Summerabbacat

Predator is a good word to describe him.

I have never watched either of the shows @Bft, but it is impossible to avoid their subjects. They are like a plague of locusts, especially the family with substantially altered physiques. I don't watch TV at all, and have not done so for at least 10 years, but am still aware of them. I also hear people talking about TV cooking shows, dating shows, "talent" shows and all manner of mindless shit.

You forgot one of the "fuels" @empath, the one which I think is the most potent and obscene of them all, organised religion, mostly of the zealous kind. And it is not just the human animal who is suffering, non-human animals are being used and abused more than ever, with the violence inflicted on many, even in allegedly civilised nations like the USA and shamefully my own homeland, Australia, more extreme than ever. Humans "celebrating" animal cruelty on social media increasing, and the "owners" of it doing fuck all to censor it.

I have to wonder who Zac is @Josh Aterovis. I often re-read my comments (not solely from vanity), and am at times (far too many for my liking), embarrassed by the mistakes I have made (such as this) or by the absolute shit I have written. I cannot blame it on "the drink" or any other mind-altering substances either as I rarely partake of the former anymore, and never the latter. And I did proof read the comment too, several times. My only solace, perhaps his full name is Caleb (which I continually type as Cable) Zac Cohen.

It has been stated before by a number of readers, myself included, and after this chapter I think it bears repeating; this is a very well-written, wholly believable, challenging and thought provoking, and ultimately rewarding story @LittleBuddhaTW. You are to be congratulated on this again.

Nick needs to face facts @SilentandBroken. Noah is a man-ho (or should that be boy-ho), and I don't think it matters what anyone says or does, he will try to seduce Nick again. I just hope @Altimexis is incorrect in his belief that he will succeed, primarily because of Nick's low self-esteem, which certainly was to the fore in this chapter, more perhaps than in any other. Noah's ego has been damaged as he did not get to fuck Nick, and I strongly suspect he is not used to having someone say no to him. His large ego is apparently in contrast to the size of his manhood, more accurately described perhaps as his "boyhood", which according to the observations of both Nick and Mark leaves much to be desired.

I reached into my "sympathy box" to see if there was any left over for Noah @Seraph28, but alas it was empty. Best he wises up and follows the contralto request of my fellow Libran, you guessed it, the Goddess of R&B (and the "payback").

I had almost the same thoughts @Seraph28. I consider Noah to be self-absorbed and arrogant, his arrogance likely the result of his spoilt upbringing. I think he believes himself to be irresistible, such that his "minor" indiscretion is something Nick should just "get over", after all Nick should count himself lucky Noah even noticed him, let alone wanted him as another notch on his bedpost. Nick's friends proved themselves to be far more sympathetic than I think he deserved after his appalling treatment of Jack. It appears Noah's indiscretion came as no surprise to Jack, such that I wonder if Jack was at one time Noah's "plaything" also. I was pleased to observe Nick dropped his unwarranted dislike of Danny. Imagine two cuddle bunnies like Jonah and Danny comforting you, what a delight.

I think Finnegan Byrnes is the murderer, and I think he was lying when he said a show on Netflix was the source of the tale he spun about living in a cult. I suspect he may have been the victim of sexual abuse, and perhaps Zac was as well. The motivation for murdering Marco, jealousy. I have been wondering for a few chapters now if we were going to witness a second murder @Josh Aterovis. I had got to the point where I thought this was going to be a single murder story; I should have known better. But I have to ask, why have two when you can have three? Regardless of who the murderer is, I think Arsehair should exercise great caution wherever he goes.

"Obviously" poofters too then I guess?

Not a Mariah fan I take it @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I did not like her at first either, I thought she was a little saccharine. Much prefer her when she dresses like a hooker and does not even try to pretend to be "intellectual".

Why ever not? I grew up in a semi-religious household and we were allowed to watch it, the ABC being the preferred TV station. Whenever we visited the maternal grandparents it was more difficult to watch Countdown as my grandfather did not like a lot of "them long haired layabouts" (think Hush, Sweet, Supernaut, TMG, Sherbet, but Skyhooks were the worst because some of them unmistakably wore make up and looked "weird").

Or this might be a little more Mrs Fierce Pierce's "style", albeit with a little more clothing and a little less of everything else. This is the Mariah I like, a hip hop ho.

This might describe a younger Mrs Fierce Pierce, or the current Mrs Fierce Pierce if Mr Pompous Pious Pierce maintains his "no son of mine is going to be a poofter and live under this roof" attitude. Whaddya reckon @Mark Ponyboy Peters? Remember Molly playing this one on Countdown?

