Anton_Cloche

A chapter by @Robert Hugill that starts out light and full of hope, ends on a revealed sad tale of a history of homophobia, and mistreatment of teenager Keith by his father. Treatment that clouded young Keith's mind and caused him to hide his feelings, until years later. Thomas seems to be just what Keith needs to put the past behind him.

Been there! Sometimes you get to spend time, to say things that need or want to be said, and have a proper farewell. Other times, it's too late, an opportunity lost. Carlo and the children will be the shoulders Brandon needs. The pending interaction with family? Well there's seldom agreement on issues, and Mason seems to be the potential problem looming large. Hopefully not, otherwise an accidental 'foot sweep' intervention may be required.

20 chapters of Grey, and 1 chapter of Mark, and I feel as though he and his wolf still exist in some form, waiting (in a way station, or waypoint) to transition back to the here and now and complete their journey. As for the strange interaction with Sebastian Belcore, which ended not in violence, but in a kiss? "Sebastian broke the kiss, panting. He looked into my eyes for what felt like hours, searching for an answer. “You change everything,” he said." Mark (and his wolf) need to return, to set things right, for as Chronos knows, Mark is the is the key to solving everything. 🐺

Bart is a masculine name, an abbreviation of Bartholomew or Bartolomeo. It is not known to be a short form or even a nickname for a female. Unless ...

Hmm. Déjà vu again Preston? This very good chapter has prompted the questions below. Bear with me. The Manakoora Nature Retreat (Oscar's property) is now as secure as an army training base or airfield compound. Newly installed fencing surrounds the 'Retreat' on all sides, 'Ringed' with "railway iron upright posts every few hundred metres, with steel poles between them, to keep the ring lock fencing very tight. The gates themselves were quite a sight, with a clever design in the steelwork, making it an impressive and very solid entry point. At the top of the high steel poles on either side of the gate, were solar panels... (to operate) solar-powered automatic gates...". Then there's yet again Oscar's grandparents instructing him to keep this new property quiet from his parents and younger brother and sister? Why? Gramps and Gran's explanation about the previous 506 acres purchased for Oscar's future, was that his younger siblings would likely inherit and run the 5,750 acre 'family farm', so those three 7properties were to ensure Oscar had something of his own? The same explanation / excuse being used again, raises the spectre that Oscar isn't "family". Is it possible that Oscar's 'parents' were unable to conceive, and wanting children they adopted Oscar? But why should that matter? (BTW, it's quite common that couples unable to conceive, adopt, only to soon after conceive, when there's no pressure). Kiwi Hugh Oakly showing up at the water park while a surprise, was one of Oscar's original boarding school 'pod' (along with Canadian Koen Atkins and 'banished' Rizen Silverton). Oakly's appearance should not trigger another anxiety attack in Oscar. Or at least I hope not. As for Rizen, I agree with some others that Rizen has been traumatized by what happened when he groped Oscar. Call it a case of mistaken feelings. Or Oscar so far in the closet that he can read the backside of the panelling. Not only was Rizen expelled from the school, he was sent 'home' to the UK, where HIS homophobe grandfather immediately exiled him to Swiss boarding school (lest he embarrass his grandfather's social standing; in an upper class rife with it's own boarding schools homosexual & homophobic issues intertwined). This young boy also deserves help and not being shunned, at least until all truths are known.

My apologies for not first thanking you Mrs. G for this really nice story. Are there any other stories in your pipeline, either solo projects or in cooperation with others authors (@kbois comes to mind for some reason) that are closer to the 'outlet' than the 'inlet'? Hopefully nothing blocking the flow through.

"Hone twisted a puzzle piece between his fingers as he scanned for its perfect spot. When he found it, he put the piece in place and smiled. “Nice.” So, at 17, puzzle solved?

Foggy Bottom DC is bad enough, but some are way past Best Before and/or Retiree Date = Soggy Bottoms.

Sounds like a bad game of CLUE 🔎 with Simon and Dr.M. and a special appearance of Hugh / Dr. Ellis playing the role of either Col. Mustard or the Butler (and super sleuth) Hogarth. Dr. Ellis effectively "threw a spanner in the works" with food and others hints to unlock Carlo's memories and kick start his recovery. (Okay, done with metaphors ... for now). Carlo taking Billy and Carlo to Atlanta to visit Pop Brandon on his business trip should be a good diversion. Coca~Cola Museum a good idea. Braves game a bad idea as could trigger Carlo because of baseball bat attack on Dun.

