Summerabbacat

I think Russ enjoyed his afternoon cooking with his nephews, even if they were a little boisterous and argumentative at times. He was reminded of his childhood when he and Con behaved similarly at times. Perhaps a little help from Kate and Cindy would not have gone astray. Russ thrives on filial connections, regardless of whether they are blood family or chosen family. His delight in Toby's recount of his holiday with Deirdre warmed Russ' heart with genuine affection for Toby. Charming as usual @Robert Hugill. Anything which "inspires" a song by The B-52's is a winner in my book.

"Crossing the floor to Danny, Jake placed an arm around his waist and pulled him close. ‘My little domestic goddess,’ he said, before planting a kiss on Danny’s lips." As if it was not enough that Bruce "stole" Real Men Don't Eat Quiche @Mark Ponyboy Peters, Nigella "stole" domestic goddess from Danny. The sheer nerve of these people.

I thought the "sharing" of flatulence amongst the human couple and the canine couple was particularly amusing, demonstrating that farting amongst "friends" is universal, at least in Wilsonlandia, the kingdom "ruled" by @Lee Wilson.

To quote Woody Allen, it doubles his chances of a date on a Friday night if he is bisexual.

@Mark Ponyboy Peters and @weinerdog I did a Google search on Real Men Don't Eat Quiche and found it was the name of a book published in 1982 by an American writer Bruce Feirstein, who is no relation to the mega fabulous Harvey whose family name is spelt Fierstein. I think it was a phrase in Australia before then too @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I loved the song Quiche Lorraine from The B-52's second album, Wild Planet, released in 1980 (Private Idaho was the fantastic single from the album), and I am almost certain quiche lorraine was popular in Australia before that as was the phrase. It sounds like something Paul Hogan may have said on one of his shows released in the 1970's (remember Nigel Lovelace 12 years of age going on 13 @Mark Ponyboy Peters?).

I am still waiting for @Mark Ponyboy Peters to reveal how he came to have the nickname Tugger.

Kris' life has not included the violence prevalent in Dean's life, and he at least has had the benefit of a parent who cares about him, but similarly to Dean's life, Kris' life has not been all sunshine and lollipops. Kris and his mother have done it tough after the death of his father, and the jobs his mother has held have all been low-skilled and low-paying, with no additional benefits or entitlements I imagine. The town in which Kris lives, the same one in which Dean lives, has not yet crushed his spirit entirely, but with an uncertain employment future life is a continuing struggle. Frustration with the present, despair, and fear for the future are all encompassing in Kris' life.

"Nate leaned his head against the cool window and closed his eyes for a moment. He saw Danny’s smile, and Jake’s paint-covered hands. He saw Skye’s pencil holding up her hair, and the creek, cool and inviting. A dingo trotting along a dusty track. And young love taking flight." When The Seventeenth Summer concluded I did not believe another tale from the "pen of the pony" could possibly provoke the plethora of tears which fell on that occasion. I should have known better @Mark Ponyboy Peters, the conclusion of this story certainly matched the emotional impact of The Seventeenth Summer for this @Summerabbacat. 😭😭😭😭😭😭 What a delight to meet up with "old friends" from the past Mark. Golden Syrup (I used to like it on crumpets), Passiona (loved it then in all its fake sweetness, but I doubt I would like it now as it was so fake) and Blue Hills (I remember it well, especially if we were travelling in the car during school holidays). So many songs swirled in my very tired and unsettled brain as I read this chapter, fearing the story was coming to an end, some of which I did not even like in 1977 e.g. A New Kid In Town by the Eagles. Virtually all of these songs were mournful or melancholic, with goodbye rather than see you later the likely outcome. The only one I could think of which suggests a possible see yo later, and one which I adore, features the gorgeous vocals (mostly) of the late Christine McVie. A huge hit for Fleetwood Mac, from Rumours of course, Don't Stop.

Poochie is a bitch in every sense of the word @weinerdog. Yappy, snappy, annoying little mutt. A little millennial princess. Given the difference in size between a Great Dane and a Pekinese I cannot imagine mating between the two would even be possible, but that is a minor "inconvenience" as this is fiction after all. I loved Dane's reference to the male human child as a puppy, most amusing.

Dark is good.

You say tom-a-to and I say tom-ar-to. Well done Ella, or are you Louis?

I have a new speculation @Josh Aterovis. The killer was looking for a photograph which would link him to Paul, the photograph Jake now has in his possession. And who is it that has just opened the front door to Paul's apartment? Jake perhaps? Did I imagine it, or did Tad disclose to Killian on the night they met at Michelangelo's that his full name is Thaddeus? Razi definitely knows more about Paul's death than what he revealed to Killian. I just hope he does not take out his anger on Tad. Killian's "gift" is going to play a crucial part in either catching the killer or stopping the killer from murdering him when he uncovers who the murderer is. Outstanding chapter @Josh Aterovis.

"No more cramming. No more panic spirals. No more nightmares – at least for now. Just me. Just Jack. Just the start of something new. And yet, even as I lay there smiling, a small part of me wondered how long this fragile peace could last." And there he goes again. Nick cannot help himself, catastrophising again before he and Jack have even left Harrison West for the school break. I cannot hold it against him though; it is a hard habit and mindset to break. As many have stated, but clearly Nick has not been listening, he desperately needs one-on-one therapy, and not just medication, to help him. He also needs, as do all the boys, to start eating some decent food. How they possibly could have gotten through all the studying and the exams, eating the usual junk food they eat, is a miracle. It is time to head on home and fully engage in some serious canine cuddling. There is nothing like some Bojangles adoration to boost Nick and Jack, better than any therapy or medication. Let us just hope that Dr Kincaid is going to spend some serious time with the boys before Jack departs for Seattle. And this version is my very favourite.

