IBEX

I can't see anything toxic about Pete. He's been quite ok the last couple of days - or is it weeks already? But Corbs is one toxic guy. Petty, vengeful, with an uncontrolled temper. Happy to not only destroy the social calendar for the term or year, but ready to even destroy the whole Chapter of his Brotherhood. For just one of his endless feuds. Yes, it IS all about perceived dominance and power for him, and he is more than willing to throw everybody, friends included, under the bus. And while that may make him politician material, he is currently a detestable human being. The ongoing manipulation of Lee, while still using him for convenient booty calls, when other sources for sexual gratification have dried up, is just one example. If Lee really has the brain we are led to believe he has - he should run for the hills, and find a frat where he would not be with Corbs in constant contact, competition and suffer the sexual innuendo (to say the least), while in whatever relationship with Steph or any other girl (or boy) for that

Mike is a good man

Kudos for the greta talk between Corbs and Pete. First time Corbin was really being open and honest about himself - and ready to admit it to another person. A show of character for once! Dom might be the culprit, given his longstanding sceptical view of Corbin...I was thinking it could have been Lee as well....or even the fingered girl.....Corbin has managed to have a few unfriendlies on campus! A wonderful chapter, where we get a good glimpse of background on our two main heroes

Corbin showed his worst again with Lee.....but for once he talked sense with Pete at the end. I hope Mike is not getting into trouble for defending Corbs' honour the only way he could... In his introspective moments Corbin has a lot of insight, he is just unable in most instances to use them to his advantage and to become a better man....;-)

So....first time Corbin behaved decently with Mike. Mike is coming along and out of his shell in leaps and bounds! Power to the Cadet! Even with his erstwhile best friend Amanda, Corbs IMMEDIATELY assumes the worst, and is out for revenge, and utter annihilation instantly, before bothering to get any facts. Heck, he might not even have checked his phone for the whole weekend. Amanda's reasoning is perfectly understandable, and with just the minimum effort of trying to understand a longtime friend, it should be acceptable to Corbin....curious where all this will lead. I guess most of your trusty readers have the same suspicion, but still, it'll be fun to watch the drama, getting there in the end!

First I would not necessarily interpret the blunt message from Pete in a way that he had sex with Dakota. Yes, Corbin surely would see it that way, as it seem obvious.... Second, I want to thank you for this story. The quality of your writing keeps me interested, even though I threw my towel at Pete long ago. You write so convincingly, that reading has riled me up, just as a real life encounter with this guys would have. Pete causes me physical discomfort and anger. I have no time for people with so little control over their actions and emotions, addicts of any kind, abusers and bullies. Pete is an alcoholic, pure and simple, with little to no impulse control. At the drop of a hat he looses his temper, throws a hissy fit, lashes out at any and all around him, never takes any responsibility for his action, always blames everybody else for the pickles of his own doing he finds himself so frequently in. And when at the end of his wits, he just fucks the next available warm body. Needless to say, drunk as a skunk, like always. I lost track how many nights he blacked out drunk, how many mornings his brothers have to discover he has absolutely no recollection of how the night had ended. He is most of his days in some sort of vendetta, some revenge game. It's all about perceived status for him. Afraid to be seen as Joe Average. Afraid to be seen for what he is, knowing deep inside how little he has to offer. All his actions may stem from some deep seated insecurity, poor self esteem and possibly self consciousness or even self-hatred. He dies for attention, needs to be seen as important, wants to be at the levers of campus power. While he might be an outgoing and engaging person - he uses this trait only to gain information and personal favours. So entitled. He thinks he just "deserves" things. - Like Pete's affection e.g. To this day he has not the faintest idea about Peter's homelife. Not about his hometown, British University, parents, siblings....only after weeks, more by chance, he learned Peters last name. But he expects Peter, a reserved Brit, as he initially discovered, to fall head over heels in love with him, even though he never gave Pete much to go with. Of course poor Mike will fall by the wayside....now that Mike more and more opens up to the very thing Corbin has demanding, or at least hoping to get, from Mike. I met plenty people - mostly guys - of that ilk. Most did never change, retained that bullying and abusive personality. Only a few, once out of the toxic college drinking influence, managed the about face, changed their ways and did the growing up their peers had finished years before. I can only hope that Corbin sobers up for long enough one day, that he can - with the help of Amanda and his brothers, mend his ways and the relationships he destroyed, risked and abused or neglected in his drunken stupor. Then there might be a chance for Peter ti find redeeming qualities in him and perhaps they can even find a way to shared happiness. Again, poor Mike.... So thanks again for this thrilling account of a guy stumbling through his College years, I keep binging on your story!

Sweet and harmless as promised. No drama....Sam's problems started once he was drafted....NFL is still major homophobic bunch in the thrall of conservatives...

Awww, this was waaay too short! Safe travels...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzdKDXGIues&list=PLW4Cpr-Wh4tPV8Agt-agSIvPWDRYeFF53&index=6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzdKDXGIues Cheerful Irish tunes to dance by!

I guess Tayloe and /or Eron will have to drop their Pharma client now......recusal is in order!

We can share our thoughts in a rendition of "Après un rêve" Perhaps an old recording by Pau Casals is the most haunting one.....whenever I try to play it I lose all track of time....and get lost in the elegy of the sad long notes

I am still in a very somber mood given the background here.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRL447oDId4

Having lost too many friends on the way to AIDS and suicide this chapter once more makes me cry and mourn. After a while I can cherish the gift of life again. Carrying the memory of the brothers forth another day.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzUMfVpugq4

peace, and a prosperous new year!

sweet

A heartfelt lullaby might be appropriate, when a mother is worried and in anguish about her child... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvOMzPCOiQI And translations for those who have difficulties with yiddish. Lyrics by Mordechai Gebirtig http://yidlid.org/chansons/yankele/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fMVNFq4Nmo Probably my favourite of the season... or in the original version of this 16th century carol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTndWoNENnI

As long as the kidneys and ADH are ok....keep the kids hydrated! Although I sometimes wonder how we managed all these years without schlepping bottled water around all day....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOCeiAYzuo8 A tough combo....

Thank you for the explanation! I like to learn new things....always looking up stuff that's new in your stories to me. Missed this one - looked like an obvious typo to me! Sorry bout That! I stand corrected, Docktor!

"At dinner Todd and Tayloe each told the other about their respective calls. " Should it be not Todd and Eric?

"...Tayloe was a Lawn Scholar.." earning some extra change on the weekends?

Nice to see Καβαφησ appreciated. Only he did not write in Italian, but Greek. ( There are two poems in English known...)

I might take up throwing clay again... the vivid description of the creative process in Elias' shed made me long for mud!

Good. No scary stuff - Still got moist eyes....sweet