Summerabbacat

I am very pleased to see you like them. I remember buying Dreamboat Annie on vinyl on the strength of Magic Man, which was a big hit in Australia, and being very impressed. I was 13 at the time and had no idea that a female led rock band, with one of said females playing a guitar, and both females being primary songwriters, was an unusual scenario. I just knew I liked them and I thought Ann had one helluva voice. And Barracuda took them to a whole new level. What an introduction. I had no idea they were big Led Zeppelin fans until many years later. I like Heart's version of Stairway to Heaven too (just as I do Dolly's).

You are missing the point Leon is making @weinerdog. As everyone knows, all fags are rampantly promiscuous and want to fuck all males they meet regardless of said males age, appearance, standard of hygiene, perceived sexuality and any number of other things which reduces their appeal. A tiresome fallacy, much like all fags "just haven't met the right woman yet" or "what a waste". Clearly some straight men do not possess mirrors.

Aidan has proven himself a caring, compassionate and genuine friend to Will. I daresay Will would find no comfort from his parents for his suicide attempt, it would be another "sin" to admonish him for and for which he could not be allowed to darken their door. I am not a psychiatrist or mental health expert, but did Aidan do the right think by savagely ripping the pictures of Will's suicidal fantasies from his sketchbook, shredding them and then setting fire to them? Such a response sounds awfully like a judgment of Will to me, an admonishment of bad or unacceptable behaviour. Will this response have a detrimental effect on Will, particularly given he will not be able to discuss it with Aidan as the person whom has shouldered much of the care for him while he recovers. If it troubles Will, will he have the courage to mention it to Dr Wohler given he is Aidan's professor? Well written and wholly believable @Josh Aterovis.

"I crept out of my room and made my way downstairs, slow and careful, always thankful for the old carpet muffling my steps." "For a second, I thought about taking my car. But I didn’t. I never used it when I snuck out to the diner. Starting the engine was too loud, too obvious, too easy to hear through the thin old windows of the house." What a grave disappointment you are Robert. You cannot even provide adequate and attractive housing for your family. Why aren't you trying harder. Old carpet and thin old windows; not fucking good enough you slacker, how many times do you need to be told. The Jones' next door have beautiful hardwood floors with expensive rugs and beautiful new properly sealed windows which save them a great deal of money on heating and cooling, and yet we are forced to live in this dump because you are a failure as a bread winner. Useless, fucking useless as a husband and as a father. A glimpse of a shy and uncertain Luca made the confident and self-assured Luca just that much more attractive. What was the motivation for this sudden shyness and uncertainty? Did it have a sexual element to it (after all isn't EVERYTHING about sex)? It seems to me, who has no artistic talent at all, that Jamie's drawing is his sustenance, his passion, his will to live? Has his father ever seen any of his drawings or is he so close-minded he has never troubled himself to look?

Jamie has had to endure far too much of this from Daddy dearest and his enabler Mommie dearest: Jamie needs to take heed of Mariah's wise words (I know, very hard to believe, but ......): Daddy dearest is an ogre, sitting stony-faced at the head of the table, like some neanderthal relic, waiting whilst Mommie dearest is in the kitchen rattling them pots and pans. Jamie arrives and without any greeting at all, Daddy dearest begins listing his disappointments in Jamie, Jamie's weaknesses of character, and Jamie's alleged failures. Daddy dearest previously expressed his dismay regarding Jamie's inability to have a discussion; he is not interested in a discussion as he has already written the script for Jamie and if Jamie diverts from the script the tantrum throwing begins. Forget the mild heart "episode" for Daddy dearest @Jeff Burton, bring on the full-on heart attack, and not the kind Olivia Newton-John sang about.

If that is Heartless as performed by your "cousins" Ann and Nancy, then that is a good thing, no scratch that, a great thing @Lee Wilson. It is hard to believe Ann is 75 and Nancy 71. It only seems like yesterday they captured my attention with their Magic Man, startled me with their Barracuda, and fortunately Never left us Alone or Stranded without a dose of These Dreams. Did they ever go Crazy On You or were rock bands led by chicks not your style?

