Summerabbacat

"He had also realised about the collection, the need to make it more visible. He was a bit brisker about this; he wanted privacy but wanted to show his pictures too. It would be interesting to see which Francis Heyward won. There was a throw-away sting in the tail, too. ‘If we do offer some sort of access when The Manor is closed, then it would be good to have curator’s tours." It may be because of the comment in bold particularly @Robert Hugill, but I had an image of Francis Heyward as a black widow spider in this chapter, luring his lovers into his web of deceit with promises of fame and fortune and/or mind-blowing sex. Once captured he delivers the fatal bite, devouring them with a frenzied orgasmic lust and casting them aside. Mirko the otter. I have to say I share Vaughan and Dante's non-attraction to hairy men. He seems to have charmed and impressed them with his photography skills though. Perhaps he and Jonty should arrange a meeting.

I had to choose the 'sad' emoticon @Mark Ponyboy Peters because the conclusion of the chapter made me feel quite melancholic. When Tim thought he was going to see Snowy cry I "lost it" for a few moments. I don't think Ben has given any indication to date that a tertiary education is on the cards for him so I doubt he will end up at Southern Star University, at least not to take advantage of its educational opportunities. Perhaps his relationship with Samantha will mirror that of Matt and Luke. I think Tim's mother may have an inkling of the nature of her son's relationship with Guy and Jason certainly knows. I think @Paladin is right in his belief that Tim's father is the only one of the three likely to have a problem with Tim and Guy's relationship. The "theme" of this chapter just screamed a great song by 'The Stones' from the 1970's to me so I just had to add it.

Therese is like a river, a mile wide and an inch deep. Hilarious. I have never heard this aphorism before, but it is as if written for her. A huge part I think, particularly if they start defying their mother and some of her image obsessive behaviour e.g. her idiotic and offensive notions of how young "ladies" should behave.

Subterfuge. It describes the "sense" I got from his revelation perfectly. Thank you @drsawzall.

How could Mikey even begin to think he was in some way to blame for the c u next Tuesday that is Janice. She has no redeeming features at all. I don't know if there is "prison justice" inside women's prisons, but if there is I hope Janice is a recipient of it repeatedly. When Mikey runs for the vacant position on the council he should "thank" Janice and ensure she is made aware of his resounding election success. And is that Pam with that chainsaw? Is she going to do some chainsaw sculptures like Cherie Currie from The Runaways does? Maybe Pam is going to make Janice into a little Cherry Bomb. A big hit in Australia @Ticklishboy30. I loved them and from this group came the fabulous Joan Jett.

I chose the 'Angry' emoticon @Ticklishboy30 not only because of Janice's behaviour, but also because none of the boys got the opportunity to inflict some real damage on the skanky ho. Or perhaps they could have called Pam and she could have practiced her left hook on her repeatedly given she got little opportunity to do so on that other skank ho, Trinie. Janice is truly evil.

Except for Janice. I want her to die slowly, painfully, excruciatingly painfully, perhaps at the hands of TL.

Paranoid, no. Guarded, yes. Understandably so given what the children have and/or appear to have endured from spermie and the incubator. I did not warm to Lanny either @Mancunian, but refrained from expressing this as I am often hyper-critical and pessimistic and wanted to try and portray myself more positively for once. I feel you have allowed me the freedom to express myself truly, I did not like Lanny at all. I think he may be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

I hate to stereotype and am embarrassed to admit I found myself surprised it was Mikey inside Dakota. I have to say when watching porn (I unashamedly admit to this) one of my favourite turn ons is when a big butch daddy is not only fucked by a smaller guy but obviously and proudly demonstrates his enjoyment of this. Woof.

I presume your chauffeur/bodyguard is at least driving you there, or are times really that tough that you have had to "let him go"?

Me too. I almost got a hard-on, well maybe that is a slight exaggeration. Pam Knight, @Ticklishboy30's answer to Foxy Brown or Cleopatra Jones, both blaxploitation classics. Perhaps you can "invent" a new genre, ticklesploitation.

