Dodger

Poor Brandon. He's not going to be able to have a normal life again until he hooks up with Billy.

This is good news. Thank you, Val.

Thank you, ❤️everyone for your kind messages, and for adding some sunshine to a cold November day. 🌞 Now I'm looking forward to the first snowfall of the winter, which is forecast for this evening. 🌨️

Late to the party as usual, but congratulations for a well-deserved promotion.

Maybe throw in Symmonds for good measure.

Without giving too much away, I think that's exactly what she will say and Robbie will be wise to listen to her. Without Don, they have no reason to have any contact with the church, and no doubt Sue will be keen to keep it that way. It should be game, set, and match for Sue and the kids, providing everything goes to plan.

Maybe the boys could be persuaded to give evidence in some kind of investigation, but I doubt if the skipper would do anything that would get the pastor in trouble or reflect badly on his church. If he was that way inclined he probably would have refused to follow the pastor's instructions on the boat and stuck to the correct protocol.

Sue has been guilty of sabre rattling in the past and this isn't the first time we've heard her talk of impending changes, only for things to stay the same. I think this time may be different. Don's refusal to show any concern for the safety of his children and his decision to defend the pastor no matter what, were a huge mistake. There are other reasons which will become apparent very soon, but I can't see how he will be able to recover. Sue has finally proved herself worthy of the 'mom' tag from Robbie, although it was reaching a stage where it was difficult for him to keep resisting. Sue made it difficult by being a mother, admitting she made mistakes, and promising to do better. That's all Robbie has ever asked from her. The simple switch from Sue to Mom will still a significant moment in his life, because it's the final hurdle he will have to clear, but it's natural and will be welcomed by his brother and sisters.

You're right, I don't think Don can expect any love from Robbie. That ship has sailed.

Sue has lived in Don's shadow for a long time and allowed him to set the agenda rather than cause waves. Don may stop short of violence, but I think you can still class him as a bully, and he's used to getting his own way. Their marriage has been unstable for a long time, but Robbie's arrival has brought out the worst in Don and forced Sue to make a stand. If his marriage fails, Don will almost certainly blame Robbie for turning the family against him.

I think Don and the pastor are neck and neck at the moment, but Mr Symmonds is making a late charge.

Sue definitely means it. This may be the straw that broke the camel's back. Matthew is confused and who can blame him. He's caught between a religion that he believes is right, and feelings that he can't suppress. If he can remain friends with Robbie, perhaps he will realize that much of what the church has taught him is false and start to question it. Then he will have to stand up to Symmonds, who is likely to go berserk if he thinks Robbie is trying to undo his work. An adult Easter egg is a hollow chocolate egg with a random naughty gift inside. A pack of flavored condoms, a miniature sex toy, or a small tube of lube, but it's pot luck, so you could end up with a pair of skimpy knickers. You won't find these in the supermarkets.

She's not finished yet.

He should definitely have it reviewed. As the trustee, Don is supposed to keep Robbie informed of the value and advise him, a job he has consistently neglected.

“Robbie has decided to attend the Easter service tomorrow.” I was as surprised as everyone else when Don made this announcement as we sat down to dinner. He had a smug grin as he piled his plate with mashed potatoes and talked to Sue as if I weren’t there. As always, she was the last to arrive, taking her place at the opposite end of the table from her husband while looking at me for an explanation. “Well, if that’s what you want, dear. I have no objections. Is there a reason for this?

Thank you, @Aditusfor reading and commenting. A lot of people found this story upsetting to read, which is a shame because I put a lot of work into it, and all it's done is make people sad. That wasn't my intention but I suppose someone has to be the bad guy.

Thank you to everyone who has commented on this story. Almost four thousand comments have been posted, and all but a handful have been positive and encouraging. I've always regarded The Cockney Canuck as more of a soap opera than a story, and readers come and go, but there are some who have read every chapter. I tip my hat to these small but vociferous group of hard-core fans who have taken Robbie into their hearts and kept me focused over the years.

A neat little love story born from a tragedy. I knew it was going to work out for them the moment Paul offered Woodrow a ride on his big bike! Thanks, Gary. I enjoyed this story.

A clever and well-written story. Danny was taking a bit of a risk but it worked. Aaron would make a good amateur detective. Maybe he should get his own 'Murder, she wrote,' style TV series.

Thank you, @northie for this beautifully written essay and for sharing your personal and difficult journey with such honesty. I can relate to a lot of what you said. I was plagued with uncertainty and confusion for longer than I like to admit before finally understanding and embracing my sexuality. I’m pleased you managed to find your label and an outlet for your talent.

Hi everyone (Gary, Drew, Clo, Page, Bucket, Dughlas, Albert, and anyone else). Hope you're all well and up to no good.

Thank you, @Mrsgnomie, for taking the time to read, comment, and review this story. You're quite right, what they endured lasted a lifetime. Although deeply scarred, Anthony was able to find some happiness and a successful career. I had to do this in order to make the story readable, but in real life, of course, most of these people weren't as fortunate. After leaving prison, many were denied employment, shunned by family and friends, and faced a lifetime of discrimination.

Thank you, @Valkyrie, for reading and commenting. I only discovered Polari while researching for this story and I was instantly captivated by this strange slang. I was annoyed that I had never heard of it before, and how little I knew about the plight of gay men in the post war UK. I wanted to put this right and do something, however small and insignificant, to help preserve this slang and pay tribute to the thousands who were forced to use it to avoid persecution.

Thank you, @northie for reading and commenting. I have a fascination in recent history, and this is an era that particularly interests me. I think it's important to remember what these people went through, and be aware that it's still happening in some places around the world. This looks interesting. Thank you for the heads up.

Thank you, Gary. It was a hard story to write and at times quite emotional. It was also my first attempt at writing in the present tense, which was more difficult than I expected. I wasn't sure if I got it right, but Parker Owens gave me some much needed encouragement, and so far, despite the upsetting subject, the response has been mostly positive. Your comment makes it all worthwhile. Thank you.