Summerabbacat

"I looked out of the car; I was bent over, checking under the seats, so my first view was of a pair of long, long slim legs in fancy trainers and long, baggy shorts, burgundy ones. But I am embarrassed to say, what I noticed first was that the said legs were dark skinned. Their owner was, clearly, black. A slim, almost wedge-shaped face, topped by neat curly black hair, a lively pair of eyes, white against his skin but sparkling too, and a huge sparkly earring." Jacob is scorching 🔥🔥🔥. He amused, charmed and delighted. Moggie is a fan, and cats are invariably a good judge of character. Freddie continues to impress with his enquiring mind and lack of pretence. His attitude towards Peter very mature for a boy of his age; he is genuinely pleased his father is happy. His surprise at the kiss between Gray and Matt was cute. Once again @Robert Hugill your description of a new character's physical appearance accompanied by some witty dialogue evoked a strong image, this time its recipient was Jacob. I had an image of Todrick Hall after reading Jacob's interactions with the family, especially with Gray. Just delightful.

LOL @drsawzall. Praise the Lord, Jeff had a come to Jesus moment. I was pleasantly surprised he resisted Lewis' invitation to smoke some weed, particularly when he made the disdainful remark “Fine. Dequan Brown will go with me. Can’t believe you’re less of a man than that fag." Perhaps there really is hope for him yet. Pauline's equating gay men with paedophilic behaviour like that exhibited by Uncle Mark is unfortunately still all too common. It was a disappointing comment, but I was more surprised that she seemed clueless as to what Stephen and Michael might be getting up to behind closed doors. Dr Taylor's method for easing Stephen's guilt, for making him realise Uncle Mark essentially made the choice for him, was very clever.

I am on Team Jordan too like @Seraph28 and @drsawzall. I am also quite cynical and find Alan's alleged change of heart very convenient; it has occurred immediately after Calvin's date with Jordan and Alan's indiscretion with Brandi. At this moment I take everything Alan is saying with a grain of salt. As for Jordan, for the time being I think he will distance himself from Calvin if Calvin is honest enough to tell Jordan what has transpired. I think Alan is using Sex As A Weapon @KKirk. Pat Benatar is not impressed.

I think artful Alan shook his groove thing and any resistance Calvin had disappeared with this dick. Laura Branigan described Calvin's predicament well @drsawzall.

The first peach has been split and the delicious flesh shared by Rick and Randy. Next it will be Randy's turn to sizzle In The Heat Of The Night.

The appearance and scent of man-butt drove Rick and Randy into a feeding frenzy, akin to hyenas devouring their prey. Their "prey" in this instance moaned with joy at being eaten. So far Randy is the only one to Pull Up To The Bumper. The night is but yet young so one can assume by the end of the evening all three will have been turned Upside Down and inside out. You sure know how to sizzle @KKirk.

Alan is so shamelessly manipulative. The salmon cakes, the sugar-free apple pie and the cinnamon flavoured yogurt got the ball rolling, but the bottoming (allegedly for the second time only, yeah right) accompanied with vocals worthy of any hip-hop ho or Raging Stallion porn star “Give me more, babe,” he begged. “I need your cock. Inside.” and “Oh, Cal, fuck me! Fuck me!” was the pièce de résistance, and seemingly Calvin fell for it hook, line and sinker. The ball is in Calvin's court I believe. He is the one who has to decide what he wants, what is important to him. Very intriguing @KKirk.

Well colour me confused. In a scene reminiscent of An American Werewolf In London, it seems the bite from Theodore has hastened Ryder's shift from wolf back to human. I refuse to believe Ryder is dead, as to be so it would ruin @Laura S. Fox's reputation as the Queen Of The HEA. “You wanted to mate with me?” Theodore taunted him. “There. I believe I have marked you for all eternity, alpha.” But what does this mean? Whatever the outcome for Ryder, I still believe Danny holds the key. Bloody (literally) marvellous @Laura S. Fox.

Maybe it was her Canadian accent, or maybe as a "pony" you were frightened by the leopard-print outfit she wore in the video, such that it affected your hearing.

