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This was a wonderful chapter and it serves to underscore the point that bigotry has to be confronted and challenged just the way @drsawzallsaid, through “good, meaningful, honest conversation(a) based on reality and facts.” That’ll work with Mitchell, because he is a thinking person with the capacity to absorb rational arguments. And that is why those like “Team Marjorie, Tram Lauren, and Team Ron”. (God, ESPECIALLY “Team Ron “ !!!!) are so determined to prevent any kind of meaningful discussion, but instead resort to insults, rudeness, abrasive mess, and in the case of our southernmost state, intrusive efforts to CONTROL the information young people have access to that would help to dispel the bigotry! The other thing that strikes me about Mitchell is that he is lucky enough to be challenged in his bigotry while he is still young enough to change. Unfortunately, many bigots are not, and they grow into the kinds of adults that Tom was—functioning people capable of being positive parts of their society until something happens that unleashes that mindless hatred in the depths of their souls. By then, honest meaningful conversation probably won’t work in most cases. And that is why I am horrified at what is happening in Florida. It is a state-sanctioned effort to institutionalize hatred and discrimination by limiting and controlling the information young kids are allowed to access. Not even Hitler did that! Is that where we end up after almost 250 years of our constitutional republic? Sorry for the rant, @gdaniel. You’ve hit a nerve with these last three chapters—wonderful, but God, so painful!

Doreen will some day talk to her husband about David and his friend on the mountain. I hope Pete doesn't draw the connection to the missing Sol Mundy-I fear that would precipitate a lot of grief and an uprising in the Mara that could not possibly end well!😧

I enjoyed this chapter--I had been a little afraid that Will's first conversation with Travis was going to be difficult and emotionally fraught, but he handled it perfectly. But I do hope they get to talk seriously--I want to know that Travis is definitively dumping that Ober-asshole Zach, and then, Mark, you can write him out of the story once and for all! 😄

Beautiful, just beautiful...you cried writing it, and I cried reading it. I remember that first kiss so well, even though it was almost 50 years ago, and you captured both the feeling AND the confusion perfectly!

I loved this story and especially how @Arch Hunterhandled the way each of the young protagonists dealt coming out. It really is a different experience for every one, including for the two partners in this is any relationship. You handled it so well--entirely credible. It was great to see how the respective families came to terms with the relationship as well. Tyler's dad really did stand up for his family -- I hope more and more of the so-called conservatives can follow that lead and learn to a certain the sensuality of their children. Thanks for a wonderful read!

This is such an intriguing story and so well written. I was really impressed by David's quiet but unyielding fortitude as he became a vegan in the face of the opposition of his dad, and by the way he handled those bullies. Zhiv's experience was likely more extreme, and I can hardly wait to hear more of his backstop. The "project" that the animals have conceived and the concept of them 'training' a young human to become their ambassador and explain to others humans the danger we are all in sounds compelling, but somehow, Zhiv does not strike me as the one to succeed in that-- David seems the more likely candidate. It's going to be wonderful seeing this story evolve, and the two young boys along with it. Thank you, @Biff Spork

Wow, I didn't see that ending coming. But perhaps it's for the best. Dwight seemed increasingly unhinged and getting to the place where he'd lurk behind a bush with a crowbar to get his revenge. The law sometimes steps in to take a child out of an abusive home. I wish there were some way for society to step in and take a child out of a poisonous atmosphere of hate and bigotry. I'm pretty sure Dwight didn't become this hateful on his own.

What a beautiful story! An intriguing and utterly unique premise, wonderfully deft, unobtrusive but in-depth development of the two main characters and the perfect end. I loved how you engineered Jase's former home situation so that he could return to Lucas whole-heartedly and without regret. I do so hope, like all the others who have commented, that you give us another story about the two guys bringing up Macy, though I can't imagine how you'll write the story of the teenager who will save the world. But I know you'll find a way! I've enjoyed this like seldom another before it. Bravo!!! And Thank You!!!

