Summerabbacat

The second time I read the chapter it was not confusing at all. It was entirely my muddled brain the first time that "caused" the confusion.

You could be right about the corporate skullduggery @drsawzall, although is embezzlement something which would be considered "sinister". Fraudulent and illegal yes, but sinister, I am not so sure. When I think of something as being sinister it usually implies frightening or menacing or threatening, which is why I suggested it might involve human trafficking of women and children from Eastern Europe via Germany and selling them into sex slavery. Or it might involve wild animal, arms or drug smuggling. Whatever Jackie is involved in I too hope it comes back to bite her on the arse. I pity the poor sucker though who has to do the biting. I bet it won't be anywhere near as "pretty" as the sight which bewitched Ludo in the previous chapter.

It was a sham @Cane23, a well-scripted a well-acted "performance" by Ms Icelandia aka Jackie Reykjavic.

Firstly, and most importantly, welcome back @Jeff Burton. I read this chapter last night, but did not feel any comments I had to offer could do it justice without a second reading. I am glad I did as there were conversations last night that left me puzzled as to their true meaning which tonight made perfect sense, such that I wondered where my mind was, or perhaps wasn't, last night. The one constant though was how profoundly distressing and upsetting this chapter was (and this is no way a criticism of your story telling skills). "I felt funny, like something in my head suddenly stopped working correctly. I don’t know what this means. I mean I… What just happened? I guess I’m just a friend? The dude at work that occasionally hangs out? What am I? A throwaway. Am I not worth consideration? Why didn’t he tell me he met someone before? Is this for real? I guess I’m just… A throwaway." How quickly Ben has returned to his "normal" state. He has endured so much disappointment and heartbreak during his life that it takes very little for him to return to a state of almost non-existent self-esteem. A perceived slight which from others might provoke a "fuck you" provokes a sense of worthlessness in Ben. Some may find this attitude defeatist or self-pitying, I however find it plausible and worthy of comfort and understanding. He is a young man with much to offer others but he has had so little opportunity to do so, and even less opportunity to receive in kind what he truly deserves. Like several of my fellow readers I believe the person Josh is interested in is Ben, but Josh is wary of hurting him so is proceeding cautiously, perhaps a little too cautiously. I have taken an instant dislike to Alex (which is so not like me, would you not agree @weinerdog), and like @Mattyboy I am suspicious as to the source of his supply of crisp $100 bills. Counterfeit perhaps, or the spoils of a drug dealer. As for the Asian hooker @weinerdog, perhaps it was she who was doing the fucking rather than being fucked. Perhaps she was pegging Alex with a strap-on or perhaps she is a ladyboy. As for the conclusion"As I drifted off to sleep, for the first time in weeks The Hand grabbed me from the darkness, and this time I couldn’t scream", well this could signify many things. Maybe the 2 prescription tablets Ben has taken have had such a heavy affect upon him he is incapable of screaming or he may be concerned if he screams he will lose his home because Wallace will evict him or perhaps it signifies something more sinister as speculated by @weinerdog.

"When he glanced at his mother in the kitchen he caught her watching him for a second or two, before she then turned to Peter and asked him who was on the phone. Pete had simply shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘One of Danny’s friends, he said,’ before swiping a slice of cold meat from the plate that his stepfather was trying to fill as he cut the leg of ham for their traditional Christmas lunch of cold meats and salads." I think Danny's mother is aware something "big" is about to unfold in her son's life. She may not know what it is at this point in time, but it would not surprise me if she intrinsically knows it somehow involves Jake. I have been wondering for some time now if Danny reminds her of herself when she was young, before she gave birth to him, or perhaps even after she gave birth to him but before she met his stepfather. Was she perhaps a carefree spirit who followed her heart, only to find she had to compromise to ensure a better life for Danny. If my wondering has any basis, I imagine she will not stop Danny following his heart, even if there is a chance it may be broken. Nate's character growth has been nothing short of extraordinary @Mark Ponyboy Peters or perhaps it has taken something extraordinary, the imminent departure of his best friend, for him to truly shine. If only we could all have a friend like Nate. No matter what happens to Danny, it appears Nate will be there to provide whatever is needed to maintain their friendship. I had to choose the 'sad' emoticon again for this chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters, although I don't think I can attribute it entirely to this chapter. The sadness is perhaps more akin to 'melancholy' again with Danny's realisation about the good things in life he will be leaving behind, some perhaps for good, when he departs his home with Jake for an uncertain future.