A "shocking" chapter @ChromedOutCortex. The first shock, Keith's balls finally dropped, he emerged from inside his cocoon of ignorance and hatred, and became an adult, who spoke respectfully and appreciatively to his father, displayed some manners and acted in a calm and pleasant manner. It may be a coincidence, but this has only happened since Jon made his first appearance. The second shock was The Ring, moreso Jon's reaction being its recipient. “You’re worried about the age difference,” he said, repeating it softly. “That’s fair. I’ve thought about it too.” That surprised me. “You have?” Jon nodded. “Not in a panicked way. But yeah, I’ve thought about what it means. That one day, I might have to say goodbye to you before I’m ready. That I might have to... carry things alone, later. But you know what else I think about?” I have at times thought Jon lived in a fantasy land, where everything is sunshine and lollipops all the time, and all humans are reasonable and pleasant. The above statement, particularly that in bold text, demonstrated he has a very real grip on reality, he is just a little too annoyingly positive at times. A most enjoyable and moving chapter @ChromedOutCortex. Just for a moment I thought it might be the last one, but it seems not as the status of the story still shows as 'In process'.

Monolith - a large, impersonal political, corporate, or social structure regarded as indivisible and slow to change. The Monolith aka Margaret Scott - a large, corpulent (rather than corporate), structure which is completely resistant to change (rather than slow). The moniker suits her to a 't' I think. I agree with my learned fellow ponyboy fans, @weinerdog and @chris191070, that a visit from the local police to the home of the Monolith is needed to ensure Jess and Michael are able to collect their belongings without harassment or harm. I was somewhat surprised the Monolith was shouting abuse at Jess and Michael, such that the neighbours would likely have heard her children are "guilty" of what she finds shameful and disgusting. She is either an attention seeker or she is far more disturbed than the average happy clapper. I would suggest the police are "armed" with a tranquilliser gun/dart to sedate her if necessary. Shania the soothsayer appeared to have a genuine ability. I am normally very sceptical of such people (apart from @weinerdog), but her "findings" that Tony and Luke are "of the same blood", and that Tony's love is a young man, whose name begins with an A and contains two A's, were very specific. Additionally, she did not fit the stereotype in appearance or name, and did not rely upon tea leaves, tarot cards, crystal balls or any other accoutrement to make her findings. Unlike the quip from the "other" Shania, That Does Impress Me Much. Another fine addition to the "pony collective" @Mark Ponyboy Peters. At this rate you will have more awards than Tony.

@Paladin in my opinion you have a real talent for writing these stories which involve an element of serious crime(s), crime(s) which need to be investigated with absolute attention to detail and process, and maximum discretion and sensitivity towards the victims of the crime(s). This talent was first hinted at in Andre and Chris with the abuse which Oliver suffered and has been fully realised in this story. I particularly like the balance you have achieved with the interviewing process, the arrests, and the court appearances, with sufficient explanation of the process without getting bogged down in minutiae. The overall theme of this chapter was support, support between family members and friends, and support from and to those involved in the investigation of the paedophile ring. The following interaction was for me the highlight of this chapter, one of the defining moments of the whole story (Part 1 and Part 2) to date: “Josh and Daniel playfully interacted as they walked to the car and lifted the board off the roof racks. Almost reverently they returned and carried the board into the workshop. Three brothers reunited.” I wept openly when I read this @Paladin, it was as if I was listening to ABBA’s Voyage for the first time again. A beautiful sentiment. And finally, the “cliff hanger”. I immediately thought the same as @VBlew. Joshua is a virgin and may not be ready to have sex with Olivia yet, and he is scared she may have this expectation of him. Given what Joshua and Daniel have been through it is entirely possible he may have been forced to perform sexual acts with adult females, thus the idea of full penetrative sex with Olivia may not only been scary, but possibly even repugnant.

Is that when you went Stepping Out With Your (My) Baby down the Boulevard Of Broken Dreams @weinerdog?

