was truly an arbiter of good taste. And in the community, she did much to try and enhance our family image much as she nurtured her own. Yet her fixation on her standing in society had caused her to lose her focus on the importance of the family unit. It would be difficult for a family member to trust Claire to lead them when they weren’t sure she’d support them if they needed help. Tonight, Will had demonstrated that doubt to be justified." Of course Isidore and Marie could be included in that description. There is further proof of Claire's true character: “I expect they’ll both be back for the Bastille Day party,” Claire said. She looked directly at me. “I want you to know that if he apologizes to me for treating me so rudely, I will bear him no ill will.” But nothing was more insincere than this statement; “Just as Will has been able to learn from his extreme behavior, we will have to work to make sure that Marie learns from hers,” Marie hasn't leaned a damned thing except that she can lie and get away with it. Frank's response was not a surprise, I expected him to be annoyed at the heavy handiness of his lover and her daughter. The only truly surprising revelation was Jack who I always considered a stand-up guy. “I’m sorry you don’t appreciate the person that she is,” he said pompously. Sorry Jack, you are way off base tonight for the first time. Once again, a great chapter and I look forward to more.

"In a sense, the British use of opium was a reaction to Chinese trade practices that still cause problems today. China was a net exporter, sucking the wealth out of other countries, back in those days. Seems nothing's changed." An astoundingly accurate statement.

Ain't it the truth! I think it there is a cave somewhere that says the same thing in cave painting.

"As someone that has read the series from the beginning; I don't believe that Claire has ever done anything to show that she gives a damn about anyone else's social standing or how much money they have or don't have." Well I have read every word of the series as well; as a matter of fact I just discovered it about two months ago and read every word in about two weeks. Sometimes I would forget to eat because I was so involved in the story (thanks Mark, I lost 10lbs!) and so the story is very fresh in my mind. It is the same with Claire as with Isidore. We really only see very small snippets of Claire, usually when someone needs to go shopping for clothes. And while my family was nowhere near as wealthy as this group, it was a large wealthy Italian family that hosted the towns biggest 4th of July party, complete with professional fireworks. The guest list always topped 300 (a lot of family) but you can be damned sure my grandmother, mother and aunts knew everyone on the list and would not hesitate to remove someone regardless of how long they had been attending, even family members. Maybe that's just an Italian thing! Steph already knows that Marie has lied. J.P. had already said the two offending boys are not welcome, and yet Isidore and Claire continue to argue for them to be included. And what to make of the fact that Will adds just two people and one is removed? "I doubt very seriously that Isidore ever knew about the fight that Darius had with the one guy, it wasn't really ever discussed except among the younger generations; and we don't know what she knew or didn't know about the issue with Eric and Will." Really? It happened in the great hall. "The pain seared through my face, even as I stumbled backward. I collided with one of the medieval suits of armor that adorned the room and ended up crashing to the floor with it." Maybe Isidore took an extra sleeping pill that night. In the end, all we can do is wait for the next chapter. I'm confident that Mark will have a surprise or two for us, he hasn't disappointed me yet!

Thanks Myr, I found the edit feature in the forum section very helpful today.

“My lord, it is rumored that once people begin using opium, they find it difficult to stop. It can, I am told, take over their lives. They become ruled by the compound.” And if one were to replace ‘using opium’ with ‘reading Odyssey’ the quote would still be correct! Another great chapter, and just as I thought, Maidstone’s wealth does not make him safe from His Majesties wrath. Anxiously awaiting a another ‘fix’ of Odyssey!

"9. his grandmother and aunt are all but telling him he doesn't really matter to the family as long as the only female grandchild (excluding the baby) gets her way" In one of my first reviews I blasted Will, and now I am becoming one of staunchest defenders. The above quote is brilliant, and describes my feelings perfectly. Claire and Isidore’s actions in this chapter have totally shocked me. If not for their responses at the dinner one could argue that they had no knowledge of the changes to the guest list. But I can only conclude that the inclusion of two young men that have physically assaulted members of their family shows they are more concerned with social standing than the feelings or safety of family members. And as for Will and JJ talking off their rings, I say Bravo! If J.P. was so interested in doing what was right he would have demanded the two offending boys be disinvited immediately. By not doing so it sent a signal to Will that he was not important enough to countermand Claire and Isidore. It also appears that someone is lying to Steph and J.P. about Marie apologizing, that is why Steph questioned Will about receiving an apology. For me, the reactions of both Claire and Isidore at the dinner make me think they don't feel it necessary for her to apologize. Can't wait to read the next chapter.

