Graeme

Thanks, @impunity and @CscottyCA. Australia is very much a multicultural society. Historically, when a new cultural group arrives, they tend to stick together and live in the same general area as others from the same cultural group. After a generation or two, the children of those cultures are more integrated into the rest of the Australian community, but the legacy can still live on. For example, there is a part of Melbourne that's well known for it's Italian community, even if the area is no longer considered to be Italian. Currently, the recent ethnic groups that haven't fully integrated yet are those from the war-torn areas of Africa and the Middle East. Warwick was being polite when he used the phrase 'ethnic youths' to indicate that the group that attacked him and his friend were from one of those groups. He didn't say what nationality the youths were from, but given the location, they were most likely to be from the Middle East. The African-born population is more to the south, around Bankstown. Regarding being a black American, Mason hasn't experienced any real racism in Australia yet, and his initial impressions is that the colour of a person's skin isn't a big factor. That's true in the areas that Mason has been in so far, but he may learn that's not universally true at some point depending on where he goes. Australia doesn't have the same history with respect to African-born people as the USA, but it does have a history of racial abuse towards Australian Aborigines. However, there are distinct differences in facial features between people of African descent and Australian Aboriginies. As such, most people who may harbour prejudice against Australian Aborigines will quickly realise that Mason is not an aborigine. Whether they still hold a prejudice after realising that is up to the individual.

Ah...okay. You should know me by know that I don't give everything away. Clarissa has reminded Ty of something. Given the history between Ty and Karen, there are many possible events that he could be remembering at that time. I'm not going to try to decide which it could be Karen is a strong person in her own right, and Ty knows that. Looking after her is something that takes tact, because he knows that he can't stomp on her own independence in the process (remember the incident where he tried to pay for lunch over her objections, back in Leopard Spots? He almost lost her when he did that).

@Timothy M. When a mother thinks her child has been threatened, she's not always going to stop and think. Mandy tolerates Sam, but she hasn't reconciled with him. She accepts Deon's relationship with her ex-husband, but when someone tells her that something bad has happened to Deon, she doesn't immediately reject the idea that Sam was involved. It's sad, but true. Mason didn't tell his father the truth for the same reason everyone else is staying silent: to protect Dave. He knows who the real victim was, but it's not his place to tell others. Mason's relationship with his father (and to a lesser extent, his mother) is still on rocky grounds. He doesn't know the truth, so Mason doesn't know his father is trying to protect him. As is too common, a lack of communication is causing problems in their relationship. As for Jordan, who thinks that what the other teenager said to Jordan is acceptable? Teenage boys are not noted for being pinnacles of virtue, and Richie is a good example of that. We don't know Richie's relationship to Jordan, but I think it's fair to say that he's probably not one of Jordan's closest friends. A teenager, probably 15 or 16 years of age, said something to Jordan, and Jordan reacted. Why did Richie say what he said? Who knows, but it may be a teenager trying his best to look 'cool'... Teenage males are not the best example of calm and rational behaviour, after all.

Hi, @Timothy M. I will reply to your post on chapter 14, but I need a little more time to think about it Okay, regarding Ollie...if he grew up, would he still be the same Ollie? Some people simply never grow up, and Ollie is one of those people. He's loving and affectionate, but being serious is difficult for him. Deon is currently in the 'minor celebrity' category. People know of him. but given the circumtances of his celebrity status, more people will be reluctant to approach him. As for other real-world events, there are few that I've ignored. The Lindt siege in December where two people died (one of which was the gay manager) is one of those events. The Charlie Hedbo shooting is another. I'm sorry, but there is only so much I can include. Regarding why Ty wasn't there to see Deon and Clarissa fly back to Sydney, the simplest explanation is that he has work commitments that prevented him from doing so. He's got a full time job, after all, even if he's got the support of Paddy, he can't do whatever he wants. He'll push the boundaries when it's important, but he's going to see Deon and Clarissa again in March. He probably decided it wasn't worth annoying his club by skipping training and other club activities, just to see them off.

Mason gave an appreciative sniff as he and Ben entered the kitchen with its aroma of fresh pancakes mixed with cooked bacon. “Sleep well?” Oliver smirked at Ben and Mason. “Breakfast will be ready shortly. I’m sure you guys will need to regain some energy after your late-night workout.” “Ollie!” Ben blushed. Mason chuckled, though he felt his face warming, too. “I’m surprised you heard anything. You seemed to be having a late-night workout, too.” Oliver shrugged. “Part of

Dave is already getting counselling from his club's psychologist, but you're right about the other victims. What happened to them can really mess them up. I once knew someone who had a lot of problems because of something that had been done to them as a kid Deon is going to have some dramas for awhile, but most people won't know what to say to him, so that should keep things relatively calm after the initial hysteria. As for Ben and Mason, yes, living in two different cities will be tough, especially when one of the pair is trying to stay in the closet. Thank you!