Off to another of your palatial European homes @Cane23 or just cruising on your yacht?

I have to agree with you @weinerdog regarding Jill's sense of humour. Is she perhaps using humour as a form of self-protection or to "make light" of what we believe has happened to her in an effort to retain her sanity. A "dark" sense of humour I think it would be referred to as. Your speculation regarding Nick's comment is startling in its simplicity. I had not given NIck's comment any thought other than that it did strike me as an "odd" comment to be made by an 8 year old. Your speculation as to its possible origin may be way off, but if it is not it is a tragic indication of how awful the lives of the children have been. BTW have you seen an exponential increase in "hits" on your dating app since you updated your profile with the facts about the "real" @weinerdog?

You may not realise this "Supermodel", but in Australia fanny is actually another word for vagina and I categorically deny having one of those on my person in any way, shape or form.

I have a wonderful image of Pam slapping Janice's face so hard that all Janice's dermal fillers, botox, collagen and other cosmetic refreshments blew off and left her as the ugly skank she is inside and out. Put that image on repeat without having to press replay. I won't be satisfied though until Janice is sent down to the big house with Bertha Butt paying her a visit. Come to Mamma little whore and I will make ya feel real purty.

When are we going to meet Annie and Danny @Lee Wilson? We have been privy to the life of Manny and now have been introduced to Lanny, so where are the other two lurking? You have seemingly quashed any possible action between Steve and Lanny as some of us thought might happen, unless Lanny proves to be a total douchebag who surmises Steve is gay and uses him for "getting off", without reciprocation. Jill is definitely not naive in the ways of life. Her comments to Brendan prior to his visit to see Greg indicated she is well aware of sex in all its various forms, whether from any personal knowledge remains to be seen. I am not sure I totally believe Greg; there appeared to me to be something just a little disingenuous with what he said. I don't doubt he told the truth about his workplace closing, but it all seems just a little too convenient. I am also somewhat doubtful he will show up when Brendan takes the children for their scheduled interviews with the DA. And in recognition of Greg's "spicing" up his and Brendan's sex life, I hand the reins (or should it be whips) over to the irrepressible Bette Midler from her critically maligned disco album Thighs & Whispers (which predictably I love).

He has a habit of writing wonderful stories doesn't he.

Kathleen Turner is hysterical. I am a fan of a number of John Waters' other films such as Cry-Baby, Hairspray and Polyester. He is amusing in person too, he referred to Jeff Stryker once as the "Cary Grant of porno".

Very insightful @CincyKris. I had not observed that Therese and Ralph were united by shallowness. Unlike Ralph, Therese is apparently happy with her image-obsessed life. I am glad I did not disappoint. I am often accused of having little or no filter, which is mostly true. I am prone to calling a spade a shovel.

I know how you love your country music @Ticklishboy30. In Australia we had a popular country singer by the name of Slim Dusty. He had a big hit single in 1957 with a song titled A Pub With No Beer and in 1980 he had a huge selling #1 single Duncan, a song about drinking beer with a mate named Duncan. This chapter reminded me of that song for obvious reasons. TL is borderline Janice. I would love to see a "meeting of minds" with these two. Who would survive? Neither if justice prevails.

I just noticed you came earlier @Cane23. Clearly you have not done anything to "make you go blind", but obviously I have. You were the second "cab off the rank".