That must be why Veronica's marriage did not last. Her husband was neither blind nor deaf, both essential to spend any longer with her than "the length of a commercial break.”

I personally think cranky and scornful Gray is still very likeable, in fact, quite endearing and amusing at times in his crankiness. If I am not mistaken the next chapter will be the last. I do hope that one day "the itch" to revisit these wonderful characters arises, and that you find you cannot resist scratching that "itch", an "itch" which will bring great joy to the faithful Hugillites.

"Vince and Peter’s absence gave Matt and I space. But it meant that Vince would not be around during the day on Friday, so I had to be nice to people and talk about my poetry without his help." As impressive as Gray's character growth has been, it is reassuring to have his "young curmudgeon" persona return from time to time. "I was introduced, and a few had ‘serious dignitary’ or ‘pompous prick’ emblazoned across them. I got told more than once what an honour it was for me to be included in the December Art weekend. Really?" Gray still retains a healthy dose of disdain for at least some of his fellow species. I can imagine some serious eye rolling during his mixing with the attendees. Although a relatively short chapter @Robert Hugill, it was entertaining nevertheless. I do appreciate crotchety sneering Gray appearing from time to time still as I can identify so strongly with him. And what of young Matt, what a support he is to Gray, calming his "artistic temperament", adding joy and a sense of purpose to the life of someone who struggles with self-doubt so much of the time. Matt is so much more than Gray's muse now.

I think for now his "vision" is almost exclusively concentrated in his "one-eyed trouser snake", with the two eyes on his face a distant second, at least where Harry is concerned. I am surprised how gullible he is.

Oliver is forgiven by me @Davide, particularly given it was self-realisation he had "messed up" with Mack. I don't know how Grant became Greg in this chapter as I had referred to him as Grant on numerous occasions in comments on the previous chapter. I have corrected my comment as my misnaming characters is one of my "pet dislikes".

You're welcome.

The comments above from @Davide and @chris191070 made me revisit the Prologue, and I am so glad I did as it yielded some "good news". I overlooked a vital piece of information, Dean's father is already gone, has been for years now, hopefully dead, and if not dead, in a facility of some description where he is never able to make contact with Dean again. His father's mental and physical abuse continue to plague Dean though, even in absentia. I wonder if Dean's mother is still alive, and if so has she has ever attempted to reconnect with him and his brother, Marcus, again? She left when he was 10 years old, her parting words "You be strong now, OK". I know it is easy for me to say and to judge, but how did she think she was doing the right thing by leaving him behind. The fact Dean shares an apartment with Marcus indicates they must still have some kind of relationship, although if the description of their apartment in the Prologue is accurate, it does not appear to be a home in which Dean finds solace, contentment or happiness. Misery and torment seem to be the only constants in his life. Another "dark" tale @ChromedOutCortex.

I will acknowledge again that Declan irks me, increasingly so with each chapter. The events of this chapter illustrated beautifully the difference in the attitudes and behaviour of Mack and Declan. Mack’s sexual encounter with Oliver was far more reciprocal and respectful, and without any of the arrogance and conceit displayed by Declan. I also found Mack’s response to Oliver’s question about where do they go to now, hilarious. I realise they are only teenage boys and they all, including Oliver, are only experimenting so I should cut Declan some slack, but I won’t. Grant might be a tougher nut to crack @drsawzall as he may share Oliver’s orientation, or he may be a late bloomer and have no interest in sex of any kind yet, or he may have a physical difference he is embarrassed by. Oliver has made him an offer and I don’t think he will put any pressure on Grant to respond to that offer. Mack indicated an interest in a revisit, which should be relatively easy to arrange given Oliver usually shares Mack’s bed when he sleeps over. Given Declan’s discomfort after their previous encounter, I would be reluctant to repeat it if I was Oliver, even though Declan seemingly was not embarrassed by it when he disclosed it to Grant.

I was laughing at your spoilers disclaimer @Davide, specifically the comment you don’t remember what you thought when you first read this chapter. I have read some stories for a second time and don’t remember entire scenes, so it amuses me when others have a memory lapse too. I was also amused by the length you went to, to explain you did not want to ruin the story for others by commenting on our speculations.

A revenge fantasy of mine @SilentandBroken. Jack is still at Harrison West when Spermie and the Incubator are involved in an horrific car accident. Jack is charged with making a decision of maintaining them on life support. His response “don’t waste their estate; pull the plug”.

I have to confess I have never read any novels about either the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew, the only thing I know about either is that in the 1970's TV shows were made, which I have never seen, starring Shaun Cassidy and Pamela Sue Martin. Favourite Christie novel is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, favourite adaptation is Murder On The Orient Express, although I rather like some of the TV adaptations starring David Suchet as Poirot too. As for Miss Marple, it simply must be Joan Hickson.

His boss is an ungrateful arsehole guilty of wage theft and intimidation, and his father is a violent bully guilty of spousal and child abuse. Life ain't exactly grand for Dean. Death by carbon monoxide poisoning and acute alcohol poisoning would seem a fitting resolution to these two “problems” in Dean's life. And why did his mother leave him behind, knowing what a c u next Tuesday his father was? Could she not have taken him with her?