It should not have made any difference, but I found myself even more upset about the incubator's murder of Joey Keys knowing that he was one of Steve's friends who had come for a sleepover. I assumed he was younger and chosen "randomly" by the incubator. The adjective c#*t now seems inadequate in its offensiveness to describe her.

"The two of them snoozed in front of the TV; things were friendly, though a good-night cuddle was just that, it didn’t lead to anything more. Next morning, she was bright and breezy. " Jackie was in a good mood because she spent the afternoon being fucked senseless by her lover(s). She offered some affection to Ludo and Damian because she was feeling "guilty", albeit briefly, about her infidelity. By Sunday evening she had returned to her usual persona, Jackie the self-centred, career-obsessed refrigerator. I found this comment about her son particularly indicative of her relationship with him “Why can’t we have an ordinary son rather than a botany freak. Do you think he got it from Adam?”. He in turn could comment upon his mother with "Why can’t I have an ordinary mother rather than a self-centred c*#t who does not even appear to like me?" Wonderful chapter @Robert Hugill. I am so enjoying detesting Jackie. Bring on the Arthur/Ludo relationship as Ludo and Damian will certainly be far happier. Jackie may not be but I don't give a flying fuck about her. Nasty troll.

"Cast" and readers alike @CincyKris.

“Isn’t that a bit”, Ralph considered, “near the knuckle?” I don't recall ever reading or hearing this British phrase before @Robert Hugill. I can imagine it being applied to some of those occasionally saucy British TV comedies from the 1970's such as Are You Being Served, George And Mildred, The Benny Hill Show and Whoops Baghdad and most, if not all, the Carry On movies.

I am looking forward to the time when Ralph's response to a question posed such as "I wonder what the golfing crowd will think" will be "who the fuck cares". It would be a delicious irony if at least one of Ralph's father's stuffy pretentious golfing friends made a show of defending him and admonished his father for not also doing so. He has lived far too long according to the expectations of others, most notably his parents and Therese.

@Robert Hugill has managed to find those exceptions and include them @Cane23. Deirdre, Jackie and Connie (who seemingly was an OK Nanna though).

Nothing to be embarrassed about @Robert Hugill; you write them so brilliantly. Horrid creatures, but not so horrid they become a caricature or merely a one-dimensional figure of derision. My two brothers between them have had four wives, fortunately all now ex-wives, and your nasty wives are very realistically written if my ex sisters-in-law are representational.

I have to ask @Robert Hugill. Did Therese, Barb and the friend whose husband does not fancy her (I cannot remember her name as she was tame compared to Therese and especially Barb) attend the same all-girls school as Jackie? Did they study "How To Be A Bitch 101" (and top their class) or are they just naturally sniping entitled trolls? I thought in more recent chapters Therese was becoming less obnoxious, but "toxic Therese" reasserted herself in this chapter. Although I am not fond of children, I particularly despise the Therese and Jackie's of this world who bemoan having had children and believe they are deserving of special treatment in all manner of ways because they have reproduced. Both need a severe reality check; you are not special because you gave birth. And stop fucking complaining how said child/children cramp your lifestyle and/or cost an arm and a leg to raise. Just think yourselves lucky that taxpayer's like me have the "pleasure", without being asked, of contributing financially to the raising of your child/children. If anyone is entitled to have a whinge it is us. I imagine Ralph is in for an eye-opening evening at one of Russ' parties, although it appears Brian and Gordon will not be in attendance. If Nolan attends the party with him he may find a free moment to slip off unannounced to enjoy some revelry of his own. I imagine Morrie is going to enjoy himself immensely with a smorgasbord of male flesh to partake of. Great chapter @Robert Hugill with Ralph emerging a little further from his restrictive heterosexual cocoon. Now if only you could do something about Therese (fatal car accident, toxic tampon poisoning which leaves her mute, has a religious epiphany and becomes a cloistered nun).

