Summerabbacat

A darts board?

My initial comment was way bitchier @Seraph28, but even I thought it was just a little too mean, but now I just have to to say it in response to your amusing comment. Noah is apparently not front-end loaded either according to Nick's observation. Toni is a goddess.

OMG that is soooooooooo cute @Ticklishboy30, almost as cute as my youngest, Missy.

Given the age of the subject do you think it could be considered an antique @drsawzall?

Just so long as they do not discover a painting or a blown up black and white photograph of Venetia Murray "in the altogether".

Given the following observation of Noah by Nick, there would be very little for you to whop @Seraph28: "Noah was on top; I watched as his small butt cheeks clenched as he grinded hard against the guy on the bottom. I almost threw up in my mouth." As our much loved Toni Braxton so eloquently vocalised:

It is almost as if Noah was wanting to be caught in a compromising position @Altimexis given the timing of his indiscretion. Either that, or Noah is even more arrogant than I thought him to be, believing he could have his cake and eat it too because he is so desirable and irresistible. He had treated Nick poorly before, on more than one occasion, and was able to con him into giving him another chance, and perhaps he thought he could do so again. And given Nick's thoughts below, I have to wonder if Noah may have been able to con Nick yet again had it not been for the fact Nick had just been so cruel to Jack: "And worse? Worse than all of it? Even as I watched Noah arch his back under another boy’s hands, even as I stood there humiliated and betrayed, I still thought he looked beautiful. And I was even getting hard. My stomach turned."

Only one error @KKirk, and a minor one at that. I did not occur to me that the A in APD stood for Albuquerque rather than Arizona.

Well Linda, What's Up? What You Waiting For? Get The Party Started.

Is that from a movie @Cane23?

Does that mean anyone who crosses him from now on will be "toast" @Cane23?

I have only just realised the boys have moved from Clinton, New Jersey, to Clinton, Tennessee. And I am not blonde.

Porn magazines? Aunt Marjorie? A litter of kittens of Moggie's?

No, I don't think Caleb murdered Ira @Seraph28, and I still cannot believe Ira was not beating Caleb either, but if he wasn't, who was? I cannot imagine Caleb was able to harm himself in such a manner that it appeared his father had beaten him. I have to say, @Josh Aterovis, the Baltimore Bamboozler has struck again. When all is revealed we will likely kick ourselves (figuratively of course), and wonder how we did not notice the clues he had given us as to the identity of the murderer.

And they are far more interesting than those two horrid families who cannot be named, who appeared in TV programmes about themselves and have made millions/billions from self-promotion.

I guess it helps to be the author AND have an exceptional memory (or some type of e-record of all these important facts at your fingertips).

I don't recall that Marie-Louise had asthma @Lee Wilson, so I assume she may have had some type of cancer which made her immune to the chemical leak which killed millions. If she has had cancer then she may have been rendered infertile. Given her careless attitude towards sex, this would be highly desirable as she is clearly unfit to have children, at least at present.

You have forgotten @Seraph28 that it was Killian who ended their relationship, not Arsehair. I must say I had not thought Killian was trying to hurt Arsehair in any way, I thought he was as he stated to Seth, trying to keep Arsehair informed of progress made in the case that he, Arsehair, had begged him to take on. It appears after the revelations of the last two chapters that Caleb has perhaps been stringing Arsehair, Marco and Finnegan along, and may have orchestrated the biggest con of all, faking his father was beating him. This I still find very hard to believe, unless he was harming himself.

Well colour me surprised? Is it possible Caleb had everyone fooled into thinking his father was beating him? If he was not beaten by Ira, how did he manage to fool neighbours such as Todd and Paige Haynes? And for what reason would he pretend he was being beaten by his father? Rachel and Nadine both confirmed Ira was a mean sonofabitch and his parents did not think favourably of him, so it is certainly believable he was beating Caleb. If he was not beating Caleb, I wonder if he was sexually abusing him? If neither, is it possible Caleb is the murderer after all? A single red herring has become a school, and not just one school @Josh Aterovis, but what I believe you Americans refer to as elementary, middle and high school. Mud is clearer than my brain after this chapter, my speculation(s) lay in tatters, discarded like Caleb's used condoms.

