jkwsquirrel

Thanks Israfil! It was fun to see Billy knock Joey down a peg or two. You've described the situation well. Joey is big and tough when he has an advantage, but once Billy fought back he melted. That story's definitely not over yet! We'll have to explore Brett's relationship with Joey a little more. As for what Brett did in this chapter, it was definitely his finest hour.

Thanks Okie! We'll answer some of those questions soon, my friend!

That would be quite a picture! Who knows what's going on with Joey? Much to explore!

Hopefully Carol can live up to her duties as a mother, and not slide into deadly routines just because they are comfortable. Frank definitely crossed the line, but will it be enough for the Smiths to see the light?

Thanks Spikey! You nailed it. It'll be interesting to see what Carol does when the initial shock wears off. There's definitely more to explore with Jack. He may just have the keys to unlocking the mystery of Brett's father.

Nope, not cousins. I can also say pretty confidently that Joey is not being molested. I'm thinking more along the lines of a young man who is cracking under the pressure of living up to his parents' unattainable expectations. He is in over his head. Think back to his reaction to being suspended from school. He wasn't the suave charmer his father is. He was scared shitless that his dad was going to find out, begging for the principal to change her mind. That wasn't some one-time incident, that was the real Joey. Joey is just as unsure of himself and uncomfortable in his own skin as Billy is. His way of acting out is to be ultra-macho. Most of his bullying takes place when there are people around to see him picking on the socially-inept loser. But his life is empty, his relationships with girls are meaningless. In this regard, you are right about transference; he wants Billy to be as miserable as he is. But the fact that Billy is happy in his relationship with Brett just pisses him off.

Hmmm... I'm pretty sure Brett and Joey are not cousins. Jen and Heather may be like sisters, but they are just best friends. I would compare Joey and Brett's relationship to the relationship between Billy and Emily. They are friends because their parents are friends. Joey is definitely NOT gay. That would be stretching reality a little too thin. A love triangle is as complex as my writing ability can go. I think Joey started bullying Billy because he wanted sole possession of the only boy's name in their class that ends in "y."

Thanks Shadowy One! Yes, you caught on that even though Joey is a jerk, Billy isn't innocent in the whole thing either. Billy could have let Joey walk away, but he always has to poke the bear. As is usually the case, Billy can be his own worst enemy. There's much to explore in the McKenzie family history. I told you the laptop wasn't long for the world. Purely a plot device to get the boys to Mike's house. Once it outlived its usefulness, it died. Kind of like ObiWan You have more faith in Carol doing the right thing than she deserves. You're right about one thing though, this part of the story is almost more about Dustin than Billy. What will happen when Dustin realizes that Billy knew and didn't tell? I think the cigarette was a one-time nerves thing for Brett. He's not going to become George in that regard. As for how Frank found out? Word gets around in a small town. That Dustin thought he could get away with it wasn't too smart on his part. I chalk it up to a case of reality hitting him like a sledge hammer.

Well, it's not going to be quite that easy! But yes, healing can't really take place until the disease is dealt with.

Thanks glennish! You're right, this is just the first domino to fall. Billy would have been quite the jerk to get mad at Brett about being in the park after what he did.

Thanks Benji, This is Brett's finest hour. He did the most noble thing anyone has ever done for Dustin, knowing that the consequences would be severe. How Dustin reacts will depend on how tightly he wants to hang on to that illusion of his family.

You're on the right path. Who knew being the Golden Boy wasn't all it was cracked up to be?

Sad but true, Wesley. Dustin was bound to get caught eventually. I consider Brett's actions in this chapter to be his crowning moment of awesome.

Thanks DQ! Yes, the quote about parents having lives before they had kids was a Jack McKenzie line, but it was also originally hinted at by Joey in the last chapter of Rehabilitation. The only thing I can say about Jack is that he knows how to play politics incredibly well. He didn't get to where he is in life by accident. Dustin was bound to get caught eventually. Unfortunately Dustin's dad's response to the situation was a bit too realistic. Would have liked the fairy tale ending where Dustin changes his ways and no harm is done, but life enjoys kicking Dustin in the balls.

These comments will take some time to go through. Let me start by saying how thrilled I am with the response to this critical portion of the story. As for you, my dear Jay, I did read your blog, both the Smashing Pumkins one and the one on the origin of evil. Good thoughts as always! We'll see how Dustin responds to this soon enough. As for who might be abusing Joey, that one will take some time. It's really a combination of things. He's being asked to be something he's not, and he's cracking under the pressure of being the Golden Boy.

And the new chapter is up! Enjoy!

I woke up early on Saturday and left with my dad. I always wore my glasses when I worked with dad, because I once got some sawdust stuck under one of my contacts and that sucker burned all day. Dad drove us to a friend of his whose snow blower had stopped working. Dad stared at it for a while, and then asked if his friend had any old lawn mower parts. He rifled through the parts and found what he was looking for, then he had me take the snow blower apart and replaced some of its parts with t

Oops.

Vinyl? Is that those giant cd things?

Well it is a Metallica song!

Want a preview of Friday's chapter? Listen to the song "Hero of the Day" by Metallica. It's one that inspired me greatly while writing WAR in general and the upcoming chapter in particular. Here are the lyrics: "Hero of the Day" by Metallica Mama, they try and break me The window burns to light the way back home A light that warms no matter where they’ve gone They’re off to find the hero of the day But what if they should fall by someone’s wicked way? Still the window burns Time so slowly turns Someone there is sighing Keepers of the flames Do you feel your name? Did you hear your babies crying? Mama, they try and break me Still they try and break me Excuse me while I tend to how I feel These things return to me that still seem real Now, deservingly, this easy chair But the rocking's stopped by wheels of despair Don’t want your aid But the fist I've made For years can’t hold or feel No, I’m not all me So please excuse me while I tend to how I feel But now the dreams and waking screams That ever last the night So build the wall, behind it crawl And hide until it’s light So can you hear your babies crying now? Still the window burns Time so slowly turns And someone there is sighing Keepers of the flames Did you feel your names? Did you hear your babies crying? But now the dreams and waking screams That ever last the night So build a wall, behind it crawl And hide until it’s light So can’t you hear your babies crying now? Mama, they try and break me Mama, they try and break me Mama they try Mama they try

Anything can happen. We'll see soon enough. I agree, I think Joey is almost reaching Frank Smith levels of hate. But even Joey's not that evil.

Brett just assumes that friends sometimes see each other's junk. He's practically a nudist even when his mom's around.

Thanks Benji! I guess sometimes people do things out of desperation. Paula was in a rough spot and the people in the church were there to help her out. As for Joey, you're right. He's not the brightest bulb in the box. Always thinking with the wrong head.