I think you are capturing the isolation and surreal time that was foisted upon humanity by COVID very well @KKirk. Alan appears to be embracing friendship with Calvin far more than I initially thought he would. With his dominant personality and rhetoric "I am not gay" it was difficult to view Calvin as anything more than a cumdump through Alan's eyes. He has at least lightened off with that attitude which was very unappealing. Perhaps he is developing feelings for Calvin he did not anticipate he would given he is "straight". Intriguing dynamic to the "relationship" between Alan and Calvin. It certainly appears to be changing, not as "cut and dry" as purely dom/sub which it seemingly was.

"Emotionally I was unsure how I felt about Alan’s domineering demeaner and tendency to order me around. At times he made me feel inferior, a feeling I did not like." Methinks cracks, albeit hairline ones at present, are beginning to appear in the veneer created by the sexual haze. I will be interested to read @drsawzall's take on this thought from Calvin.

I so look forward to reading it. As much as I admire all of your works and the majority of the characters, with notable exceptions such as The Monolith, this story for me is your magnum opus and Danny your most beloved fictional character. He is for me your Knowing Me, Knowing You or I Feel Love, a masterpiece, flaws and all.

I don't believe Danny's departure with Jake, assuming it happens, will come as any surprise to his mother @Philippe. I suspect she is preparing herself for it already, even if only to not upset Danny too much if she descends into hysterics. Your second paragraph is a complete WOW. "Youthful intellect can be like looking through a soda straw; perhaps clear, but narrow in scope" so profound and beautifully expressed.

"And sometimes people might want to do it when you don’t want them to . . . or a grown-up or a stranger might want to do it with you. If that ever happens you’ve got to say no, okay! Especially if it’s a grown-up! They’re just not allowed to.’ ‘Does that mean all grown-ups?’ Pete whispered." I immediately had the same thought as @Stompingrigs and @centexhairysub. Has Brad begun to molest Pete or exposed himself to Pete with an invitation to play with each other. I realised in this chapter I have been very harsh in my assessment of Danny's mother. I dare say life has not been easy for her; a troubled relationship between her husband and his stepson perhaps one of the least of her worries. Brad being on the road so often may be a blessing in some respects, but in other ways it has meant she has had to shoulder the responsibility of raising three children single-handedly for much of the time. I would really love to know if Danny's biological father was ever in the picture, apart from the act which led to his creation (hint hint @Mark Ponyboy Peters). If my memory serves me well it is never disclosed though. Nate's behaviour in this chapter had me contemplating what life will be like for him after Danny leaves. The upheaval in his life will almost be as great as that for Danny, and in some ways will be worse because he will not have anyone to share the upheaval with, and Danny's absence will be a constant reminder of how life is not changing for the better for him. He does strike me as a resourceful boy though and I expect he will not remain blue for long. A melancholic chapter again for me @Mark Ponyboy Peters. You write melancholia beautifully, with enough restraint that a creature such as I does not dissolve into a blubbering mess, or if I do the recovery time is relatively quick.

Revisiting the atrocities committed by spermie and the incubator in isolation of all other events in Brendan's life has crystallised a number of things in my mind, particularly after the questions raised by several of my fellow readers in the preceding comments. Firstly, it appears unlikely the incubator was abused as a child as neither Brendan nor Rich appear to have been. Was she abused in isolation? Maybe, but surely one of the boys would have noticed something. Conversely, it is very possible spermie was abused as both he and Aunt Eve became abusers, and in the case of the latter it may have contributed to her drug addiction. Secondly, were spermie and the incubator attracted to each other because of their perversions or was it completely coincidental they became a couple? Did they have some kind of "coming out" whereby each acknowledged they wanted to have children so that they could rape and abuse them? Jill described them both best. Her parting words to her mother music to my ears after what she had done to all her children. And like my fellow readers, I have to agree Jill is one badass. A 21st century Foxy Brown.