When reading a superlative tale from the Hugillverse, I am often reminded of Kate Bush, the exceedingly gifted singer/songwriter/musician, who like @Robert Hugill is English, and similarly possesses an extraordinary artistic talent. When reading this latest tale featuring the lives of Brian, his husband Gordon, his son Toby, and the friendship that each has, albeit in different ways, with the delightful "Mr Russ", I often heard the lyric from Kate's wonderful song, Moments Of Pleasure. "And I can hear my mother saying "Every old sock meets an old shoe" Ain't that a great saying?" This tale was a welcome return from these delightful characters, characters who are familiar and comforting because of this familiarity, like a favourite old sock or old shoe, characters who continue to charm, delight and at times surprise. My fellow Hugillite (Robert Hugill fan), @drsawzall, has referred to Robert as the master of the Midlands. Even if this description is not geographically correct (although I am sure the good doctor will have researched this meticulously so it likely is), the sentiment is one with which I wholeheartedly agree. The only disappointment when reading any tale set in the Hugillverse is that they come to an end, although this story is part of the Parborough Chronicles, therefore the characters will feature in other stories. I have loved all your works Robert, but I think this one has been my favourite to date, comforting and familiar like and old sock or an old shoe. It has been a joy to read from start to finish.

And it was not just concern for himself if Mr Russ disappeared from their lives, but concern for his father and Gordon too. He is astonishingly mature at times @centexhairysub and at other times still a young teen. Such a well rounded character, a credit to Brian and Gordon.

I was almost certain her name was Eve @Josh Aterovis. What a shame she did not eat a poisoned apple, one which at least made her very sick.

The picture quality is terrible. Make sure you watch the video to the very end as this is when Burt is hilarious. I must warn you, the video features some calf-roping and other animal "entertainment" which I found abhorrent.

I love Willie's solo version too, and the video clip for it with Burt Reynolds camping it up is hilarious.

In commenting on the previous chapter I speculated Alan may have fucked Trevor too @drsawzall. “I…” He paused while he sucked in a deep breath. “Well, I sort of fucked Brandi.” I snorted. “Sort of?” I stared coldly at him. “You sort of fucked Brandi? Exactly how did you sort of fuck her? It may not have been your intention when you wrote the above @KKirk, but I almost peed myself laughing when Alan made this statement. I had a mental image of Alan and he was about 5 years old; this statement is so ridiculous and childish. And it seemingly came as a surprise to him that he forgot to wear a condom. I have to wonder if maybe Brandi might be "sort of pregnant" after this encounter. If so, she won't be the only one who has been well and truly fucked; Alan's party time will become Daddy time, and he won't be playing the part of the sexual "Daddy". Calvin's role as the bottom in the relationship with Alan took another detour with his responses to Alan's initial attempts to lie and then his feeble excuses. He became Calvin, power bottom, twink top. He reduced Alan to the simpering fool he is. Fantastic chapter @KKirk. A pivotal one for sure, with Calvin emerging strong and victorious and Alan shallow and weak.

As you may have observed @KKirk I love posting music video clips of songs I think appropriate for the chapter I have just read. I do this for many stories and no one has as yet told me to not do so. The rimming is likely to be in the next chapter @chris191070. I expect we shall both feel earth tremors on different sides of the planet when that happens. The rectal richter scale may well be "off the chart". The "heat" generated by this chapter and the sense of sexual adventurousness is surely worthy of a song by the late, great, Donna Summer. Love To Love You Baby and Hot Stuff are obvious choices, but I am going with Now I Need You, a song from her double album, Once Upon A Time. I am loving this light, frothy, ultra-sexy story @KKirk.

I think that is exactly what the boys are counting on @Daddydavek. I foresee (wishful thinking) all three boys individually participating in a Romero Lane sandwich, or better still all three collectively participating in a Romero Lane dogpile. Woof. The best way for the boys to "integrate" their girlfriends into their lives is ....... well there isn't a way. Best thing they could do, when school finishes, is quote a line from the Bay City Rollers biggest hit: Bye, bye baby, baby goodbye (bye baby, baby, bye, bye) I know the boys are not cowboys, but they are from Texas. I think this marvellous remake from the gorgeous Orville Peck and the hilarious Willie Nelson is rather apt for their current relationship: Hot, hot, hot @KKirk. I had to take my glasses off the steam was so prolific.

