Anton_Cloche

First off, ooh 😳 'Reminders' from @Lee Wilson to readers: 1. This occurred in chapter 9, if a review is needed. 2. This is present in chapter 12. So nobody ask questions as it was already addressed. 😆 Second, @Summerabbacat suggests "that the scene where Edward apparently murdered Claude with little planning or feeling was perhaps a figment of his imagination". But IF Ed imagined he murdered Claude, then that raises two questions: 1. Who did whack Claude? and; 2. Did Ed see it happen. Because something left Claude with with a splitting headache (too soon?) Axe me no questions, I'll tell you no lies. (says every politician 😮)

In a State with a high rate of 'Home Schooling' that should have been an option for Ed, or the school arranging teachers come to Ed's home. The Court (Judge, District Attorney and Ed's own lawyer) should have enough knowledge to foresee problems at school with Ed's return, unless the DA wants to prompt a negative reaction by Ed to prove their allegations. To paraphrase Marcellus in Act 1, scene IV of Hamlet (speaking to Horatio): "Something is rotten in the State"

A great new chapter @Bill W , but I was hoping we might learn more about Atsa, and if / how he is making out meeting the Navaho Hataalii POPS, Gramps, Devon and Mac know. Hopefully the Hataalii finds a way to change Atsa from the 'evil skinwalker' he turned into in hopes of scaring off the Spanish Conquistadors who invaded the Navaho territories around 1525, and into a 'good skinwalker' like Mac, Dev and the grandfathers. Perhaps even becoming a Hataalii / 'Medicine Man' like Atsa's own father and grandfather before him. The sad alternative would be to turn Atsa back into a 'mortal', but doing so would cause him to die almost immediately. 😢 But should that happen, it would at least release Atsa from his own purgatory of over 5 centuries being all alone. Ot as Atsa told Pops: "He has been very lonely for so many moons that he’s lost count – his words not mine. He also told me that no humans and very few animals want to be around him for very long, so he’s pretty much been all alone since the day he became a skinwalker.” 💔 As Mac, Dev and their families prepare for Christmas, finding a way for Atsa to truly live again, would be a Christmas Miracle. 🙏🤞 🦅 🪶

? On other side of fence ? 😃

You're missing an important word ... "Alleged". Despite what our illustrious author @Lee Wilson wrote, (and would be challenged in Court as "Hearsay" and ruled "inadmissable") all persons in the U.S. (and some other nations) are accorded "the presumption of innocence, until proven otherwise beyond reasonable doubt, in Court of Law". Or at least that is what the system says, and supposedly works towards attaining that lofty goal. As for Ed returning to school? Many schools (or school Boards of Education) would shy away from allowing in child in this situation to return to school; not so much as a threat to other students (unless provable in another legal challenge), but as a distraction to the "normal" education routine. We shall see where that challenge goes?

And ALL contrarian views aside (from swampy 'Foggy Bottom' adjacent 'houses') "islands" are disappearing due to Global Warming and other events that show Mother Nature is P.O'd.

Or was it a double entendre @Krista? I cant be the only one suspecting there's more to Davin than just being Gavin's identical twin. And more than just "reading between the lines" raises possibilities. One, that Davin suspects Joel's "leanings". Two, that David shares those "leanings" and three, that Dad is interested in Joel. As for Gavin, despite indications that he is straight, beer + hot tub + horny equals ? According to a number of published JAMA studies: "Monozygotic (identical) twins were found to have a 65.8% rate of homosexual orientation. Dizygotic (non-identical) twins were found to have a 30.4% rate for homosexual orientation. Of all twins studied, only 0.012% have Bi-sexual orientation". So, ? As for the obviously well off Keplers' what is the real 4-1-1 on these absentee breeders? "Enquiring minds want to know"

First @Philippe, I am saddened for your friend who got (pardon the vernacular) "screwed over" and wound up paying support for children that weren't / aren't his, while his money intended for the children is / was likely going for alcohol and drugs by step-NOT father and the skunt puetrid, I mean petrie dish hatchery. (BTW I never use those terms in front of children who were innocent victims 😢 in this). As for 'adults' like that, if we are encouraged to control animal overpopulation by spraying and neutering, perhaps that shoulder apply to 'humans', with dull implements and not painkillers (ooh frightful Friday? Coffee hasn't kicked in yet 😳? ) As for ML, I've tried to imagine that she wasn't like that before being traumatized by the 'Death Cloud' that killed her immediate family. A 'psych eval' and one of various IQ assessment tests could determine if that is the case or if she's just ...

