CincyKris

Instead of pointing out how stupid most of these teens are acting, which is unfortunately a realistic portrayal, I will ask again, where is Dr. Gavin?! Dad, Chris, and Nathan need to sit down and communicate. Before any of them go off the rails, the others need to intervene and call the doc. Being a teenager is enough of a challenge without severe mental health issues, it's a wonder any of us make it out intact!

I was expecting a "correction" to Nathan's great mood, but was surprised at the sudden switch. His admission of love (probably should have said it first to Corey instead of his mom), sent him into a tailspin. I hope that Corey doesn't start shrinking back into himself. Gavin ... where are you?!

Yesterday I saw a commercial on TV which featured a young woman with big curly red hair and a long multicolored flowing dress and I yelled "Mrs. Roper"! I loved that show when I was a young teen. If @Summerabbacat can reference old British sitcoms, we can reference old American ones!

This was the one that felt like the "main" story in your Thompsonville tales. It's where all the characters come together as a family. It's been a minute since I read it, so I'm going to really enjoy their antics!

I'm glad that Gordy is not the threat he could have been, no thanks to Jackie. Damien is on his way to being a happy well adjusted, well informed young teen, something that Ludo was denied by his repressed, controlling parents. Perhaps all four of our crew should visit The Garden and Ludo.

This seems like it's going to be a fun story!

Welcome back! Tom seems happy, Mitch is happy. I know you author types sometimes like to mess with us. No one needs killed off!

I like Rym more and more as this chapter progressed. We know that each side possess some magic. It is also confirmed that the humans invaded the Pactrid lands, not the other way around, as Callum and his kind have been told. The Pactrid's long life makes their narrative more likely than the humans' stories. Here are my early guesses, for what it's worth. The humans are living in a military state, the Anberans have dictated the fake story to convince the people to fight their war. The tremendous lack of communication between the two peoples allowed the lies to take hold. The Anberans used their transport ability to move armies to locations they otherwise wouldn't have been able get to while facing a superior army. I'm wondering if the humans are not originally from this world. Did they get stranded centuries ago? Their old technology lost to time?

Knowing Therese's desires, I expect that Dribble is good looking, respectable, very presentable and good at keeping up appearances. It would be a real hoot if he is hiding a little something in his closet!

I couldn't be more impressed with Gus. He is literally saving Ben's life right now. Josh will help if Dr. Gavin can get Ben to unblock his brain. Dr. Gavin sure is a busy guy, Ben just might be his biggest challenge. I'm guessing we saw Nathan prior to his big incident with Corey.

I’m rooting for the pactrids! It sounds as if the humans clearcut the forests that the pactrids live in. This sadly sounds familiar.

George and his entourage are wary of a powerful Caroline, as they should be. But, her power and influence will be less than before. George would be well served to produce a spy (perhaps a servant?) to keep an eye and ear on her. Caroline is smart and is well aware of her lessened influence, she will be on the hunt for people who can help her cause. We have to remember that to destroy George would also destroy her children, she doesn't want that. But she has no sympathies for the entourage.

Ludo is building quite the support system of friends that do not include Jackie, one wonders if she has anyone to fall back on once the shit hits the fan? I love Lesley, she brings a fun outgoing personality to their group, sounds like Dot will be a hit with Damien. I'm still guessing that Jackie's intrigue will involve money laundering. Hmm, maybe she has some association with dodgy art smuggling!

This chapter reminded me of a suspense movie, where we all know the secret but the main character is in the dark. His defense mechanisms are operating on overdrive just to keep Ben afloat.

Just for @Summerabbacat, could you pretty-please work in some sort of illegal trafficking to Jackie's job intrigue? It would make him so happy, and via his comment, we would be overjoyed as well.

I'm with @pvtguy on this one, Therese seemed somewhat supportive. She griped, of course, but wasn't dismissive, and agreed to adjusting her schedule. I'm not ready to vote her mother of the year, but I don't think she will be an impediment to Ralph's public coming out. I have a feeling that everyone will take delight in the discomfort and over the top reactions Ralph's parents will broadcast.

I so want the compromise that River worked out in his head, but the problem with that is the two are not operating on remotely even levels. River, and most people, are assuming that your day will go by without getting physically attacked. Kenji lives in a business business world where he might be killed at any time. It seems that Kenji is going to need to compromise than River.

I liked the tension created by the fast pace. Will Sgt. Adams succeed in training these young recruits to shoot, more importantly will he succeed in secretly shooting more than bullets!

I'm so glad to hear your still writing this and Confounded 3. I'm intrigued by Confounded 4 (2.5?). Take as long as you need to sort the voices in your head, just don't follow any of them into the light!

I just started your current story The Exchange Students and liked your writing. This is an intriguing start, I'm looking forward to meeting John via Ethan. In the past (pre-internet era), truly exceptional people have been allowed to develop somewhat "normally", but now that information is instantly spread worldwide, it would be impossible for a child like this to escape constant world attention.

I eagerly look forward to the delicious Jackie bashing! The couple are currently unhappy roommates, married in name only. It appears from the prologue that we have several chapters of "getting to know you" before we hit the Jackie work mystery. I am very happy with the chance to know the characters before they are deeply conflicted.

That passage was just in time for Halloween and way better than most horror movies! You could feel the dread and "wrongness" Susan was forced to experience. Creepy!

Realistically, a person does not spend almost 2 decades deep in the closet, then suddenly burst out without conflicting emotions. We are seeing that now, but Ralph is taking chances, and that is the most important part. He was fortunate to find a patient almost boyfriend.

There was an all-encompassing tension throughout this chapter. I'm hopeful that River and Kenji do actual bonding, not just "bonding", although that's more fun. I feel that their current relationship is unsustainable. River's shaky mental health is in danger. But, I think that the couple we saw at Alec and Finn's party seemed strong, so I'm really looking forward to finding out how that happens. Edit: I just reread the final chapter of IHTT and discovered that Kenji had yet to arrive at the dinner party. I'm not sure why I remembered it differently. But, River seemed happy, Kenji was due to arrive shortly, and River was sporting some new jewelry and electric hair.

Hmm, sounds like Quinn had a little Napoleon syndrome and over compensated with his mouth. Maybe a crush, too? Kids are dumb. Except for Orion, who sounds like a super-over-achiever. How does Caleb fit into this? I'm looking forward to more.