It struck me again in this chapter @Lee Wilson how easily one can misread a word or a person's name if one associates it with another word or a well know person. Every time Terry Bennett has made an appearance I have read his name as Tony Bennett without even initially realising it. Your Terry Bennett appears to be an unusually broad-minded and deep-thinking jock, but can he sing? It appears Uncle Mario may have scared the bejesus out of Gavin by taking him to visit Brodie, but will it last? To learn he not only forced Ted to blow him, but also raped him anally, paints a picture of an even more despicable person than what Gavin appeared to be. Stephen is deeply troubled by what he did to his Uncle Mark, and for this reason alone I think home-schooling is the best option for him at the moment. I think both he and Leon are going to take quite some time to resolve, or at least learn to live with, their demons. Given the unpleasant events in a number of chapters in this story, it has been remarkably "easy" to read @Lee Wilson. You have not dwelt on the "baddies" for any length of time, eliminating them or at least limiting their damage to the "goodies".

It seems Seth's mother was a self-centred, cold-hearted bitch even before she discovered her husband was gay. I can appreciate she must have been devastated to learn her husband was gay, but she had a responsibility for two other people in her life, her children, both of whom she not only shut out of her life and ignored whilst she had her lengthy pity-party, but to whom she was openly hostile. I may be harsh, but I am so not a fan of her. Her dishonesty, or at least her refusal to discuss with Seth and Kane why their father left or was more likely forced to leave, infuriates me. She has, albeit unknowingly, caused a great deal of grief to Seth because he has blamed himself for the death of his parents' marriage, believing he was the faggot they were talking about when Kane overheard them. Given his mother's reaction to discovering her husband was gay, it is best she is unaware her son is too as she would likely throw him out as well. I was, and still am in two minds reading this story @Josh Aterovis, knowing as I do Seth's eventual fate, however, the chance of reading of another of your works is a temptation I cannot resist. I can already see my dislike of his mother when she appeared in Bleeding Hearts was well justified. Horrible, nasty woman, whom I am going to "enjoy" loathing. She would be right at home in her local chapter of Moms For Liberty.

And their mule was not slaughtered either @drpaladin, which greatly surprised me. Non-human animals are so often the silent and innocent victims of war too, but are rarely given any thought. A very restrained and well written chapter @E K Stokes. You were able to foster emotions of anger and revulsion with only a hint of the horrors which Corin and Étienne were subjected to. Sickening and vile was the treatment they suffered at the hands of scum. Humans have not changed in their basest of behaviour since time began, and probably never will.

If ever a chapter deserved a "happy tears" emoticon it is this one @Robert Hugill. “So, did you contribute?” “Some. But it wasn’t top of the list. Perhaps, now I have a family interest, I ought to think about it.” He nodded over to Toby and Brian, who were standing close to the engine as it got up a head of steam ready to take the train."' Mr Russ started the "chosen family" discussion simply and beautifully and Toby finished it with equal simplicity and beauty. “I wanted to ask you something. It’s about Dad and Gordon. It’s kind of personal.” Russ blinked, but made himself relax and nodded, “Go head, what’s troubling you?” “Frankie, at school. Well, his Dad has had a regular girlfriend for the last few years and Frankie likes, liked her. But then she and his Dad sort of had an argument or something, and she just disappeared.” Russ nodded, understanding, “And you’re worried about me just disappearing?” “Mmm.” The boy looked embarrassed but also determined. “Well, there are no guarantees in life, but I don’t think your Dad, Gordon and I have that sort of relationship. Even if we stop, you know…” “Being friends with benefits.” Toby gave him a nervous grin. “Yes, even if we stop the benefits, which I think is unlikely at the moment, we’ll still be friends. OK. I’m still going to be around.” “Chosen family.” There is only one word in the English language which I detest when reading a work from the Hugillverse and the word is Complete. The only consolation with the conclusion of this story is that it heralds the arrival of the next in the Parborough Chronicles. Brian, Gordon, Toby and Mr Russ delighted us all in Brian: Taking Courage @Robert Hugill, but in this story they took us all to a whole new level. I think it was partially because Deirdre and Jasper played a lesser role in their life, but mostly I think it was because the four of them are living in threes. A truly outstanding work Robert, worthy of at least 9 'Kate Bush's' out of 10.