Summerabbacat

Merely for @Cane23's pleasure I presumed. The rest of us are very refined gentlemen who are merely making a "study" of such behaviour for research purposes (LOL), just like a well-known, now deceased, Australian politician who headed his own "religion based" political party who had to watch the X-rated version of Caligula several times so that he could determine just how "indecent" it was.

All that is needed to complete their family is a non-human companion @Paladin. May I suggest a rescue cat or two. I am sure you could point them in the right direction, perhaps even offer them some good parenting tips given your experience.

I'm in Sydney, Australia, @Andr0gene and it is fucking freezing. It is currently 11°C at 11.13pm and tomorrow our top temperature is only 14°C. I like it when it is 35°C, so it is definitely not the heat with me. I blame @Al Norris, he made the comment about size queens which got us all "on heat" (LOL). He is not the messiah, he is just a very naughty boy.

I'm sure you'll have 'em knocking on your door from miles around if you are that blessed @Al Norris. It gives the song Knock On Wood (Amii Stewart's version please) a whole new meaning.

The stupid does not count. You won't be going to bed alone if you are "blessed".

The lyrics were dreadful. I can only hope it was a parody. It was a big "let down" after their only other song I can remember, Santa Never Made It Into Darwin. I can remember it very well when it was released, even then as a 10 year old it made me sad. Now if I recall that song I get goosebumps and would probably have a little weep if I heard it.

There's another song reference @weinerdog. Dirty Old Man by The Three Degrees.

Yes @Al Norris. There is a lot of truth in the song by Julie Brown I Like 'Em Big And Stupid. “Mhm,” I murmured, “I rival a shaggy dog.” I imagine Adam will not like having loose hair all through the house and will likely have Arya professionally groomed. Perhaps he can get Kai done as well. 2 for the price of 1 deals, and if Dr Kinky is hairy too, pay for 2 and get the 3rd one for free deals. There is something deliciously sensuous and therapeutic about swimming, especially swimming naked. Kai should make it part of his regular fitness regime. Perhaps he can entice Adam to join him, and I imagine Arya would love a swim too. "Even if it turns out she’s not pregnant, I’m not going anywhere because from the first second I met her, I got this feeling ‘there she finally is’, you know what I’m saying?” He may border on being insufferable or overbearing at times @Andr0gene but I cannot fault his sincerity.

Keith and Thomas' story is rapidly drawing to a close, I am afraid, with just a couple more chapters to round things off. Those dreaded words @Robert Hugill. Not again, not another tale in the Hugillverse coming to an end. I could not have predicted when this story first started how much I would come to admire both Keith and Thomas and identify to some extent with each. What wonderful characters and how lucky we readers are that you have shared them with us. I think I will have to stop now so I can have a good 😭, but not before I say how much I loved the poem. I had wondered where the title of the story came from. I can hear it put to music and sung by Marianne Faithfull or read aloud by Frances Barber.

I agree with @Cane23, @chris191070 and @Al Norris. I don't think Ben is gay, bisexual or anything other than straight and horny. I also think he is very supportive of Tim and Guy and is very happy Tim has found someone as suitable as he believes Guy is for Tim. Two great songs I Was Made For Lovin' You and Girls Just Want To Have Fun @Mark Ponyboy Peters, but I need more. More More More. Now there was a song, replete with very "complex" lyrics, one that I adored. Just like Fly Robin Fly and That's The Way (I Like It). Muscle men magazines. Much🔥than muscle car magazines. Macho Man or Diana Ross' Muscles perhaps. I must stop before unleashing the summerabbacat beast again.

Me too @Mancunian, however, there was more than a "few tears". Once again Ollie relished the affection he has been starved of by Crackhouse Chrissie. I was particularly moved by how upset he was that he did not know his father's year of birth or remember the date of his death. I recently forgot to remember my beloved cat Ava on the third anniversary of her death and was very upset with myself. I remembered it several days before and several days after, but not on the actual date. Some may think it morbid, but remembering such dates is very important to me. All the boys, both young and old, love their barbecues @Paladin. I cannot remember the last time I had a barbecue. Obviously I don't barbecue any meat, but I love barbecued vegetable kebabs, onions, sliced potato and sliced pineapple, and although I have not tried it, I know I would love barbecued tofu chunks too. "Michael added another log to the fire." It is surprising how many stories I have read and continue to read on GA where someone references a "log on a fire". Remember that song from the 1970's @Paladin by Bill & Boyd called Put Another Log On The Fire? Another terrific chapter @Paladin. You do good work.

Adam coped far better with the intrusion into his morning than I thought he would. He subtly and with great dignity put Dr Kinky in his place when he said "You may call me Adam". Dr Kinky is even less likely to get the better of Adam than what is to get the better of Megan. He certainly is a pushy bastard. His comment about Megan not drinking coffee and considering cutting back on work and then stopping work, were I am sure made with genuine concern for her and for a potential baby, but he is bordering on being insufferable IMO. Me too @drsawzall. I nearly peed myself laughing (much to my disgust with myself) when Dr Kinky called Megan "sugarpuss". It reminded me of Sheena Easton's song Sugar Walls, written by none another than the Purple One, he who wrote some of the filthiest lyrics ever before he became "born again"(remember Darling Nikki?). Absolute smut; glorious pop. A riotous chapter @Andr0gene. Callum certainly has a very quick wit, but he may have met his match in Scribblyboy.

It's a real "grower" rather than a "shower" this one @centexhairysub. It took me some time to warm to Vaughan as I initially thought him all style with little substance. His genuine concern for Greg has really surprised and impressed me. OMG they look delicious @Cane23. My mouth is watering thinking of them with some of my home made tomato soup or with grapes, cheeses and champagne.

