ReaderPaul

Well, well, well. Some things now make sense. Eventually, Eden's secret will come out, but might not be in this story when it happens. At the end of the previous chapter, @VBlew made an excellent point in the last comment on that chapter (at least, the last as I am writing this). The other guests are indeed agreeing to be discreet. I hope Patrick is one of the persons who has been included in the privacy discussions. It would seem that Eden/Marky/Marty swings both ways. I hope other CWB fans will weigh into this discussion. Well done, @Wombat Bill.

It has been at least a week since I had any problems. Has the permanent fix been found and applied? I certainly appreciate the problem free times I have had in the last several days.

Gossip goes on in every group of people. Over my years of life, I have learned that -- even if true -- gossip is not normally good. Just because something is true does NOT mean it should be spread about. However, many persons think that THEIR ideas of what is right and wrong are the only ones which could possibly be right. They need to add a "standard disclaimer" to guest sign-ins saying something like, "The resort can not be responsible, and can not be held responsible, for what other guests may say or do." Marky/Marty is liable to be outed, considering Carol, Cook, and others who want to brag/tell/expose what they think they know.

Obviously, Thomas is getting more suspicious of Dante. As he gets more suspicious, and Patrick wants to "nip it in the bud," to use an old American phrase, Dante may be in trouble. in two to four more chapters. Blake needs to watch his step. His wrong assumptions could cost him dearly. I would have liked to hear the discussion between Virginia Wilson and Rosemary Cook.

I am very glad Thomas was able to help Troy think things through. Stranger danger exists, but often not as much as we might thing from television and the internet. I am also glad Troy is doing a good job with Dante on the gardening. Since Jonathan has become partners with Lachlan, he is doing more stuff the average person might do, and learning more about the type of world people not part of the very upper economic crust might do. It has been good for him. I am glad to see the responsible alcohol training being required. In my part of the US, the state in which I live requires that, if a company has a person working for them who wrongly handles alcohol, both the company AND the person must pay a fine. The person may also face loss of some professional licenses and/or jail time, or both. One company I worked for also had a policy of immediately terminating the person who went against state law. The teaser for the next chapter sounds fascinating. I look forward to reading the comments of others. @Wombat Bill, approximately how far ahead are you on chapters? And when are you going to assign Patrick a backup pool person, who has other duties, but is on call in case of pool emergencies of equipment and/or duplicate need of lifesaving services? Although rare, I have been at water entertainment facilities where two or more lifeguards were needed simultaneously. Really good chapters.

@Summerabbacat and @chris191070 as I think about it, stripping to his shorts, and Rosemary's bra and panties, was part of Axel's plan. They could have fun in the water, but to put their clothes back on, they would have had to strip nude or explain why parts of their clothes were wet but not the whole set of clothes were wet. I'm sure @Wombat Bill will fill us in -- eventually. @chris191070 -- I'm fairly sure Axel has a good package. To paraphrase another author, David Lee, "Indecent exposure is a term invented by those who have nothing decent to expose."

She got into the pool with them on. It does not say she KEPT them on after getting wet. Axel probably had a package worth seeing. To paraphrase author David Lee in one of his stories, "Indecent exposure is a term invented by those who have nothing decent to expose!"

My thought when I read this was, "How long did Cook's bra and panties stay on? Was she impressed with Axel's package? What else happened?" Axel having the sign on his car is not that troublesome for me. I have many non-pushy friends in real estate sales who have signs on their cars, but they have learned that being pushy in this part of the USA rarely works in real estate, due to the number of competing agents. Very enjoyable chapter and story, @Wombat Bill. The teaser for the next chapter sounds interesting. Troy having an attitude is not surprising. Jonathan getting his hands dirty -- literally, or figuratively? Very good questions raised by both @VBlew and @Summerabbacat. I look forward to @chris191070 weighing in with a comment.

@Geron Kees, almost every story you have written COULD be more than a "one-off." I sincerely hope that the Doorways stories continue. I hope one of the stories takes them back to the starport moon and they confer with Brik and some of the starships there. I also hope that there is a Charlie Boone "dream" in which Charlie, Ricky, and Keerby combine their powers to explore alternate dimensions, and they end up in the universe of the Doors via Charlie's second presence, but -- only Cally can see and hear them, because of latent skwish he has. Derry and Mike and Nyf and Difris would be trying to figure out what is going on, and who is Cally talking to?

@Wombat Bill -- I debated between giving the chapter a heart or a "HaHa." With the wonderful humor, I gave it a HaHa, but often I wish we could use two emojis to symbolize our enjoyment of the chapter. Who is this man of mystery who is so interested in Cook, and what are his immediate intentions? Love Carol's innocence at times. Also loved Cook had to explain to Carol what a dance card is/was. I liked seeing Cook and Carol and Dante react to having the opposite sex assigned to them in the future. Also liked Thomas giving the equal opportunity speech. It seems that Cook and Thomas are more willing to accept gender-bending of traditional roles more than Carol and Dante. I look forward to seeing (in alphabetical order) the thoughts of @chris191070, @Summerabbacat, @VBlew, and anyone else who comments on the wonderful chapter.

