Krista

Maybe... about some of the things you've said here... I will let you fret over which ones. Also, a good start at facing challenges? We don't even know if the boy stays on the backside of the horse... or ends up on his backside looking up at it. 😮

Unfortunately. And invincible as well. Neither of which are true, but I'd take sneaky over daredevils any day of the week. I can catch them out on sneaky behavior. And if not, I think both me and the husband has nailed down interrogation techniques over the years. He says I'm better at it than he ever was, so we'll see.

Does a good knock in his noggin shut him up? It doesn't seem like it done him much good. It might have made Joel feel better... for about five seconds. busted up knuckles and all.

Now I've behaved! Every Friday or Saturday evening, with the odd Monday thrown in. I can't do the Monday postings anymore, for sanity's sake. Speaking of important updates, Preferably with your lovely snarky enticing word usage and sentence structure, and hilariously placed trademarks... very important update.

Ugh, I've deleted this comment three times. Thinking I'm borderline going to spoil things if I talk too much. I don't want to just fling my favorite word at everyone... but... maybe? Just a big ol' wet blanket maybe, I think is the safest bet for my response. Although, know that I did make the attempt to ramble in a round-about non-spoiler-y way, and erred on the side of caution. Thank you for enjoying this chapter.

Yeah, the truth does get rather bite-y at your ankles... hover-y over your shoulder... or slaps you right in the face.

Hope the boy is ready for such a thing, seems to be his biggest fear.

Maybe. *whistles*

It does seem sad that he thinks he still has to lead with the small lies. Although, Colt did advise him to... but Colt is a teenager thinking he's managing his own lie(s) with them... and he's probably gotten away with a couple of his own. But yeah, they pile up... unnecessarily most of the time. Also, thank you for sticking with the story.

Maybe Joel will start believing wise words.

One can hope. Or, maybe it is too soon for that? 😮

When you have to build up walls for your own self-preservation, you get used to the house you built from them. People don't want to feel their own anxiety, panic, fears, shadowing after them all the time. We can become rather protective of ourselves in that way. I think all people do it, with something, to some degree. It can be lonely, and it can lead to people who you may want and would love to be in your life to up and leave you, because they can't reach you. And you let them, because you can't bring yourself to let them inside that house. And yes, he has it better, leagues better, than what you described. It is horrific to think about being from where Joel is and knowing what happens in other places in the world. Despite that though, the only world he had ever known did come to an abrupt end and then another abrupt beginning. Even without the fear of bodily harm, persecution, or worse - there's not a whole lot of people that would come out the other end of that very easily.

I also missed the punchy Joel, and when I reread it I laughed. Maybe, they have to take that in stride, or risk catching his hands. 😮

I know how the lesson goes. I cannot for the life of me remember what else happens. So, I shall be rereading chapter eight soon. I've been living in the later chapters and in Ellis' head now, so this chapter triggered the obvious for me, but not the rest.

Yeah, not a hint of a fallout yet... I mean, what gives? Some people have all the luck. If I dragged my butt in at the ass crack of near Noon with busted knuckles, with my friends who are... obviously a bit hungover and in no state to function... I'd not make it far into the door without a Momma in my face asking me questions that will just make her angry if I answered, and extra angry when I don't. Maybe surprised by the fists, but maybe the rest of the night he finally paid Joel enough attention... to not see him as a three toed, ten-eyed alien being that invaded his household. One could hope, at least. Who knows with him. I think Davin would be proud of that descriptive. The question mark part anyhow.

If he decides the path of 'new' and not 'old,' that is. He could make the decision to stay a Tiger still. Maybe? I wonder if he did a pros vs. cons list what that would look like for him... I am imagining it now in my head.

Thank you! Glad you liked the early release of my last chapter. It kind of put my poor Wildthing in a pickle though. I may need to behave myself from here on out and finally stick to a more set in stone posting schedule. No, it seems Joel cannot escape history... he landed in the county where the schools are big rivals in sports and seemingly have been that way for decades... and yeah, the distance is that far either.

For animals that live off grass and grain, they are rather high maintenance beasts... I'd say the only thing worse would be goats... because you look at them wrong and they find a way to run up a vet bill on you.

Yeah, he's sticking to his idea from the first chapter. If family can quit him after finding out his secrets, then everyone else must be easier. It is safe to say that he's scared. It will take more than words from strangers that say, "tell her, she'll accept you," for him to believe it. It won't matter how many times he's told, he has to see it in action... 'something' has to come or he'll be stuck in this fear forever... right now I think it is safe to say, that he's willing to live in that fear, because he's already been proven right in doing so. I couldn't imagine that... And, outing someone is one of the more vile things a person can do. I've heard people belittle "closet cases," and it is a pet peeve of mine. You're out, that's great. It went well for you, that's great. You had the support of the people around you, good I'm glad that you did. That will 'not' be everyone's outcome. Some people will not have that support, and I think those people can read the people in their lives that they care about most and know how to coexist with that ever present landmine. It is not the most pleasant, I wouldn't wish that stress and fear, but it is realistic. So, for someone to just blurt out someone's business and bring them hell and no peace when they just wanted privacy and self-protection... will never sit well with me. I have seen the bad outcomes of that and no one will convince me otherwise. We very much 'do' still live in a world where perceptions are preconceived. People have fought long hard years for growth, but there is always limits to growth and that's never going to be everyone's story...

Joel has shown that he does build up to a bolt, at least. He was forced into leaving the first time, but I could see it developing into a go to maneuver for him to escape unpleasantness that he doesn't think he can handle. Maybe. I hope the horse riding lesson goes well as well.

Wait a second... is this the SECOND TIME Jonny is going to come in clutch for Joel? 😮 One time may be a fluke, but a second time?

I couldn't imagine being involved in what you just described. I would have likely begged to be homeschooled, or just outright quit, work on getting my GED/equivalence of that, then think about moving on with the next step of my life. I wouldn't know how anything got done with what you described, or how anyone would be able to function against those odds.

Yes, I think he's finding out that "three counties away," wasn't even a false sense of security for him, really. But, maybe it is a good place to start too... and isn't so scary of a place. Maybe?

Thank you liking and sticking with this story so far.