Thinking two steps ahead means you might not see what's next. What's potentially dangerous, like missing a step while walking down stairs, or driving around a corner without looking both ways (or stepping off a curb while looking at your phone), right in front of an oncoming vehicle. As an author, you rely on editing, 'beta readers' and others to catch the things you miss, but that's not a given. The same can be said for Carlo. And Dr. M has to catch these things before he is 'outed' as the Dr. M in Dun's suicide note. Once the media and public gets ahold of that information? It won't be pretty and the harm it can do to his family and children Carla and Billy may be catastrophic.

Psychiatrists and psychologists, like many other professionals, do face challenges when they lose patients, and @Lee Wilson did deal with Carlo's situation well. Unfortunately some are also accused of molesting and sexually assaulting patients, most often children. Hopefully those wrongfully accused are exonerated. However, those rightfully accused, or even worse never accused because of the absolute fear they put into those children, "If you ever tell anyone, who will they believe? A troubled child acting out, or Me a professional"? They put those children into a mind prison of blame, almost impossible to escape. No hope and no one to trust.

You like hearing things creak, groan and make strange noises? Buy an old house, or age with a spouse and those sounds (aches and pains) will arrive before you know it. This is an ominous prologue, that foreshadows what? Other than a propensity for ... Let's shine some light on the problem, (oh damn)

Carlo has some anger issues along with lack of control. If he'd bothered to take Tae Kwon Do classes, he would have learned about using just the amount of defense to stop an attack and not to overdo it. Literally kicking Mike when he was down; bursting an ear drum; severe damage to both knees and a possible concussion or brain and spinal injury is too much. Carlo has become a worse bully than his attacker. Police and court will determine what was justified and what was not. The difference will affect Carlo's future.

Thanks for this story @Lee Wilson, as it has given me background of characters before reading the sequel / next book. I will say that Tony Rose did not deserve what happened to him. His problems began as a child with his father belittling and bullying him. IMHO, that exacerbated whatever psychological issues Tony may also have been dealing with (ADHD, sexual identity etc), which led him to act out. School counselors and psychologists should have been dealing with that, and DCFS should have been called in. The straw that broke the camel's back for Tony was his father striking him and then literally dragged him around naked to the parent's homes to apologize for his bullying. That is what pushed Tony over the edge when he got home, and his father locked him outside, still naked, causing him to break the windows and smash the sides of the house. It was his only way to get back at his father, as Tony wasn't physically strong enough to strike his father. But ultimately being sentenced to jail, with no help, he was an easy target for being raped, abused and killed. His father should have gone to jail and Tony, could potentially been helped to lead a productive life! Too many children are damaged by parental neglect, abuse and yes murder. 😢

What is that? Some irreptile dysfunction?

Yep. As soon as Billy told Diego, Steve, Bryan and Caleb to hurry into the Courthouse, and the protestors came into view, the sour smell of skank floated all around. And there was Debra (aka Karen) Thomas doing her best impression of being the evil spawn of bible thumping BAC homophobes (Anita and Fred?). The coming days in Court are going to test Diego's temper more than he may be able to tolerate without asserting HIS 1st Amendment rights. Billy will do his best to calm Diego, while at the same time laying groundwork for an appeal (if needed) and a Judicial Review of Judge Crusty the evil Clown.

We need to see full ME's report before conjecturing season begins, but some teasers being dropped: · The ME's initial crime scene assessment was that Gus and Theresa “... both suffered head injuries from a blunt instrument,” the ME informed Ken, “but that didn’t kill them. They both have multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.” The ME did not say the bodies were moved. That might mean they were hit from behind, and knocked unconscious before being shot in the chest. (A small 'blessing' as if the murderer didn't want them to fear what was going to happen next). OR · They were knocked unconscious while sleeping and Theresa was shot multiple times in the chest (heart shots often a crime of anger). Gus woken by the first gunshot, jumped out of bed and tried to flee but only got to living room before the killer reached him and as Gus turned to face them, he too was shot multiple times in chest. · Since Theresa was first to die, likely suspect could be a jilted former lover, but, apparent HS Jock "boyfriend" Calvin was secretly gay and only dated Theresa as 'cover'. Principal Baum more likely just stunned by events and being older her memory of former students, even those "Most Likely To" might be fuzzy. Being thrust into Detective mode, Ken forgot Tom and George were still inside the crime scene and somewhat traumatized. Their fear of being left alone if anything happened to Joe and Ken, may spur Ken to propose quick marriage to Joe, and formal adoption of their 'wards'. OR @chris191070 is hard of herring, (ignoring readers pleas like Presidents who feign not hearing questions), or just throwing out misdirection just for the halibut, to see if anyone will take the bait (hook, line and sinker).