What Dad wants Dad expects to get @drsawzall as it is he who must be obeyed. If he does not get what he wants he throws tantrums and threatens to force Jamie into homelessness. Mum enables this behaviour by never standing up to Dad and calling him out on being a bully. Perhaps he has tried the same shit on her and she also just gave in because it was easier to do so. He needs a visit from my Frida. “I don’t understand why it’s so damn difficult to have a conversation with you,” my dad said, his voice sharp as he flipped his newspaper with a flourish. “Your Uncle Greg wanted to talk to you last night, get a real sense of how school is going, maybe even help you see that wasting your time at a community college isn’t the way to go. You should’ve finished that damn application to State by now, like we’ve been trying to get you to do for the last five months.” Dad is not one for self-examination is he, but I guess when you are perfect it is a waste of time. Is Dad an egomaniac, or a parent whom is disappointed in what they have achieved themselves and is trying to live out success through his child. Maybe, but I think your analysis is on the mark @drsawzall, Dad wants and demands a "trophy" son, one he can show off and make himself more important, the doting dad who has nurtured this wonderful son, a "chip off the old block". Luca has walked a mile in Jamie's shoes before so he has a good idea of what is going on. Luca threw off the shackles of his parents, was it because he was stronger or more resilient than Jamie, or has he become like this due to having to fend for himself? Some very profound thoughts tormented Jamie in this chapter, none moreso than "Shame isn’t water-soluble". Methinks Robert is due a reality check @Jeff Burton, a come to Jesus moment. Perhaps a mild heart "episode" or a "concerning" colonoscopy result, a paternity suit filed by a former colleague with whom he had an affair or a poor work performance review.

Jeff is a jerk. His parents are trying to make him see reason, but it does not appear to be working. I am wondering why he is home-schooled @Lee Wilson? I can understand why Michael is if the closest school for him is 2 hours away and he cannot be accommodated at a "mainstream" school, but why is Jeff not going to the local high school? Leon appeared to be pleasant enough initially, but he revealed later in the chapter he is just as big a jerk as Jeff when it comes to gay people. Is he delusional, thinking that any gay boy at school will want to hit on him? I am very interested to see what direction the characters lead you with this one @Lee Wilson.

But do you have a h(e)art Corey?

And people are still dismayed when I say I am not a fan of children. Give me a cat any day, even if they do bite on occasion.

If she is a younger teacher on her phone checking her social media accounts perhaps?

OMG yes. Brilliant.

#4 in the top 10 'Most Read General Fiction' for the month ending 02/05/25 @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Another top 10 placing for you. You have made the top 10 your "home" since you started publishing on GA. Very ABBAesque.

I believe your pronunciation is correct @Bry Bryant; I was curious how it was mispronounced as Bry stated "Me? I’d been grinding nonstop for months—work, work, more work—and I needed a break. Something spontaneous. Something that didn’t involve another customer asking if we carried cassette adapters or mispronouncing “Jamiroquai". I have all their studio albums, and like them all to varying degrees. My favourite singles are Little L, You Give Me Something and (Don't) Give Hate A Chance, whilst album wise A Funk Odyssey (I hear strong Earth, Wind & Fire influences, which is undoubtedly why I like it so much) and Synkronized, both of which were #1 albums in my native Australia. I like Virtual Insanity.

I was very pleased to read this morning @Robert Hugill that this story and Brian & Gordon: Living In Threes are both in the top 10 'Most Read General Fiction' category for the month ending 02/05/25. Well done.

Thank you for your concern @drsawzall. I am going this morning (Saturday).

A delightful conclusion to this story with Walter in particular realising he is part of a small community of gay men in his town/city. I was pleasantly surprised his parents reacted so positively to his coming out.

Jose's first time was not exactly "comfortable", although he seemed to enjoy it. Blake's and Andrzej's first times were quite similar. Walter was the odd man out so to speak.

Avec plaisir. De rien.

Un chef d'oeuvre, Monsieur @empath. 😭😭😭😭😭😭. I shall write more later, but for now this will have to suffice as I am overwhelmed by this story.