Sam and his partner, Marcus, were just finishing breakfast when Sam’s phone rang. “Did you know about this? Did you have any idea this might’ve been going on with Deon? Has this got anything to do with why you moved to Sydney?” Sam Bradshaw rocked back at the venomous tone his ex-wife—and mother of his three children—was using. “Mandy, what are you talking about?” “Deon! Everyone’s talking about what happened to him. Did you know?” Sam waved a hand at Marcus to indicate that he w

Hindsight is wonderful... They just didn't expect anyone to post a picture of Deon on the Internet. There are, after all, around 800 AFL players across the country. Deon hasn't even played his first game, yet, so the odds of someone recognising him was pretty low unless the person was also a strong VFLfan (since he was pretty prominent in the VFL grand final).

An astute observation It makes you wonder how much time she's ever spent alone... One thing we don't know is how big her family is. If she has a lot of siblings or close neighborhood friends, it may be she hasn't had much experience with extended time by herself.

Yeah, but he doesn't know that. Happily, for his parents, AFL football barely rates a mention in the USA, so the number of people in America who will hear about this story is fairly low. At least for now... If you're referring to when he's waiting to testify, they're in a semi-private area. There's no one else mentioned being there. To get into the building, you need to pass through security, which will keep out a lot of people. Normally, that would still allow a lot of people through, but given who is testifying, they probably had additional security in that part of the building to make sure only those directly involved with the trial could approach. Neil's a bit like Deon in that respect. He was there when Dave had his breakdown, so he's very cautious when it comes to who he could tell. After all, he didn't even tell Liam! LOL, no offense taken, @shyboy85. Clarissa is a complex character. She cares about people, but maintains an abrasive exterior to protect herself. When she's worried or concern, she tends to become more abrasive as her way of dealing with the pressure. That's unpleasant for those around her and she definitely needs to learn a new coping mechanism, but that's her. If you compare her in this story to her in Leopard Spots, you'll notice that she's more abrasive in this story than in that one. This is why. She's not perfect. She's also not possessive. She understands that football takes the number one spot in Deon's life, but she's afraid she's a distant second, not a close second. Despite that, she's still trying to maintain a relationship with Deon. She's not giving up. Having said all of that, yes, she really does need to grow up...and she is. By moving to Sydney, she's much more alone now than she ever has been in the past, and that has a tendency to mature a person. She's only been in Sydney for a few weeks, but while the move has been exacerbrating her behaviour, it's also been changing her. There's one small sign in this chapter of that process: she apologised to Deon for her behaviour and acknowledged that he was right to be reticient in saying anything. The old Clarissa would never have done that.

Thanks, @Timothy M. Unfortunately, I can't post any faster. My work commitments means I'm not staying as far ahead as I'd like. As for the court case, it's more likely procedural matters (probably started by the defense team) delayed the start of testimonies by the prosecution witnesses.

Mason zipped up his light jacket as he left the hotel lobby and stepped outside. “Is it always this cold in Melbourne?” “Not usually in January.” Clarissa glanced up at the overcast sky. “But that’s Melbourne for you. Don’t rely on the weather being consistent, because you’ll always be disappointed.” She smiled. “At least it’s not raining like it was yesterday.” “Yeah, but Saturday back in Sydney was nice and hot. Here…” Mason gave a mock shiver. It wasn’t as bad as he made out, but he h

Scott certainly has grown up. The part that drove that home to me was when he tried to talk up Alex's and David's accomplishments in that first game. As he reflected later, he was the center of attention again, but this time he was trying to push at least some of the spotlight onto others...and was doing so because he thought they deserved it. That is so different from the old Scott it's almost unbelievable. It's a tribute to @Ronyx's writing skills that it's totally believable. A young man, desperate for attention and affection, is finally receiving both in the right way and for the right reasons.

Well, we know what's going on with David, Alex and Scott, but I'm still curious as to what's going on with Devin. He and David appear to have had words, though it's possible that Devin has simply observed Scott's attraction to David and is reacting negatively due to jealousy and disappointment. We can see Devin shutting Scott out, but we still don't know exactly why. One curious point, for me, is the change in Scott. It appears he's willing to give up on David (or at least postpone any possible relationship) until the situation with Devin is resolved. That's not the old Scott. The old Scott never thought about others' wellbeing, or what was best for someone else. He certainly would never have sacrificed something he wanted to help someone else. That's a big change and a big improvement!

Scott certainly has fallen into an alternate universe. From a homophobic world where he has to be a bully to hide his secrets, he's in a world where two guys -- brothers, even -- are now fighting for his attention. But I agree with @tesao, in that David is after a sex partner, while Devin is looking for an affection partner (a.k.a. a boyfriend). Scott appears to recognise the difference, but who knows whether it'll be his heart or hormones that win out in the end.