I have it on a CD compilation, Living In The 70's Vol V. Vol 1-5 are all double CD's and a mix of Aussie and non-Aussie artists, and have many songs thereon which were only hits in Australia. "Do yourself a favour" @Mark Ponyboy Peters and have a listen to any of them if you ever have the chance. Some great memories (as well as photographs of 70's kitsch). You can view them on https://www.discogs.com/search/

The authorities are looking into it @pvtguy. They are similar to the fuddy duddies, you know they are there but they remain unseen so they cannot be held accountable. They will eventually release a finding that it was an unfortunate accident, primarily caused by the heavy rain. Poor little Timmy, he only did it as a joke, he did not mean to hurt anyone. Bullshit I say. Remove the broom handle from Dallas' father's place where the sun does not shine and place into Timmy in the same location. Do not bother to clean it first, just pull it out and shove it in. I do think when Dallas returns to school he will tear Timmy apart, figuratively not literally. And, if Dallas' cojones grow to the size of JJ's and he comes out, Timmy had best beware making any homophobic comments. He may find himself on the receiving end of something much more painful than a broom handle. Even if Dallas remains closeted I cannot see him tolerating any more bullshit from Timmy.

Great chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I especially liked JJ's eavesdropping on the conversation between Dallas and his father. He is like a little terrier, not frightened to take on a "bigger dog". I keep forgetting to comment I am glad JJ's name is not Joel Rogers, Joel Roberts/Robertson/Robinson, Joel Richards/Richardson or any combination of Joel and a family name beginning with R. That would have been most unfortunate. The authorities should definitely investigate the accident, which could have happened even without the intervention of the class clown, Timmy Baker. That bloody stupid Bird woman should be in strife for starters. The description of the Pierce's home was just as I envisaged it, old money, perhaps Mrs Pierce's rather than Mr Pierce's. Appearances are all important, and it will just not do to behave in a manner other than that in which one is expected to behave. I sense Mrs Pierce may have at least a smidgen of the rebel in her though, a wild girl who has been tamed, but who could easily become impassioned again if pushed too far. Mr Pierce clearly has a broom handle implanted where the sun does not shine and does not wish to make any rash move for fear of rectal splinters. He might benefit from colonic irrigation or a daily dose of prunes or psyllium husks.

I think when Dallas returns to school Timmy will be shunned @VBlew. Being ostracised will likely be the worst punishment he could be subjected to.

Inbreeding and heavy amphetamine usage. Hideous people.

Perhaps you were a little younger @Mark Ponyboy Peters (about 13) and that great song by Supernaut, produced by Molly Meldrum, was riding high on the charts. I knew what it was about and loved it. Unlike you I never had a girlfriend or attempted to conform, not because I was brave or anything even remotely like that, I was just too shy and felt myself too unattractive, and am what is sometimes degradingly referred to as a "flamer", to even bother trying. This song was a huge hit in Australia in 1976 @weinerdog and left nothing to the imagination. The band was from Western Australia and they had one other hit of note, also quite sexual in tone, Too Hot To Touch.

I think in @Mark Ponyboy Peters and my age group (we are the same age @weinerdog) this would have been the default reaction of most fathers, regardless of ethnicity or religious beliefs.

No, no, no @andy cannon, not the acne (LOL). As one who had dreadful cystitis acne as a teenager, I would never wish it on anyone (well maybe some). I must say as a gay nerdy teen with acne, glasses, braces and being a poofter (1970's Australia), the acne is the thing which upset me the most. I got teased occasionally for the glasses, braces and being a poofter, but my response to all regardless of gender was "fuck off". Teasing about my acne did hurt though.

The behaviour of each in this chapter confirmed my suspicions from the last chapter @pvtguy. I believe Dallas' mother revealed the relationship between Dallas and JJ to her husband to challenge his beliefs, to confirm where he stands on the "issue" of having a gay son, and possibly to taunt him just a little too. Now she knows he doesn't want a "poofter for a son" the battle of the wills has begun, although Mr Pierce aka Pompous Pious Pierce III (PPP III) is too arrogant to even realise it yet. I sense Mrs Pierce aka Fierce Pierce is NOT going to stand for any of PPP III's priggish pugnacious pontificating. It may be a case of 'get out and don't let the door hit you on the way out'. They appear to be a family of some means, therefore I doubt PPP III will want the neighbours to know Dallas is gay AND that all is not well in the marital bed.

He usually notices the "small" details though.

That was a very welcome surprise @pvtguy, both Doug and Todd being frank and honest, and Doug extraordinarily broad-minded on the bisexual issue.