jkwsquirrel

Well it does answer at least one question people have been asking about a certain But I've changed so many elements of the story, that story is almost in a different world.

Mom was really cracking down on the whole Brett situation as we approached the end of February. I knew it was because Pastor Carl was bearing down hard on her. Carl had moved beyond the idea that just homosexual practices were bad. Now, every Sunday sermon was full of the most hateful things about those who allowed the sin of homosexual thoughts to even be permitted within their homes. “I wish you would end things with that boy,” she would tell me with increasing frequency.

I knew a girl who went there. I think that's kind of how it ended up in the story. She was much nicer than Sarah. It's not likely that Miss W. will get involved in the situation now that she resigned.

Can I just say, I love your visions of Billy's enemies being swallowed up by their own arrogance! Of course, in reality sometimes the bad guys win.

Well, honestly I don't know what they'd do. But I know what will happen to Sarah when she gets there. (And you might too, if I decide to do the additional and mysterious seventh book!)

I believe Billy's exact words were, "they're going to screw me somehow. They have to." Billy is more angry at the injustice of the situation than anything else. Joey takes it personally. After all, it's his ex-girlfriend. Billy seems to be enjoying the irony of Joey being the one who isn't getting his way. That's the thing about these people, they eventually eat each other. Billy has also become so cynical that he is surprised when anything goes his way. He always expects the worst. As for Billy's future, could you really see him being truly happy working in an office all day counting other people's pennies? I think it would eventually drive him mad. I'm sure there could be some legal issues in the school situation, but think about it, who would hear that case? Just another one of John Taylor's friends, or another person taken in by Pastor Carl's charm. When you own the town you can get whatever you want. The roots of corruption are deep.

It's like a scene right out of those old movies where everything is just grand in the small town world! Mom, apple pie, and the American flag for all! Just don't look behind the curtain or under the rug, or in the closet...

I don't think Billy really cares all that much about Joey's plight. He knows he screwed up Joey's life, and he really doesn't feel all that bad about it because of what Joey did to him. Brett, on the other hand...

Thank you so much! It's going to be fun to see how it all works out!

Billy set the whole situation with Miss Winston into motion a few chapters back when he accused her of being a hypocrite. That really bothered her. She even brought it back up in this chapter. Billy really touched a nerve with her. She grew tired of the politics that had oppressed her for years and finally took a last stand for the sake of her integrity.

Yes - for Joey it's much more personal. For one, Sarah was once his girlfriend. But for another, there's much more pressure on Joey to be top dog than Billy. Billy's parents just wanted Billy to live up to his own potential. George always insisted that Billy do his own personal best, and not worry about what someone else is doing. His parents got on him for relying too much on his intelligence to the point that he didn't try very hard. George couldn't have cared less what someone else was doing. (Think of when Billy and Joey got into a fight at school. George didn't care what Sarah did to Billy, he only cared about what Billy did.) Joey's parents not only expect him to do his best, but to be the best, period. (And if you have to take out your competition along the way, so be it...) Joey's always had the expectation of perfection thrust upon him and he's growing resentful and even hateful of it. As for "The Erotic Adventures of a Boy and His Bike," I've had that one planned for a very long time! I like to reward readers who pay attention to the silly little things!

You've got to listen to Linkin Park's "Numb." That's my "Joey song."

Another story to add to the list!

You know those little off-year elections that happen on odd numbered years when no one shows up to vote because it's not a big presidential election? Or those primaries that only old people show up for at 8 o'clock in the morning? Yeah, those are the truly important elections where local power is formed. They just tell you they're not important.

I don't think Mr. Taylor thought Miss Winston would resign. He's probably had these little meetings before and no one's made a big deal about it. Billy teaming up with Joey reminds me of those games where Mario and Bowser team up to handle a larger threat. Once it's over, Bowser goes right back to trying to kidnap the Princess.

I'm sure there's something less than an iota. Let's not feel too bad for ol' Joey. If the situation were reversed, he'd have reveled in taking the better grade.

D'oh! Yes, 1975 not 1985 with the story now in 2005. I fixed it. -JW

We had a nasty winter storm come through the week between my birthday and Christmas, but for the most part, it was a mild winter. It wasn’t too cold, and there wasn’t a lot of snow. That meant we didn’t have any days off from school for weather, which meant we would all be able to graduate on time and get the hell out of there. As December turned to January, my thoughts and the conversations with my fellow classmates turned toward what was next on the horizon. What were we go

Thanks Shadow-dude! I like that you have a picture in your head of how ridiculous Brett looked with his beard! I think of this chapter of what could be between the boys when everything is normal. Of course, it's the calm before the storm, but it's nice.

Thanks glennish! I think Billy is beginning to realize that things aren't as terrible as he thought they'd be. But we'll soon discover that everything isn't the sunshine and roses that Brett thought they'd be either.

Thanks DQ! Brett's beard had a purpose. Brett has always tried to act more mature than he really is. You might think that's crazy, considering the way he acts. But think about it. Why did he feel the need to add the f-word to every sentence he uttered? He wanted to sound like a grown up, and grown ups swear. But the more he swore, the less mature he sounded. He urgently pushed Billy to do sexual things before they were really ready. That led to him flaunting it to Dustin, which made him sound like a spoiled brat. The beard was just another attempt to give the outside appearance of maturity. "I can grow a beard, I'm a man now." Of course, everyone thought he just looked like a kid trying to grow something on his face. Once it was gone, Brett was convinced he looked like child, but Billy only saw the young man he loved. And yes, everything that's dysfunctional between Brett and his mom is on her. She's the adult. Brett treats her the way he does because she's allowed him. We give Paula a bad rap, and rightfully so because of her passive aggressive bigotry, but Brett would move in with her in a minute. Brett craves the structure and discipline that Billy grew up with, Billy covets the absolute freedom that Brett grew up with. They both want what the other has.

Thanks Dahawk! I really enjoyed writing this one. It's nice to see how the boys behave when things are not crazy.

Thanks Wesley! It's sort of a Joey chapter coming up, but not really, more of a Miss Winston chapter. This was a fun chapter to write.

As I emerged from the woods, the sun had already set, and the darkness of a winter evening was quickly chasing the last of the daylight away. That’s the thing that sucks about having a birthday on one of the shortest days of the year. That and my birthday’s close proximity to Christmas meant half the time my birthday got lost in the holiday shuffle. I realized that I was going to need to invest in a hat. I hadn’t needed one in a while since my hair naturally kept my head warm. I felt like I