What a delightful start to the weekend @Gary L. It sounds like they are settling in well. Did you end up getting the siblings as the little female (Greta?) was not well if I recall correctly? How old are they now?

"As the train began to pull away from the station, Ethan spotted Anya and waved. Then he turned his attention back to Maxim. "Don't worry. You'll see each other again soon." I hope this statement does not portend trouble for Maxim and possibly Ethan too under Russia's atavistic "gay propaganda" laws; and, even if they do manage to escape Russia how will Maxim gain entry into the USA? Ethan has not given this any thought seemingly and Maxim is likely just glad to be fleeing the tyranny of a country poisoned by its government and Eastern Orthodox religion. And what is the connection between the scroll in the monastery and the wooden box obtained almost certainly illicitly by Damien? Do they hold nuclear codes or some ancient "wisdom" contained in religious text or revelations deeply embarrassing or dangerous to the current regime in power? Where are James Bond, Indiana Jones, Cleopatra Jones or Foxy Brown when you need them? Intriguing and suspenseful @E K Stokes with perhaps a few of @drsawzall's pesky red herrings thrown in for good measure.

Congratulations are in order @Cane23, @Tonyr, @drsawzall, @pvtguy and @chris191070 for @Robert Hugill yet again as both this story and the recently completed Crossing The Line place at #7 and #3 respectively in the top 10 'Most Read Mystery' in the last month. An achievement all the more remarkable when one considers we are only the 2nd chapter in to this latest tale set in the Hugillverse. Well done again Mr Hugill.

The "departure scene" and the "acknowledgment scene". It is hard to pick which scene moved me more, both poignant and beautifully written, capturing profound events in Danny's life, watershed moments he is likely never to forget, even if Jake does not return as promised. "Nate read the inscription, then flicked through the pages, before placing the book back where he had picked it up from. At first he said nothing. Danny was waiting for it . . . the accusations . . . the hatred . . . everything that a guy like him could usually expect, but none of it came. Instead, Nate just bumped shoulders with him and said, ‘He’ll be back." Any doubts Danny may have had about the depth of his friendship with Nate should have been quashed by this admission. Such loyalty and love is hard to imagine in a friendship between any two people, but between one straight teenager and one gay teenager dare I suggest it is a miracle. And yet both boys are so thoroughly likeable and without artifice it is not hard to see why. Stunning chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters, a startling reminder why Danny is my favourite "ponyboy" and the friendship between he and Nate the most heartwarming of any you have crafted.

OMG I just fell off my bloody dining chair laughing at this @drsawzall. A spoonerism that would be so easy to reverse with some embarrassment at least felt by most.

I was somewhat surprised @Cane23 that Ludo is concerned Jackie would ensure she got custody of Damian with limited custody for him in a divorce. She displayed little maternal concern in the prior chapter; taking care of Damian an inconvenience to her career, a career which appears to be her #1 priority, or at least more important than either Ludo or Damian. She is a thoroughly unlikeable, egotistical, self-centred refrigerator. I am already speculating wildly at the nature of the sinister turn Jackie's job takes, with the most prominent being she is involved in trafficking women and children from Eastern Europe into the UK with the promise of legitimate work, only to find themselves sold into sex slavery. I was very amused, but at the same time saddened by Damian's understandable disappointment in, or indifference to, Jackie as his mother. "Then the house hove into view and Ludo’s heart sank. Jackie’s car was in the drive. As if the boy was echoing his thoughts, Damian said in a small voice, “Mum’s home.” It also saddened me that at the age of 10 he is well aware he has to self-censure in his mother's presence as she is a pretentious twat. Arthur's baby pink starfish proved to be a joyous visual stimulant for Ludo's starving libido, long deprived of any attention from the frost-bitten cathedral. Methinks Damian has an inkling of the interest Ludo and Arthur have in each other. Methinks he will also be delighted if it bears fruit. Marvellous chapter @Robert Hugill. Jackie, c u next Tuesday to most readers due to her neglect of all bar Jackie. Bitch.