His time has not necessarily been wasted @Seraph28 if he learns something from it. He has already expressed to himself all the doubts he had which he realises he should have paid heed to instead of dismissing. If he learns to trust himself more he will have learned a valuable lesson.

I must say I finally lost my patience with Nick in this chapter even before he accused Jack of not inviting Noah to his party. After the accusation was made and Nick was on his way to Noah's room I suspected, and sincerely hoped, Nick would find Noah in the compromising position he found him in. I am glad Nick has been hurt by Noah as it is the only way he was ever going to believe what many of us thought, Noah is smarmy and not to be trusted (and you don't have egg on your face @Seraph28, you clearly are a person who likes to give your fellow humans the benefit of the doubt and believe they are essentially good, whilst I am invariably the polar opposite). I foolishly thought, as did many of my fellow readers, Nick had realised Jack was the one who treasured him, but clearly he was still wearing his rose coloured blinkers (not glasses in his case, but fucking blinkers). It seems Mama Kincaid's wise words meant something entirely different to Nick than what they did to me and many of my fellow readers. It is time for Nick to put his big boy pants on now he has "celebrated" his 15th birthday (and if he moans one more time about his friends caring enough about him to organise a surprise birthday party for him I hope someone slaps him). He needs to apologise to Jack in particular, grovel and beg his forgiveness, not go running home to Mummy and Mr Bojangles, but seriously grovel. As for Noah, Nick needs to ERASE him from his life completely. A riveting chapter @LittleBuddhaTW, one which will have devastating after effects, one which will set the tone for the duration of the story I sense.

Perhaps Vince could donate some of the furniture, if suitable and with Gray's agreement, to the Horniman Centre or Sandra and Matt may be able to use some. There is some merit in what Peter said that there may be some valuable, or perhaps some embarrassing, furniture or personal items buried in amongst the junk in the two rooms upstairs. Maybe some love letters from MacDonald Philpott to a secret lover, or from his father to a secret lover. Who knows MacDonald or his father may not have been as straight as thought, maybe Gray and now Vince aren't the only gay male Philpott family members. Or perhaps there is information about Aunt Marjorie, a scandalous affair or mistreatment by MacDonald or his father. Intriguing chapter @Robert Hugill. I cannot help but feel that something scandalous or unpleasant will be revealed about MacDonald Philpott or his father when the two rooms upstairs are cleared of their surplus furniture and assorted bric-a-brac.

Sweet, innocent, demure Calvin? Was that just an act or has he undergone significant and rapid character growth, his sexual assertiveness increasing with an increase in confidence of his desirability? I am beginning to think he may have "used" Jordan, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to make Alan jealous, which appears to have worked. His flirtation with Brady is likely to ramp up Alan's jealousy and possessiveness even more, unless Alan partakes of a little or more "beef" at the party. The party appears to be very well organised and regulated, with health checks of both the workers and the party attendees, payment of workers regulated, and a police presence in Brady. Trevor's warning about not engaging in any activities which could be construed as prostitution and Brady's warning about taking illegal drugs, further indication of a well organised and regulated event. I have looked at a USA map online @KKirk and note New Mexico and Arizona are neighbouring states. Am I correct in assuming Albuquerque must be within a couple of hours drive of the Arizona border given both Billy and Brady work for the Arizona Public Service and Arizona Police Department (?) respectively?

If I were a betting man I would bet you are "on the money" @Philippe, but I think he will do it for himself more than anyone else, or is that my wishful thinking.

My learned fellow readers have already offered their "two bobs worth" or more in some instances, and raised some very salient points. The only comment I can offer which I don't believe anyone else has raised is that, I do not think we should underestimate Dallas' mother. It appears his father is not going to take the news of a relationship between his son and JJ well at all, in contrast to his mother who is not only unfazed by the prospect of a relationship, but is fully supportive of it, is rather delighted in fact. She strikes me thus far as a woman who is capable of holding her own, and if need be will not shy from challenging her husband's beliefs if they are at odds with hers. If push comes to shove, I strongly suspect Dallas' mother will support him, even if it costs her her marriage. Another sterling effort @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I sense a relationship between JJ and Dallas may have an impact on the relationship between Dallas' parents, perhaps lending another interpretation of Beyond Salvation.