I've just started reading this, and I am firmly hooked! I can't really imagine how a person in 'Jason's" situation would feel, but having read this chapter, I feel that I don't have to imagine it-- you've described it perfectly. It's wonderful how you describe all his uncertainties and frustrations and convey his powerful emotions, all the while the slate of his character and background completely clear. Bravo! I will read in eager anticipation of the Twists to be revealed!

"Slicky Coolplums"--sheer genius! Matty seems to be really quick thinking on his feet and staying cool under pressure. But will that be enough when Rusty rolls out his trap? Slicky has to reel Rusty in before Matty reveals his true identity, I think. Things are getting real interesting ! Great Chapter!!!!

I'm in a bit of a quandary--I can't decide which relationship I enjoy reading about more: Rusty and his roommates and the way they're always ribbing each other; or Matty and Zoey, who I think really deserves to star in her own story! She's hilarious. Honestly, I'm enjoying this story even more than I did GGDDBB at a similar stage! BRAVO !!!!!

"Shurleen/Marcus was a wonderful, entirely unanticipated twist, and I really enjoyed his you described Gerald/Bumper reaction. The whole dynamic of the story just shifted gear.. can't wait for the next chapter!

Matt's parents seem to be always asking themselves if they missed something and it almost sounds as if they say to themselves, "oh yeah, we did miss something and now we see that's why all this bad stuff happened and we didn't do anything to prevent any of it or to deal properly with the aftermath, our bad, it's because we missed it "! They 'thought' something was off when they saw Jonah coming out of Nathan's room but didn't follow up, and look at how horribly if affected Nathan and all his relationships!!!! It's actually outrageous that they have been so continuously oblivious and the consequences f that oblivion are so MASSIVE!!!! Matt and Nathan will do much better out from under them and being with someone who actually has the time and inclination to pay attention to what is going on with them.

Can't fight the impression that Terik engineered this entire thing so she could get into a human body...she surely wasn't looking out for Vinnie and it seems he was set to lose the match-up against Stefano from the start. Well, I suppose this is an effective way to end the series. That burning interest in the next installment of Vinnie's life is seeping away. But it was a great ride while it lasted!!! Thanks for all the hours of chills and thrills and great entertainment!

I really hope that Will and Travis get together and leave Zach to sort out his stuff all on his own. His self-absorption is well-established, but his ting to Will about why he is blowing off their telephone date—well, it was entirely unnecessary and very revealing of his character. He can’t be trusted, and that leads me to question Will’s judgment (“ I trust both of you”). Who knows whom else Zach has been cavorting with! Why should he be trusted if he lies to Will for no apparent reason, even as Will is being upfront with him. Will should ask himself though, why he is so attracted to Travis even with Zach RIGHT THERE! For me that is indicative, and he should just open his eyes and just finally end it with Zach.

I ask myself thr same question about why Will puts up with all of Zach's shit. Yes, of course, he loves him, but still... well, maybe it's just that he wants to have his fun while still young and unattached, and it would be hypocritical in the extreme to want to deny Zach the same privilege. More bluntly, zi doubt Will is capable of a committed relationship, at least now,and Zach is perfect for that. His being so deeply in the loset means Will has an iron-clad hall pass to be as sluggish as he wants. Whatever, I see little point in trying to invest myself in Will-he is what he is.

I agree!!!!! I am hoping there is to be more of Shay's story, but somewhere inside, I'm warning myself to be careful what I wish for...you've come pretty darn close to perfection with this story. How much more perfection would I be able to absorb? But seriously, PLEASE keep it up!!! You have given me, all of your readers, so much enjoyment through your stories. My heartfelt thanks to you!

This chapter made glaringly clear the nastiness of Zach's self absorption, but also shows his relationship to Taylor in a different light. I just wish Will hadn't been so shitfaced during the party and could have recognized what Zach's jealousy really means. There is no future with that asshole and I really hope Will wakes up soon and just moves on already!! I often ask myself if Will's continuing sluttiness is not in part his way of unconsciously numbing himself to Zach's bullshit.