Interesting story (and some terribly sad back stories of Author @Topher Lydon and Editor @Jeff Burton). As much as I love stories involving the True North, Canucks, Beavertails etc, as an editor I do need to discuss the story photo. Ottawa does NOT have LRT (trams) that uses rails on surface streets like the one in the pic which is from Toronto / TTC. Also the bldg in rear may resemble Parliament, but no such Boulevard with those lamp poles adorn Ottawa. Other than that, keep up the writing Topher. ❤️

"The detectives left... but they returned to the Lamont's to arrest Ed", and introducef him to Detectives Hand and Cuffs. (Sorry, thought my calendar said Punday, oh wait there's my glasses 🤓.) I guess @Lee Wilson will introduce us to George Jr's new cafeteria schoolmate (soon to be friend) in the next chapter or to. @Flip-Flop is likely correct in his comments about Ed's actions. For decades discussion has been ongoing over whether sociopaths are born that way or created as a result of external forces, like long-term bullying. Did 10 years of bullying by Claude simply make Ed snap? "So-called sociopaths are more likely to demonstrate a lack of self-control and f1other volatile behaviours. Sociopathy is often associated with environmental factors, such as childhood trauma or adverse life experiences." (Born or made? Understanding antisocial personality disorder. Wolverhampton University, UK)

George need to do much more than watch his back, he needs to tell his father ASAP what he suspects about Ed, as he's obviously a psychopath danger to everyone, including George's younger "brothers".

Hmm? Could Mac and Devin morph into "altered" animals, like pigs with wings, that shit all over Louella and her car? Just imagine the cop's reaction when that old bat Parsons reports that to Fort Collins PD. Yep, ... "When pigs fly". Just in time for Christmas, some grinch gets a well deserved Psych Hold. 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩

But then I remember this: "Angelica froze. Seemingly disconnected memories leapt in her mind as the blood drained from her face. “Oh my God!” Devon and Sandra turned in time to watch helplessly as Angelica Samson crumpled heavily to the floor, neither having a clue that her entire, fragile world had collapsed from underneath her". Has Angelica found out about the mysterious bandaged (like a mummy) boy just down the hall from Walter III's ICU bed? Once 'Harry's' nurse went to tell FBI Devon (in his ICU bed) about the young white boy found by EMT's rushing to Cabrini Green, did she tell him while Angelica was within hearing distance? Had Angelica returned to Harry's room to comfort him, only to put together the puzzle pieces in her mind, (likely seeing the name 'HARRY' written above his bed?) 😳 😮 😱

Cramped fingers and hands make writing or typing difficult and likely a cause of delays in completing other work. Unless you're bidexterous (aka ambidextrous), in which case you can give yourself a hand. 😮👌

Unlike UK (and other countries) where "the Postman always 'rings' twice", in U.S. they usually open 'box' or slot and stuff it in. Unless it's a large package. Like ALL 'RED" states, TN (Tennessee) has an absolute BAN. Other than "back alley" abortions, IF she is found to be LESS THAN 6 WEEKS pregnant, Aunt and Uncle can road trip 371.9 miles to Atlanta Georgia to a proper medical clinic for an outpatient abortion. (OR simply take the bitch to vet and also get IT SPAYED). It can be done laparoscopically, so once healed ML will look 'normal' to resume being "pass around Pat". After surgery, they can take ML and the boys out for some famous Atlanta foods like collared greens, pornbread, fried chicken and top it off with Banana pudding with praline nuts and cream. Hmm. 😋 (although ML too dumb to understand irony).

And so concludes this Egypt expedition, as Dr. McLavic ☑️ off another fully completed item from his 'Bucket List'. But how big is that 🪣? How long is that 📝? Jimmy, can you turn that list this way just a bit more 👀 ? It ain't over til it's over. Or "until the fat (opera) lady sings", and I don't hear anyone warming up in the wings. Thank you Calvin @CLJobe for this conclusion, with a well written (interim) Epilogue. Perhaps a Father and Son journey together, a road trip to the new Crystal Mountain Lake Resort, 15 years later with Grandpa David, surrounded by grandchildren, a successful architect Son and his partner Bobby? "Please Sir, We want more" 💞 🫂

Is another @CLJobe adventure drawing to an end with Dr. (Phd) David McLavic's latest (and final?) Egyptian expedition having found the missing Pharaoh? And why the only 'Step' pyramid? Or are others, in Eqypt or perhaps South America, lying partially hidden and waiting to be discovered? Or will Dr. David return to academia? Write another book? Hmm?