I don't think that is too much at all @Lee Wilson. A man of his age "falling" down the stairs could very well sustain multiple broken bones and possibly a head injury too. Or, the Hon. Judge Crustypants is so full of 💩 that he is very constipated, calls a recess to take a dump, pushes too hard, and ... ( a) passes out; (b) stroke; (c) Heart attack. Seem to recall a report of similar incident in Florida about 20 years ago. Crap!

Bryan unfortunately acted like a teenager who was abused by his biofather aka sperm donor Calvin. He is feeling helpless, as clearly homophobic Judge Crustypants is siding with Calvin's attempt to cancel Diego and Steve's adoption of Bryan and brother Caleb (and gain control over whatever inheritance the boys may have?) Bryan knows he did wrong when he frightened Caleb in the arcade by mentioning a spider. But Bryan is 100% right that no one is (or seems to be) taking children's feelings of fear, abandonment etc into more consideration. (An issue that is factual in the real world). Hopefully cooler heads will prevail. But no prevailing for Crustypants and Calvin, who's heads should: .

Oscar Kingston is a young teenager, growing up in Western Australia, who experiences some anxiety attacks. This is his story of recovery, growth and dealing with all the related issues. Key to his recovery is his family, especially doting grandparents with home he lives while attending school, and their planning for his future.

Nice chapter @quokka. It appears that Oscar is well on the mend, with no new anxiety attacks, not even when he learns of gossip about his time at his former school from the cousin of someone attending there. We also learn that his grandparents are doing quite a lot to prepare for his future; with the purchase of two new plots of accessible, serviced and soon to be securely fenced-in land of 1,132 acres, close to the Indian ocean. And while not (yet) zoned for residential, commercial or 'holiday let' use, it appears to be agricultural approved (which could include grazing for cattle and/or sheep, even equestrian purposes). Oscar's future: (with apologies to Timbuk3 )...

As a senior lawyer, Mason's father may try to push a civil case against Karl for "excessive use of force on defense of self". Thankfully Karl has the Detectives notes justifying force Karl has to use as self-defense against an armed assailant, who acted with deliberate intent in a surprise planned attack. Analysis of the knife will show only Karl's blood and Mason's fingerprints on the handle. IMHO, Mason's father may try to get his son off the hook citing temporary diminished capacity and get him into treatment. That will only works if Mason's problems where they lived before does not be discovered.

Don't know which is worse, a dick-swinging contest or pissing off (on) someone capable of breaking every bone in the body? Does that mean Carlo or Mason?

Nice jump from 6 to 16 years of age for both Carlo and Karl @Lee Wilson. (BTW, although your 'next book' / continuation of this story is posted, the editor in me wants to see the progression before I read on). Karl and Carlo still being best friends says a lot, and high school brings new and unique challenges, not the least of which is Carlo's realization at age 9 that he was gay (or at least leaning that way), and managed to keep it on the DL for 7 years. Until his laser-locked eyes on Kyle's dick in the showers , made it hard for him to keep things under control, blowing his cover to Karl. (NO 🍆 🍑 puns intended). How Karl deals with this discovery shows empathy, and protectiveness for Carlo. But if Karl already suspected, is he suppressing his own feelings, other than just being Carlo's "best friend"?

I hate to say it, but two (or three) days can make all the difference if someone is in medical "crisis". For example, if someone suffers a seizure or stroke, and no one finds them in time and it's too late to save them. Which is why, if someone is missing from their normal routine for 24-hours (like teachers Hamm and Sachs) and can't be reached, a "wellness check" must be requested (and pushed for, as police routinely give such 'requests' low priority and are on record as notoriously slow to respond, if at all. Even if it's an 'important' person. I know this to be a fact, as recently as 2023. PD response: "Not a priority"). Not a rant, but as Sgt. Joe Friday says: However, this is in Ken's PD now and there's at least one body (math teacher Gustav Hamm) and one 'missing' French and Spanish teacher Theresa Sachs. Something isn't adding up, and won't until Det. Ken, his PD and ME enter Gustav's apartment.