"As we said goodbye, he hesitated, and I wondered if he’d been going to hug me. He didn’t and I pondered whether it had been my imagination, maybe wishful thinking?". Perhaps Vince needs to take a leaf out of Gray's book and stage a little intervention of his own @Robert Hugill. I think something a little more exotic and nutritious is called for than banana and jam sandwiches though, even if made with artisan bread. Perhaps some homemade soup with delicious artisan bread from the bakery Matt works at, followed by some pastries or a fruit flan from the same bakery. The gift of the piano, even if pre-loved, was one with special significance for both Gray and Vince (more bloody tears for me). The "fuck you" to Macdonald Philpott added that little extra appeal. New World Simplicity. Recycling and less waste, very admirable, but I fail to see how "resetting" relationships, whatever the fuck that means, is in any way related. And the "resetting " of relationships, does it relate to all relationships, or only those which do not conform to the heterosexual nuclear family with married parents at the helm. What about more important things, things which young Toby has raised regarding factory farming, buying locally grown organic produce and encouraging bees etc. I smell bullshit. Terrific chapter @Robert Hugill. I look forward to the "performance" by the Prickly Poet and the expansion of the family to number 6 members (I am including Moggie in this). Speaking of Moggie @Gary L, I had my own version of Lilibeth: Tales of Bad Behaviour this morning involving ferocious Frida, 15 and a half years of age, small of stature, in very good health, but with a temper which would reduce Lilibeth to a peeing puddle of poochness. My home visit vet called this morning to clip Frida's claws, three of which had started to grow into the pads on her paws, one quite badly such that it was infected and had been bleeding. Frida has NEVER liked having her paws examined or touched at the best of times, let alone attended to in anyway. Suffice to say I now have 9 teeth puncture marks on the thumb and first finger on my right hand, the latter of which has swollen as the day has progressed, to the point it is now very hot, throbbing and at least twice its normal size. Tomorrow I will have to have a tetanus injection. All in all an expensive outcome because Madam's claws needed a clip. She is lying pressed against the side of my laptop as I write these comments, which she loves to do especially now the weather is calling, butter would not melt in her mouth. A Tasmanian tigress.

It appears I was partially incorrect with the comments I made on chapter 1. Although Bry does not appear to be ashamed or embarrassed he is still a virgin at age 24, it does appear he is not comfortable with being gay, or at least having any of his friends/work colleagues know this about him. His final admission to Joseph may be the first step into ridding himself of this discomfort, or at least weakening it a little. Another very well written and wholly believable chapter @Bry Bryant. Bry's angst and Andrew's admission he feels far more for Ben than friendship made for great entertainment, and quite likely self-examination for many of we readers who may have found ourselves in similar circumstances. Out of curiosity how does one mispronounce Jamiroquai? The band was very popular here in Australia, moreso on the album charts than the singles charts, although they had a few bigger hits than usual from A Funk Odyssey. I often like to post a Youtube video to comments I make on stories on GA, usually something topical and something I like. I think the following song from Grace Jones, an artist whose music I have enjoyed for many years, is quite topical.

Not to mention the vehicular manslaughter he could have committed when driving drunk too.

And with Aidan if he feels comfortable to do so.

Charlie more than likely has high blood pressure @weinerdog from the high salt content of his diet, and depending on his age, he may also have prostate problems, both of which can lead to other health issues (I make both these statements from personal experience, although I do not have a high salt content diet). He also likely works long hours and is possibly beyond retirement age. He still appears to have all his faculties though which is a good sign. I was pleasantly surprised by Aaron's reaction to Tony's wealth. I felt certain he would feel threatened or at least inadequate due to their financial inequality, but this does not seem to be the case. Given Aaron's dire personal circumstances previously, he may have had to accept financial assistance to survive and has learnt to accept it graciously. Tony to date has not boasted of his wealth or behaved in an ostentatious manner, so unless he changes I don't believe the difference in their financial capacity will become an issue. As many have said @Mark Ponyboy Peters, a beautiful chapter, one which the drunken illiterate yobbo could not even spoil "Look at you two! Fuckin’ poofters! Yooz are everywhere around ‘ere now. The whole place ‘as gone to pot!". Yooz, one of my pet hates. The only thing I can think of which could spoil the future is the arrival of the Monolith, armed with a gun, and she shoots dead Tony and/or Aaron. Other than this, what could possibly spoil their blossoming reunification in idyllic Thompsonville.