Very interesting. I look forward to seeing how these young persons and other work out. @Summerabbacat, I must agree with you on Amy's dessert. I'm diabetic already, and also allergic to bananas and to whipped cream. @chris191070, your point about the caring nature of Virginia is well taken. Obviously, I agree, as does Summerabbacat. Hopefully, Desmond may be able to shield her from some of that. Summerabbacat, I've met two gay guys named Trevor and Troy, but also met a really redneck Troy. The problem of foster families kicking out foster kids when they "age out" is not limited to Australia. Some parts of the US have that problem as well. However, I do know of one family who had one kid, ended up with six foster kids (all siblings, and the foster parents did not want to split up the kids, who were children of friends killed in a car wreck), and after paperwork shuffling was accomplished, managed to adopt all six foster kids, taking them from a family of three to a family of nine all at once. It was a struggle financially at times, but the family is doing great and all the kids are loved. Good chapter, @Wombat Bill.

I think Thomas has had his proverbial head up Dante's proverbial butt, in trying to deny the signs Dante has been giving off. @VBlew and @chris191070 and @Summerabbacat have each pointed out factors which should be raising the suspicion level of Thomas. I think Dante still has some shreds of dignity deep down. His background, however, has been very different than Thomas. His current behavior still is indication of cheating. but it would not seem as problematic for Dante as Thomas. Trevor's behavior, however, is somewhat indicative of a suppressed bisexual. Often, persons who are the most vocal critics of gays and lesbians have a same-sex desire which is being suppressed. Years ago, I was reading a book that had several stories based on real events. One guy whose story was outlined would sometimes have intercourse with his wife three or four times a day and then go out at night to cruise for anal or oral sex with guys. As one might guess, he was greatly conflicted, because he greatly enjoyed the physical sensations of involvement with both genders. I've also read other articles and stories about the inner conflicts of guys who don't wish to truly examine and admit their same sex attractions. I am not so certain about Dante saying that he did NOT know Thomas saw his activities with Jonathan. @Wombat Bill -- don't keep us in suspense forever, please!

@VBlew, I think Thomas is beginning to wonder things that need to be wondered about. I also think Virginia's heart is too big for her own good at times, and Thomas should have mentioned how limited the first opportunities for new hires are. Both her and Thomas may well look bad if she has talked and promised too much. Thomas was also remiss in not mentioning the squatters. I look forward, @Summerabbacat and @chris191070, in seeing your take on this chapter. The next chapter teaser sounds fascinating, @Wombat Bill.

Patrick needs to grow enough balls to tell Dante what he thinks, instead of making the mistake of thinking Dante can read his mind about the perceived infidelity. Denise needs to clearly tell Trevor to stop using very insulting unfinished sentences. Does Thomas possibly have an inkling that Dante might cheat on him? The situation as explained by Trevor and Denise makes some sense. However, there needs to be a resolution, hopefully within two or three chapters, @Wombat Bill. @VBlew, perceptive observations regarding the house and comments about bikes and riders. @Summerabbacat and @chris191070, I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Does possibly Trevor already know Virginia and/or Desmond? And none of them knew about the house squatting situation?

@VBlew, you are saying something similar to what I said a few chapters back. I certainly agree with you. Welcome to the comments. Cook will probably have to give Carol some pointers about supervisory work. Lifeguarding is serious work. I don't know what the requirements are in Australia, but at a minimum a good lifeguard should know CPR, how to rescue a panicked swimmer/drowning person, and in a resort such as being planned, a qualified backup available at a moment's yell for assistance. A lifeguard should be able to demonstrate consistent and proficient swimming ability, and have the strength to be able to haul a person heavier than themselves through and out of the water. Virginia is really getting into her work. I applaud her dedication. I hope Desmond has found rewarding endeavors as well. I am interested in hearing the plans Jonathan has for the clubhouse. Does TAFE stand for Training And Further Education, or Technical And Further Education? (I really doubt that TAFE means, in this case, Transverse Alternating Field gel Electrophoresis, or Texas Association of Fire Educators, or Tractor and Farm Equipment, or The Australian Fashion Enterprise.) @Wombat Bill or @Summerabbacat, could one of you enlighten me? @chris191070, what thoughts do you have?