I can't wait either. Rusty's probably won over Mr. Hamilton with a pithy remark or two about how much of cool dude who can really cook Jonathan is, and Mrs. Hamilton by singing a short sweet ballad!😇

I entirely agree with you about Zach. For a while, sometime back, I sort of hoped that Will was starting to realize that his relationship with Zach was an inevitable dead-end and was starting to move on. But it seems he can't. Zach has his hidden fuck-buddy at college, and that's exactly how he wants it. I just wish Will would wake up and realize that, in the end, that is the role he, Will Schluter, will have in Zach's life, whatever protestations of love Zach may give off.

I agree entirely with your sentiment about Zach. He will not make Will his priority, ever, and as pai ful as it is, Will needs to cut those strings and move on. He's floating from one empty hookup to the next, and denying himself the chance to get into a relationship of any conditions structure kind, not because he doesn't want a relationship but because he is still hoping Zach will come round. At times I almost feel sorry for Will, but mostly I don't. He's as blind in matters of Zach and as set in his unconstructive ways as his father is in his own relationships, jncluding this latest one with Jake.

A VERY elegant solution to the Colt problem at the hands of Shivay’s mother, and to the problem of Shivay’s mother, at her own hand. That made it possible for all, except “Mommy Dearest” to extricate themselves with honor from a nasty situation. This has really been more than worth the long and uncertain wait of a few months ago . Well done! Of course, now we are waiting with bated breath to see what the Gods have in store for Sikh and Charlie!

Me too, Grumpy Bear. I was so afraid that something really serious had happened to you. I’m pleased to hear that things have been going okay for you. I’m thrilled to have this story start up again—it’s been fascinating, and this chapter only has me anxious for more!!! Welcome Back!!!

I have real sympathy for what you're saying here. I get it. I also think Jay had always gots it. He always understood how heavy a lift this would be for Loren, and he also says that's why he is not pushing the " marriage and kids" thing. He might even have been willing to have a discussion about the "moving in together" thing, except Loren got all nasty on him, shut him down, and effectively made clear to Jay that Loren is not even thi king about compromise on any of the things that are really important to Jay. Loren is not thinking about Jay at all. I really think it is Loren's self-absorption that's at fault here. Did he really think one can be with another and not take that other into account? Sounds strange, but obviously he did. Not once, not one single time, in this whole painful chapter did Loren try to understand how Jay might be feeling, and WHY he is that upset. That's probably why he comes up with all these grand gestures that don't respond at all to what is plaguing Jay, and thus he keeps getting sent home. That epiphany is going to have to come from outside of himself. I'm curious to see in the next chapter where exactly it comes from. His friends have hinted and pointed, but maybe he still hasn't really understood what the issue is. Let's hope I'm wrong. We'll see on Monday. Mrsgnomie, there is no better testimony to your skill and mastery than to see how you've got us all so wrapped up in these personalities and their foibles. And so I will take this opportunity to suggest, most humbly, of course, that poor Loren can't possibly come to the place he needs to be to save his relationship with Jay in just one or two more chapters. He'll need at least ten more. 😉

All along, Loren hasn't really been willing to consider changing anything about the structure of his life. We all noticed how Jay brought Loren into his professional life and made him a central factor in his decisionmaking leading up to his retirement. Loren, by contrast, repurposes his "link" to Jay to fit into his career, broadly unchanged (i have to call it a "link" because based on what we just read, Loren doesn't seem willing to consider it explicitly as a "relationship" because that would open the door to all kinds of other unpleasant implications). I hope Loren does not wait too long to fix things. This is the kind of realization that could drive Jay away, where all of Loren's other idiosyncrasies didn't, because it has demonstrated that Loren is in very different than Jay on some REALLY important issues. And those issues are about the outward sign of commitment to THEM that Jay needs, but Loren seems still to be afraid of.