Beer and pizza, the universal meal for teenagers worldwide. Rum and coke in a can. I remember we had those as a teenager @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I think it was Bundy & Coke. I could not drink it now, but back then it went down very easily. Like @centexhairysub, I was shocked by Tim's father's response. I suspect Tim's mother has had a word (or twenty) in his ear. The man must have haemorrhoids as he is soooooo uptight. It was interesting to note just how observant Jason was once again. Clearly he has no issue with Tim and I suspect will become a vocal supporter of Guy in Tim's life. The contrast between the couples and the ease with which they can express their coupledom has never been more apparent than in this chapter. Samantha and Ben were snogging from the moment they were free of the parentals, without a care in the world. Any affection between Tim and Guy though was confined to the back seat of the car. I don't believe either Samantha or Ben would have had any issue if Tim and Guy joined them in a "snog fest", but understandably the boys are playing it cool. The only disappointment in this chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters was that Guy's car was not a large American station wagon and Beverly Sutphin was not driving it. She would have made very quick work of the vile little hooligans who attempted to harass Samantha and the boys, just like she "dispensed" with Mr Stubbins, her son Chip's maths teacher who criticised Chip's interest in horror films at parent/teacher night. Like the devoted mother, wife and psychopath that she is, Beverly "protects" her young, even admonishing Chip at the breakfast table for using the "brown word".

Your description of Therese is so polite @Gary L. I suspect the twins are glad their parents are divorced as it means they get a break from their mother and are permitted to behave in a most "unladylike" manner in T-shirts and dungarees whilst climbing on things in the park. Heaven forbid they not be in dresses and sitting quietly with their legs crossed whilst doing something "female". Therese is possibly already planning on suitable boys to ensure her girls' futures.

I am nothing if not predictable. Another chapter and another song just leapt out at me as befitting the "intimate act". A restrained Mavis, she does not really reach "full throttle" in this one, but her voice is distinctive as always. And Pops backing vocal, so smooth in contrast to Mavis' raunchier rasp. Miss Arya was remarkably patient waiting until 10.00pm for her dinner. Adam and Kai may have to set a reminder on one or both of their phones to avoid this happening again as she may not always be so patient and forgiving. Where is @Cane23? @Paladin has called you to partake of your daily dose of "vitamins" but you have not answered. This chapter could well be a seminal one for you.

Outstanding start to this new story @Robert Hugill, with your usual rich character development. I already loathe Therese, does she also work outside the home, or just stay at home playing "Lady Muck"? She is a pretentious social-climbing harpy. Her image of how little girls should dress and behave is as ridiculous as it is sexist, offensive and unsustainable. Stupid cow wants to raise her daughters to be helpless little princesses. She needs a good slap or an evening out with Colin's odious brother Miles or Owain's brother-in-law Nathan. Love Jane and Alisa (even though I don't care for children as a general rule). Their vegetarianism is admirable, particularly as they made the choice themselves for ethical reasons and are adhering to it, despite the protestations of their odious mother. They are smart and already know what they need to do to placate their mother, whilst maintaining some individuality and spirited behaviour. And as for Ralph. It is no wonder he ended up married to a dragon like Therese. The poor man (or is it annoying wimpy fool) is so obsessed with image too, totally suffocating the man he well may be, just to satisfy societal pressures or some other bullshit which frames his behaviour. "Yet he knew, that if he admitted it did matter then everything that he'd built up would collapse, his entire life. And Ralph wouldn't or couldn't let that happening" and "Ralph was self-aware enough to know there was something else as well, something that if he acknowledged it would bring down his carefully constructed life. That Ralph wished his younger self had had the courage to continue exploring that side of himself, to accept that he liked boys. But that had been locked away and needed to stay there." I was very moved by the first statement of self-examination in particular @Robert Hugill. It speaks of a man totally despondent with his lot in life, recognising there is likely something better, but too afraid to embrace or explore the possibility. Trapped in a life of his own making and he is only 33. He should follow the fine example being set by his daughters and know when to revel in those "fuck you" moments. It was difficult to choose between the 'ha-ha' emoticon as represented by Jane and Alisa or the 'sad' emoticon as represented by Ralph. I settled on the latter as he is the object of this story. I hope the Breaking free part of the story title is truly indicative of his life to come. It looks like another winner from your fellow countryman @Gary L. I look forward to reading your insights into the characters who have appeared thus far.