Well, @chris191070, they might yet learn more. It is too early to tell. Somewhat stereotypical reactions here -- a man who doesn't see that he did anything wrong, and a woman who holds and amplifies a grudge. While I do not have scientific proof, it seems to me that women often hold a grudge more firmly than men. While I have anecdotal indications of this, I do not know if there has ever been an actual scientific study. In my experience, limited as it is, women hang onto ideas in the face of evidence against the ideas even more firmly than men. Same thing with grudges. Not all women or men fit these stereotypes. But enough do that one should be careful in relationships -- which is the case anyway.

@Summerabbacat -- it depends on the parents whether or not their kids were taught housework. I learned dusting and vacuuming, and sorting and straightening, but not laundry. So I determined that MY son was not going to be ignorant of laundry. By the time he was eight years old, he could do laundry -- correctly and unassisted --from start to finish. Icing on fruitcake? No, no, no! I am glad Cook agrees, and also that she will have a supervisory role. @chris191070 -- I agree with you. The teasers for the next chapter, @Wombat Bill, are fascinating. I look forward to seeing more of Andy and Dean, and Ed and Gran, at some point in the future. I am glad to see Cook and Carol and Thomas featured so much in this story. Ed and Gran and Cook conspiring -- er, cooking up -- some action or other? A great idea! If not in this exact story, perhaps in a "side salad" story of the future.

I think @chris191070 and @Summerabbacat have raised some important points. I tend to agree that Patricia possibly arranged her husband's death. She might have found the money in his account BEFORE the authorities did, and squirreled some away. The teaser for the next chapter is fascinating. I look forward to seeing it, @Wombat Bill. I don't ever recall hearing redheads called Bluey. I have heard of them being referred to as "gingers," or an individual redhead as "a ginger." Other terms I have heard include Carrot Top, rusty, copper top, fire top, Cheeto-head -- and those are only the names I have personally heard redheads called. Using the Bing search engine, I found lists of up to one hundred nicknames for persons having red hair.

I don't know which time zone @TalonRider is in. I'm in the US Central Daylight Time Zone, and I was getting the formatting errors at 9:15 this morning. At 3 a.m. I was getting the correct format. I'm using the latest version of Chrome on my desktop. A bit over two hours later I was getting the correct format. The wrong formats are happening less, but seem to still happen. My cache was cleared.

@Summerabbacat, I believe you have it pretty much right on the proverbial money. I hope they drug test the body, and find that he had been drugged with stuff not usually found in suicide bodies. I suspect Patricia knows much more than she is admitting, and arranged much or all of the death of her husband. I think she knew about the money in her husband's account. She decided she wanted it, and possibly tipped of the police herself. I think there are more things to be revealed. We shall see. @chris191070, any thoughts? What have we missed so far?

I think we will find that the money was confiscated because of underage sexual activity encouraged by their biological sire. Lots of stuff indeed in this chapter!

Well, in the US, a sobersides is normally a person who is normally very serious, to the point of having no sense of humor. It can be used in the sarcastic sense as well, where it means the opposite. It can also be used to mean someone who takes the fun out of something by their very presence. Once in a while, I have heard it used as someone who refuses to drink (often in a very condemning way, trying to shame others so they don't drink). I just thought of another possibility why the father could be in jail. Often in the US, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service, or federal taxing agency) looks with much disfavor on people who do not pay the taxes the IRS thinks are due. I would guess that is true of the taxing agencies of most of the countries of the world. If payment is made by check, bank draft, wire transfer, or other EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) or some other means than physical cash, it can be easily traced -- and therefore potentially taxed. Combined with illegal (by whatever legal definitions exist in that country) sexual activity involving minors, and real problems exist. I am sure @Wombat Bill will eventually reveal all.

In most of the US, SEX is legal at age 16 or age 17, but posting pictures or video of a nude person under age 18 is illegal. It is a patchwork of (sometimes crazy) state laws. In some cases, whether sex is legal between two persons if one us underage (defined for most legal purposes as under the age of 18 years) depends on how much OLDER the older person is than the younger. It is a lot more complicated than just those facts in some jurisdictions. The craziness needs some consistency, but I do not see that happening for a long time, if ever.

I can guess what happens next from what would happen in the US if underage porn were uploaded on an adult's account or on a neighbor's wifi signal. The adult and/or the neighbor or would be the ones going to prison for child porn, even if they knew nothing about it. The neighbor would be guilty of not password-protecting their wifi. The adult would be in trouble for collecting money on child porn (meaning porn produced when one or more of the participants are under 18 years of age). There have been cases in the US where neighbors have been convicted of crimes committed by other neighbors "piggybacking" on their wifi, even without the wifi-originating person's knowledge. Sometimes even password protected wifi can be too easy to guess. I do not know what Australian law or UK law has to say on this. Perhaps, @Summerabbacat and @chris191070 or @Wombat Bill can enlighten us? Cook has been resourceful as well at finding things out. I bet within three chapters or less she WILL know more of what is going on.

My phone, using Chrome browser, is acting normally as well now.