While it may not be in the story, it's reasonable to assume that the Leopards talk to each other. We already know that Deon has been left out of things to some extent (the epilogue of Leopard Hunt shows that, with respect to Todd's upcoming wedding), but if he's involved, it's probable that he's been told that all the other former Leopards who are now with AFL clubs will be there. Of course, they're all based in Melbourne, so it's easier for them. Has Deon (or Charlie and Ty) thought through all the consequences? That remains to be seen... I wouldn't say expressing an interest in Ben's career is stalking. Andrew doesn't know that Ben doesn't want him there. Remember, while VFL players are not celebrities like AFL players, they're only one level below them. For someone who is a keen follower of football (shown by his interest in having a photo with a celebrity football player), having an interest in someone playing at the VFL level is quite reasonable. If Ben didn't have somethig to hide, it wouldn't be an issue. Contraceptives and family planning isn't an issue at most churches I know. Abortion is still a touchy subject though, regardless of religious (or non-religous) affiliation. That's a legacy of past progress. An exemption for religious schools (which are all private schools) was necessary at the time to allow broader anti-discrimination laws to pass. Now that society has progressed, we're in a position to remove that exemption. Even so, I know there will be a lot of pushback on the subject so I won't guarantee that it'll be repealed, even with both sides of politics being in general agreement (with a subset in both major parties being against the idea).

@Bft I think your comment about Clarissa qualifies as an understatement.... As for Andrew, I will let you make up your own mi d.

Please, @Timothy M., we both know you've hacked into my computer and read the chapters before everyone else. It's the only way you can right so often... What's creepy about wanting to get to know his prospective brother-in-law, especially since said brother-in-law will be living close by? As for the episode with Jim, from Andrew's perspective, Jim is both a celebrity and an AFL football player. That fact that he's gay isn't important. Isn't that the way it should be? Yes, there is religious-based homophobia in Australia, but in my experience the majority of Australians, including those who consider themselves to be religious, are not particularly homophobic. Andrew is an example of such. Indeed, there were many churches during the recent survey on same-sex marriage that were prominent in campaigning to allow same-sex marriage, even if the 'official' stance of that denomination was against. In short, there are many gay-friendly churches, including Anglican and Catholic churches, so being religious in Australia is by no means an automatic indicator of homophobia.

Clarissa stared at the paper ticket that the Qantas self-serve, check-in machine had printed off and then glared at Mason. “Business class?” Mason shrugged. “Apparently, there’s no first class for flights between Sydney and Melbourne, so business class was the best I could do.” He gave her a cheeky half-smile. “And before you ask, I don’t think I would’ve gotten away with chartering a private jet for the trip. The ‘rents aren’t that oblivious.” “Even business class is too much!” She

Scott has half-promised to tell David about his history, or at least part of it. I wonder if he'll keep that promise, and how much he tells? At least he's now got an outlet for his anger and frustration. Protecting Devin looks like it may keep him busy in that respect!

I like how Scott reacted instinctively to Devin when they first met, in that he acted just like he would have in California. He didn't think, he immediately took an offensive position and called the other guy a fag. That shows how much he still has to learn. The ending also shows how much he still has to learn. While it's a start, Just because Devin grinned and shook his hand doesn't make Devin a friend. Devin is giving Scott a chance to be a friend, but Scott doesn't know enough to understand the distinction. Scott is still emotionally inexperienced when it comes to friendship and is in danger of making mistakes as a consequence. I hope it all works out, but I won't be surprised if Scott makes a few missteps along the way.

You'll learn more about Eve's boyfriend in later chapters. As a hint, though, not everyone is a stereotype...

I found it interesting how quickly Scott's aunt blamed his mother for his problems. At least one person on that side of the family understands the concept of compassion, and she's clearly taught her son the same. Scott still has a long way to go before he's healed and reformed, but it looks like he's on the right track. School will be the next big challenge for him, because it'll be so easy to fall back into a familiar destructive pattern of behaviour....

I suppose I had been aware in the back of my mind, but this chapter brought home something about Scott that I hadn't consciously realised before. Scott was emotionally starved. And when a starving person find sustenance, they latch onto it. In California, the sustenance was the sense of power he achieved through bullying, and the respect of his peers for being the leader of the pack of bullies. In Arkansas, it's Alex, starting with the hug, and then leading through to the breakdown on the way home. In California, the emotional sustenance was negative and corrupting. So far, in Arkansas the emotional sustenance has been positive and sustaining. Let's hope that continues.

You are correct. I was describing it from the perspective of Ben's father, not describing reality.