It's 🐪-day (which rhymes with rump) aka Wednesday in northern hemisphere. ICYMI 😉. Alledgedly visual aids help mem ... what was I saying?

Billy and Todd's 'torpedos' may do more to "sink their ships". In a few weeks ML may need a doctor's help to resolve a 'problem.' She's old enough to be fertile, and Billy's direct deposit, or Todd's 'proximity' semen, on her vulva and then rubbed inside by ML, both could result in a pregnancy. Her apology "rings hollow" as completely insincere, as only a self-centered and self-indulgent ML can be. Amy's reaction to George Jr being possibly gay can also be a problem to deal with. @Lee Wilson, Larry and Lionel need to be George's adopted brothers and nothing should stand in the way of that happening.

@empath I remember seeing the movie Sounder as a child, but of coarse as a child the reactions are different, without the education or knowledge of how to read between the lines to see other meanings and messages of how the story can be more relevant, depending one's situation. Teyshawn literally implores Lawon to read the story. And when he does, it is a 💡moment for Lawon. He sees himself in the story of Sounder. He understands the connection to Cabrini Green, to him and to Teyshawn, and it brings some meaning to Tuck's death. And perhaps a connection to Liberty Academy, to E&E and 🤞a chance meeting with poor Henry. Thank you for this reminder @empath. Glad to have you back. Be well. Take care. 🤗

ML and an apology? Not in any universe, metaverse or alternate reality do those go together. Just like "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” does not coexist with reality (in story). Checks and balances should have caught what was happening before the unthinkable occurred, ripping apart the lives of so many, including our boys of Clinton; George, Lionel and Larry. Larry's dream of his late father's talking to him and reassuring him will start to help heal his broken 💔. Ben Fitzgerald leaves his stint as the 'Attending Dr' at the Best Western hotel caring for survivors of the Clinton bio-toxin virus, to continue his medical studies in Oncology, as his 2nd year of medical college shifts from the virus -devastated east coast to Stanford CA. to begin his 3rd year clinical training. "He chose Stanford Children's Health - Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto. George, Lionel, and Lorenzo had made an impression on him during their time at the hotel and he would focus on pediatrics after graduation". Ryan also pursues his medical education, as an audiologist (perhaps more as an ENT Dr ?) and after a phone call with George's father Dr. Dutton, accepts an invitation to visit the three boys. Ryan explained to Dr. D.: "I missed everyone from the hotel after we all broke apart. To be honest, I missed the boys the most. I got to feeling like a big brother, or uncle. Totally platonic. " Let the healing continue 💝

So many questions about Bronx Warren (imagining him looking like Tony Manero from Saturday Night Fever), working for his "Mom and Pap" in Ricci's ristorante. Cal tells Warren he can't stay out late on a school night, but is Warren a senior in HS? A Freshman in college (so 3-5 years older than Cal), or has he dropped out? Maybe more clarity on the next chapter ?

Starts will an M and ends with something akin to Hell? Or ate you just picking from low-hanging fruit? Speaking of, (sorry for bad segue. Although a really good / bad Segway would be Donald trying to ride one like GWB... 😲 but I digress), without falling into regional generalizations of knuckle-dragging, mouth breathing people who bully others just because they MAY be different. Billy may be a product of his environment growing up. Young George already had to grow up too soon, as did Lionel and Lorenzo / Larry. At some stage expect nightmares and flashbacks will happen to the boys 💔 as PTSD sets in with the realization of the deaths of family. These 3 brothers will stay bonded together even more than biological siblings. 🤗

“Alexander Montgomery III?” We're ready for your colonoscopy. Unfortunately, the 'regular' colonoscope's camera isn't working properly, but because we don't want to inconvenience you, we have a backup.

Truth be told (and apologies to anyone inadvertently offended), @Sherye Story Reader that acronym applies equally or more so to males of every description. Or as my nieces point out, it's like girls, women, "Housewives of ___________" calling each other "dude". 🙄