Summerabbacat

Have we just met the killer, the killer who despised Ira for his treatment of his son, the killer who was angry with Caleb because he felt used by him, used because his feelings for Caleb go far deeper than the "friends with benefits" it appears Caleb thought was the extent of their friendship/relationship, the killer who wants to punish Caleb for not having deeper feelings for him. The dinner with Judy and Jake did not go well. It appears Jake has "loosened up" considerably since he and Judy moved to California. Drugs and random sex apparently his closest companions, just as Judy suspects. Another chapter seemingly awash with those red herrings @Josh Aterovis, raising more questions than providing answers. Finnegan Byrnes is a puzzle, much like Caleb himself. Is the reason he is reluctant to go to the police to clear Caleb's name because he is the killer and he wants to frame Caleb for the murder? I shall have to be patient to find out the answer(s).

Gavin's wise words of counsel helped Rory's self-confidence immeasurably, and appear to have taken seed in his mind for how he may choose to live his life. What a shame he does not have a similar relationship, or any relationship for that matter, with his own father. One of your cleverest and funniest descriptions of male swimwear/underwear in any story to date @Robert Hugill: "..... and when Jason appeared his bits were hidden by a smear of fabric across his thigh, leaving a lot of hair open to the air." You explore family relationships in all their forms so well @Robert Hugill, and this one is no exception. Well done as usual.

The B-side of the single One Of Us, one of many masterful B-sides - remember Happy Hawaii, the B-side of Knowing Me, Knowing You, and of course, Rock Me which was the B-side of I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, which was flipped and became a hit in its own right (#4 and 28 weeks on the chart, a bit like A Good Place for longevity which was #2 last week).

Pleasing to see you back online and making your comments @Al Norris. If Dallas ignores Timmy when they return to school that will probably cause Timmy more upset than anything else. He may find himself on the outer I suspect.

I did too @KKirk and am still very fond of them. Fortunately we did not experience the anti-disco backlash that infected the USA in the early 1980's. Can't Stop The Music, album, single and movie, were amongst the biggest hits of the year in Australia in 1980; and disco, renamed but essentially the same, soldiered on and continues to be popular.

The word is out, Dallas has more in common with JJ than anyone, including JJ, would ever have believed. Dallas appears resolute with his statement he wants a relationship with JJ which is more than just friendship, but he has some catching up to do. No one knows he has same sex attraction, and amongst his friends this will not be popular. We also don't know how his parents will react, particularly given he appears to be any only child. His mother may have some idea given she is still friends with JJ's mother, and they both perhaps had some suspicion of their sons' feelings for each other, but his father is an unknown quantity. Understandably, JJ is concerned Dallas may ultimately decide it is all too hard to have a relationship with JJ, even though he has stated his determination will ensure this happens. Tough times ahead for both boys. JJ has the advantage of supportive friends, and a surprisingly supportive brother. Realistically and charmingly written @Mark Ponyboy Peters. JJ and Dallas live in town about the size of the one I grew up in in the 1970's/early 1980's, a town in which news will travel fast, with or without the participation of those fuddy duddies.

"As Connor reached for the keys and started the car I looked down at my AC/DC t-shirt and daggy jeans, not knowing if I should laugh or cry." Fabulous Frida, summing up JJ's dilemma with a beautifully accented Nordic vocal.

All three of them I predict @drsawzall. It seems the man in uniform may have short circuited Calvin's memory, in addition to his nether regions. Alan who? Jordan who?

Whilst it was not quite a snogfest @Laura S. Fox it was, to quote Kim from an Aussie classic Kath & Kim, a serious pash. Danny's kisses = an elixir, or in this case, an "elixim", and he can go on licking him time and time again without any objection from Ryder. Danny's healing powers will heal his father-in-law who is going to have to do some serious butt-kissing upon being restored to full health; if he does not his mate, Harper, may well become Harpy, as she is clearly already a Danny fan. I can only but shudder to think what may transpire if he does not; hell hath no fury like a wolfshifter woman scorned? Jack may have found a new object of desire and affection, the cute young puppy named Meryl. The question to be answered here of course, does Meryl have the ability to speak with a multitude of non-English accents and can he sing? Clearly the latter is not necessary, but the former is if he is to live up to his name. Jack's cards may know the answer, or perhaps his cards do not predict anything for himself, only for others. And what of Theodore and Vince? Where have they gotten to, and was it by choice? Have they wandered off to do some "eliximing" of their own, on each other no less? This song posted in celebration of Danny's newly discovered powers, sung by @drsawzall's fellow Massachusite.

Brilliant synopsis @drsawzall. I would add just one further point: Noah is in love with Noah and cannot understand how Nick can resist his "charms", which in his eyes are many. I know he is only 14 and is the product of his parents, but I don't like him and I don't have any sympathy for him.

I was just reading that the "inspiration" for Jolene was a bank teller who used to flirt with Carl when he and Dolly first got married. 58 years married.

Hopefully she slapped that f'ing bitch Jolene into the middle of next week. F'ing ho trying to steal Dolly's man. Dolly may be a Backwoods Barbie, but she ain't no slut.

