frosenblum

I assume you mean Malia and Sasha, who are the same generation as CJ and the football players, when you said the Obamas. Add in Michelle and Barack and Michelle's mom, what a diverse group - age, gender, race/ethnicity - of wisdom that would be. I'd love to listen in - oh, that's your plan.

For all the teasing between the brothers, Jay is also able to powerfully share his feelings with them.

Nope, it was my fumble fingers sending before I typed. Here's what I wanted to say: AHA, both photographers are really @Mrsgnomie using aliases.

It was interesting see Brad and Will's roles reversed around dangerous behavior. Good on ya, Will!

Quite hysterical. As is Will's next comment, "By [Stef] doing that, he’d basically given me an almost unlimited line of credit. I didn’t want to be strapped for cash while I was enjoying my time before college." Poor baby.

True dat.

CJ practicing his catapult

Great chapter. The interview format supported you covering a lot of territory, Carlos. BTW, I'd loved to see you have CJ in a verbal bout with the Donald. OOh, great television!!

This line struck me: "I think they respect you for you, not your lineage.” It's why CJ will be so successful in politics.

Hasn't CJ already been drafted onto a community board in DC? Was that an elected position?

I hope you've made lots of mistakes, Carlos, so CJ learns a lost from them.

I am not a Northman fan, and I think his has actions towards CJ have been rigid and misguided. On the other hand, Northman has a firmly believes in what's right and what's wrong, what's appropriate and what's inappropriate. To my surprise, I think Northman is the type of person who would "take a bullet" for CJ if he were physically attacked.

"He had wanted to ride with Brock so they could talk about Ryker. CJ thought the kid had a future in politics and had promised to keep an eye on him." CJ was a year or two younger than Ryker is when politicians, including elected officials, started taking him under their wings and mentoring him. Now CJ is doing the same for the next generation.

At least we know they make it - barely - to the Weyr. I don't think I could take the suspense otherwise. I'm looking forward to the details of the trip. I'm sure the troubles they encounter will increase the depth of their relationship. Thank you for such the great story that this is turning out to be, @Mawgrim. One of your best.

I can relate to Jay being unaware of being treated as the Golden Boy. I was first born and the only boy [first-born son is a big deal in a Jewish family]. I didn't do well at sports but I was award-winning in academics. And I was totally oblivious to being treated differently from how my two sisters were. Another factor in the unequal treatment is that Jay (mom's first-born baby) moved far away from "home," while it sounds like his brothers still live relatively nearby. That alone could double the royal treatment Jay receives whenever he's visits his folks. Loren, on the other hand, is oblivious to what a huge contribution he is to people. It just comes "naturally" to him to help out people he knows. You don't have a huge number of on-line followers compared to Jay, Loe to the rescue. Mom doesn't honor and include your fiancées, Loe to the rescue. Jay isn't aware that you're jealous your folks treating him better than you -- just wait for the upcoming chapter in which we'll see Loe to the rescue. Keep the great chapter after great chapter coming, @Mrsgnomie This story is such a joy to read.

Dechen's life took an unexpected turn or two in this chapter, and he's living halfway around the world again. I've come to expect these out-of-left-field (American slang from baseball) twists in a Quokka story. They used to frustrate me. Now I look forward to them, wondering what will Quokka think up next? 😀

The end of this sentence is missing. "I spent a lot of my first week catching up with all of my old friends, but I had to wait until they were out of school for the day, and when they were, we played soccer on the school oval, talked and joked, all in the"

Thanks, @Mrsgnomie. Remembering character names is just like it is for me in real life nowadays -- if I haven't seen you in a few weeks, I've probably forgotten your name. Really? Chicago's not very far from Waukesha, Jay's playing in the Super Bowl, but his football bros didn't come to the game. I call a foul.

Good thing Will didn't also hug him.

Scott? Will? Are those Jay's brothers? If so, Loren's lucky to have survived Will's hug.

Also the definition of very strong legs! Amazing things he must be capable of -- like the Joffrey Ballet dancer I once spent the night with.

Another great chapter. Wow after wow! I can't wait for the next chapter. My heart goes out to Lars. There were many times in my life when I was fearful and lacking in self-confidence and paralyzed by imagining terrible outcomes, so I kept putting off having the conversation, or taking the action, that deep down I knew was needed. I also wonder if a confused seven-year-old Sven decided being separated from Loren was all his fault and he still lives with that guilt.

Epee was what I fenced with. As with most sports, left-handed folks like Race are a challenge for us right-handers.

Actually, photos show me as as quite handsome and sexy as a teenager, although no red hair. Unfortunately, I was deep in the closet and wouldn't have known if anyone was cruising me. So many wasted years.