Marty

G'day, young Albert!

I had homemade spag bol.

10 foot then? With razor wire on top? (Just to stop the rustlers, of course.)

But behind a 7 foot electrified fence?

I'm now wondering whether there's maybe a story worth hearing here... (And whether it involves plaid.)

Sleep well, B

Oh, I'm really going to enjoy the beetch slap she is lining up for you, Albert.

Yea, one of mine, too. Although I don't listen to them as often as I maybe should, these days. Hi, Val!

Or how about Croaking Crows (a bit like Counting Crows, but nowhere near as good)?

You're having a lazy morning, but don't have an excuse? Or you want a lazy morning, but can't find an excuse?

Hi, Page!

Nah, I don't blush that loudly.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, bro. She does have a sense of humour, you know. (somewhere)

Might be for the best. After all, didn't someone say earlier that today is National Lip Sync Day?

That could be interpreted in several different ways. (*Marty sits patiently waiting for the Angry emoticon from Albert for this reply)

Hey, Gary! Sounds a lot like me. Maybe we should do a duet...

Nothing wrong with the name Patrick...

Good luck, Albert.

Thistle's lethargy just a result of his innoculations yesterday, I trust?

Greetings, young man!

Almost as well as I sing. Morning, bro!

I've just read through the comments to this chapter, and I have to say that the accusatory and condemnatory nature of some of them give me concern. This story is being told from Chase's point of view, so obviously we know what is going on inside his head. What we don't know yet, and possibly never will know, is what is going on inside Hank's head. We don't even know who the "we" was referring to when Hank said that the point of the trip to Kevin's cottage was to "decide where we go from—". Chase actually cut Hank off before he could finish that sentence by jumping in and accusing the pair of them of going to the cottage to fuck. I can understand Chase thinking that, and possibly he may be correct. But a possibility is not the same as a certainty. It's possible that Kev is looking for a relationship with Hank. It's also equally possible that he's just being a good friend and has suggested the trip as a way for Hank to get away for a few days to decide what his feelings for Chase really are. But, as I say, we only really know what's going on inside Chase's head. Personally, I wouldn't be as quick to pass judgement as some of the commentators here seem to be.

After midnight here. So it's cocoa time and then bed for me.

I have a tendency not to read other readers' comments before making any of my own. That way my own comments hopefully won't be coloured or influenced by what other people have already said. A difficult story to read, Gary. But that's not meant to be in any way a criticism of your writing. It's more the subject matter, the dark thoughts, etc, that make it difficult. The writing is superb! I know I haven't commented on any of the previous chapters, but I felt the need to do so for this one: if only to say that it's about time the two of them actually talked! Okay, it didn't go as well as Chase (and possibly Hank) would have liked - but at least they did talk. Enjoying the story, by the way. Well, as much as one really can enjoy reading a story as dark as this one is up to now.