Blunt and rusted?

Happy 70th birthday to Kermit, an environmental warrior and all round nice guy.

Thank you @Ticklishboy30 for not being "frightened" to introduce not only one, but three stereotypes, in the shape of the Jenkins family, and for then treating them with the disdain they warrant. There is perhaps some hope for Darren if he ever escapes the clutches of the odious Buck 'n' Babs (love those names too), although at present there appears to be nothing to motivate him to question their beliefs. I found this stated belief of the senior Jenkins' particularly amusing "they wholeheartedly believed that their boy should've been born the son of God instead of Jesus, a man they considered to be a bleeding heart, liberal democrat." I daresay they may be god fearin', gun totin', animal killin', knuckle draggin' flat-earthers. Mega-MAGA maggots. Mickey, Raven, Airen and Cody no doubt won the respect of many of their classmates by challenging and taking down Darren. I doubt he will go away quietly and lick his wounds though. Buck 'n' Babs will be at the school pronto demanding the "little faggot" who "beat up" their boy be punished. I dare say Darren himself may be punished for allowing himself to be bested, and when Buck 'n' Babs find out he was bested by a "minority," life might be hell for him. Being beaten by Buck 'n' Babs might be his only chance for escape. I think even Dolly Rebecca Parton would have difficulty finding anything likeable about Buck 'n' Babs @Ticklishboy30, and she is normally so forgiving and kind. She may even utter an expletive to describe one and/or the other. Imagine DRP saying fuck?

Welcome back @empath; you have been missed. I wonder what you have in store for Lawon as I feel there is another much deeper story there begging to be told. Perhaps he too could benefit from meeting the professionals and/or the boys from Liberty Academy, or a friendship with Henry. A friendship with the latter would likely be of as much benefit to Henry as it would Lawon, and would seem a "natural" friendship given their brothers, both of whom are adored by their younger siblings, are lovers, and hopefully remain so now that Angelica has been clued up to the true nature of their relationship. Lawon's reverence for Teyshawn is both beautiful and tragically sad; beautiful that the boys have such a close connection, tragically sad as the close connection seems to have largely been forged by the death of Tuck and sustained by the sense of hopelessness both boys have felt and continue to feel because of the circumstances of their lives. Profound and devastating @empath; two of your specialties.

A great idea @wallycleaver. I do like the way you think.

Wow, that was a quickie @Lee Wilson, a little like Marie-Louise's sexual interactions with her younger cousin, Todd. Marie-Louise's living with her Uncle, Aunt and cousins is not going to end well. I have my suspicions @Lee Wilson; you may be engineering a relationship between Amy and Ryan. Is it merely coincidental that Amy has just started working for George Sr and Vanessa, and Ryan out of the blue calls and has arranged a visit. A twist of fate perhaps.

Halved?

Adam is forgetful (or maybe it is me), but I assume the girl who picked him up after school was his sister. He mentioned in the previous chapter she is usually his ride home from school. Jayden's behaviour was stupidly risky. He assumed Jamie knew Adam is gay and that he is not a homophobe. He could have placed Adam in danger, and himself as well given he indicated he was going to Pride too. He also embarrassed Adam by not so subtly suggesting Adam is attracted to Jamie. Adam remains an enigma. Like @CincyKris, I cannot reconcile teenage Adam with 35 year old Adam @ChromedOutCortex. I am now beginning to wonder if Jamie might be dead, and that he and Adam did become a couple for a short time before tragedy struck and Jamie was killed.

I hate bullies, and Jack's parents are bullies. They are probably cruel to animals too, and for that alone they should be hung, strung and quartered.

OMG that is soooooooooooooooooooo beautiful @Ticklishboy30.

I don't. Hasta la vista, Noah. He will get over it very quickly. Watch out Danny. Fresh meat with naturally olive skin. Jack's father should be subject to reciprocal treatment, and as for his c#$t of a mother, Jack's wish for her to get clitoral cancer sounds like a fair punishment for her cruelty. Nick should share the photographs of Jack's back with his mother; perhaps she can intervene so that Jack never has to go to California during school holidays to visit his odious parents. Perhaps they might get seriously drunk and drown in their swimming pool or their own vomit, or crash into a tree and their car explode. Accidents do happen from time to time, particularly if the car's brakes have been tampered with.

A cousin of Rudy Giuliani @Gary L?

Light, frothy, camp and very funny @Ticklishboy30. I loved the description of Jack, especially the description in bold "He set the mug on the breakfast bar beside the plate of three raspberry-filled jelly doughnuts, pulled the stool out from under the bar's top surface ledge, and his plump, juicy, leopard print thong-clad ass sat on the padded black seat cover." The absolute highlight of the story must be "After pouring the freshly brewed coffee into his white mug decorated with a photo of Dolly Parton showing off her iconic smile and bust on one side and her name on the other side of the handle". I am not, and never have been a morning person, but to have Ms Dolly smiling at me first thing in the morning might almost put me a in a "cheerful" mood. I have had many pedicures in my life and can relate to the ticklishness of the feet, even having the foot pad excising the dead skin is ticklish.