Just today I added a review to 9.11 and once again hit post too soon. In the past I have failed to properly proof my review (it's just so exciting to get a new chapter) and have made errors. The last time was typing 'Will' when I meant 'Brad'. Today, I realized after posting that I had forgotten to mention that Stef seemed puzzled when Will informed him that Marie had yet to apologize. That was important information when reading the dinner scene, apparently her parents and grandparents were under the impression that she had. So my question is, how many readers agree that a edit function on reviews would be helpful? Certainly on a site as well constructed as this, it shouldn't be that hard.

Will was one hundred percent correct, the only way to deal with the games that the three women are playing; all for different reasons, was to confront them head on as he did. As for Will, I hope he sticks up for his sons, apparently his sister seems to hold herself and her children in a higher regard and needs to be knocked down a peg or two. For me, I see Stef in the roll of the re-incarnated Tonto, I have a sense that he will set them all straight, and perhaps head to Malibu as well; and if he doesn't he should.

In the cold light of morning, I feel once again as I did after a night at the disco back in the '70's, the rush and euphoria (when I discovered the new chapter)and the crash in the morning (when I was through reading) and left wanting more. Bad metaphors aside, my take is similar to Kookie. Yes Maidstone is very wealthy, however Granger is getting pretty wealthy himself, and God knows how much his brother has amassed. And let’s not forget that he is a favorite of the king, is raising the bastard son of the king’s favorite nephew as his own; and is also held in regard by the Prince of Wales. Of course his biggest asset is that he his sleeping with one of the kings son. My interest lies in the relationship between Somers and Granger. The exchange after the meeting left me wondering; all things being equal, who really is in the end the better lover for Granger? To me Somers is the wiser choice; he is smarter and has much better control of the emotions. We are already aware of Calvert’s failure to hide his feeling for Granger causing tongues to wag.

It is truly hard for me to fathom why there are so many calls for Tony to die! Why is there so much hate directed at him? The poor guy is just like so many of us who, even though we knew in our hearts that we were gay, fought tooth and nail. Will continues to surprise us or at least me. However I'm not quite understanding the change in the portrayal of Will. I for one always thought of him as confident and aggressive, the last person I would expect to intimidated by a butch lesbian . In closing, I'm dying to find out what happened after the aborted dinner with Claire and Marie. And of course I cannot end a review without a plea for more Bridgemont! Another well done chapter, but I must say I'm not looking forward to the coming of 9-11, it is a moment in time I would like to forget.

I have been quite impressed with Will over the last two chapters, especially after I was so hard on him previously; I thought the way he handled Marie was brilliant. However this "I love you" from Tony does, however, worry me. Sadly in my own life I had a similar relationship with a deeply closeted guy who was more worried about coming out than his love for me. Keeping in mind that it was in the '70's, a much less accepting time, but it was still a tough situation that did not end well. I truly hope it works out better for Will, I realize that Tony has issues because of his father, but I hope that he really doesn't hurt Will. Of course I can't post this with out begging for another chapter of Bridgemont, pretty please! Pete

Where are all the Phillie's fans? We need to keep positive attitudes to help the guys, and just remember it won't be too long until Chooch is back! That will get things back on track.

Allow me to add myself to the list of fans happy for a new CAP saga. However, as a rabid Bridgemont fan I had hoped that the end of the CAP series would bring our stud hero Lord Granger to us more quickly and often. But I can live with it, I anything you write is a joy to read. Now on to 9.11, my first question is, has Wade and especially Nana lost their ever loving mind? As I recall the Senator was serving divorce paper shortly after the election and the evil which was being banished to the country. Why on earth would Wade (and again Nana) visit her? My only hope is that you plan to either have her on the plane that goes down in PA on 9.11, in that case there would be justice, or you have them visit her in ICU where Nana could accidently/on purpose pull the plug and claim a temporary flash of dementia. On to Will, his claim that it is not his responsibility to help Kyle keep his commitment is nothing more than moral equivocation. The only way he is not complicit in Kyle’s betrayal of Eric is if he had no knowledge of that commitment. I will admit, I do not really have much time for Will, I find him arrogant, self-centered, spoiled, and not nearly as mature or capable of raising himself as he does. My question for him would be how he would feel if while on the float trip with Tony the two of them worked things out. Tony proclaimed his love at last and promised to only sleep with Will. Fast forward a few months, Will catches Tony sleeping with Dana, would he hold her harmless? I think not. I believe strongly in Karma, and I can’t wait for the day it bites this little prig in the ass! Sadly for Marie and John they could have benefited from a lesson I learned long ago, that while one may think it noble to inform a dear friend that he or she is being cuckold, it is usually you who is left holding the shitty end of the stick; especially if it involves family. However, my rant notwithstanding , it was a great beginning.