Perhaps Snowy is being very clever and democratic @Paladin in allowing the students to select the material and have a rough idea of a storyline before he sweeps in like Sister Mary Clarence and wraps it all up in a wholesome polished storyline which will be acceptable to even the most traditional of the school administration.

@weinerdog if the song choice is restricted to rock music it may make it a little more difficult than if the choice is the broader "pop music". I had a good laugh thinking of the song choices if it was restricted to rap and/or hip hop; the prominent lyrics "yo, ho, motherfucker, bitches and pussy" would result in the administration of the school having a meltdown. I have restrained myself fellow readers and not offered any song suggestions when the @Summerabbacat beast is barely being contained with song titles galore waiting to escape from multiple genres. Disco, R&B, Philly soul, pop, jazz, easy listening, country, hip-hop and maybe even a little "rock" and opera. With over 2,000 CD's and vinyl albums in my collection I could offer many a suggestion. I have every confidence in those who are wanting to participate that they will come up with some great choices, although I hope it is not dominated by white, male, rock/pop singers/groups. Ben is a hoot, well aware of what is developing and what may develop between Tim and Guy. He is a regular Cupid and I bet he has a very impressive "bow and arrow" of his own. As a number of my fellow readers have stated, what a marvellous friend he is to Tim and Guy, the type of friend many of us could have thrived with in our formative years. Alas times were different then. I am loving this story @Mark Ponyboy Peters. It has not necessarily influenced my choice of music to listen to in the past week, but I have revisited the joys of the music of the Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, The O'Jays, Alison Moyet's solo debut Alf and George Michael's brilliant solo debut Faith. None of them rock, largely soul/R&B/disco classics from yesteryear. Utter bliss.

I really enjoy your British colloquialisms, which you have used often in your four stories published to date. You have created such interesting, diverse and unfused couples in Brian and Gordon, Owain and Colin, Keith and Thomas and now Vaughan and Dante. I am finding it increasingly difficult to pick a favourite of the four stories as all deliver such enjoyment to the reader.

The Greg/Donald Mitchell storyline is emerging as a very interesting development, perhaps not as intriguing as the Francis Heyward storyline, but one with a great deal of human interest. I find the relationship between Greg and Len fascinating, I have never known any gay man or men as "blokey" as either. Len's comment “I love him to bits, but Greg’s what my Mum calls a restless soul. I don’t think he’s sorted all this stuff out in his head yet”, he gave an expressive shrug, “mebbe he won’t ever. But I sure as hell hope all this getting stuff into the open helps. I want him to stay something rotten, I really do.” was profoundly moving, not at all "blokey". A wonderful chapter @Robert Hugill and once again I had to consult a dictionary for the meaning of a word, this time gaff. I knew the meaning of gaffe, but don't think I have ever come across the word gaff before.

Like Adam I did not know what an Egg McMuffin is @Gary L and after looking it up on the 'net it was even more disgusting than I thought it might be. Your comment🤮 sums it up perfectly. I may have eaten a Big Mac back in the late 1970's, but the last time I recall eating anything from McDonalds would have likely been in the late 1980's early 1990's when I was pescatarian and ate a Filet-O-Fish (which I have to wonder if it was even fish). I didn't mind their fries though. Kai will make his relationship with Adam work because he is sensitive to Adam's quirks and recognised immediately Megan had overstepped the mark by coming around at 8.15am and uninvited by Adam. Adam was far politer than I would have been if I was in his shoes. 8.15am RUDE. Megan by herself at that time of the morning may be bearable, but combine her with hyperactive "Baldy" would be enough for me to have a hissy fit, too much noise and excitement too early in the day. Terrific chapter @Andr0gene. I don't know why this is the case, but I was really surprised when you described Dr Kinky as "He towered over her, with Megan craning her neck and I held my breath". Either Megan is very short or he is much taller than I had pictured him.

OMG @John Henry. To quote an American band (if a duo is a band) I do like, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Say It Isn't So. I have just read about her and was not at all surprised to read her church was the subject of alleged financial improprieties (how often is this the case). And WTF are the "satanic pregnancies"? I cannot believe people fall this kind of bullshit and donate money. That money could be put to such good use in principled hands. She appears to be very fond of cosmetic refreshment too. Is that part of the prosperity gospel ethos? And people lampooned Tammy Fay Bakker?

Is that the Log Cabin Republicans you are referring to or are there others even more conservative than they? I have to say I have never intentionally listened to Journey, although I have heard the odd song here and there. I would group them with REO Speedwagon, Survivor and Kansas (all of whom I unfortunately heard as a teenager on my local radio station on which Casey Kasem's American Top 40 was broadcast). Not a fan at all. Are they known for their support of the right?

And you are succeeding @John Henry. I think he is perhaps your best drawn character in this story; a very believable mix of teenage angst and cockiness. He has certainly done some stupid things, but he is intrinsically a very kind, caring and protective mid teen boy, the kind whom it would be hard to stay annoyed with for long I think. I find his vulnerability his most attractive characteristic, maybe because he has tried so hard to conceal and at times crush it, but is now realising that such behaviour is not healthy. It is easy to see why Diego, Steve and Caleb love him so much.

I adore cats of any age so choosing to read this story was a "no brainer". The kittens and cats are as I expected, beautiful and personality plus, but what I did not expect was to be so delighted by their human friends, Evan and Maison. Of course like all entertaining stories there has to be at least one character who is less than engaging, and in this case it is two who are totally abhorrent. The premise of the story is one I am very familiar with. My youngest is at times "difficult" to find inside my apartment and usually does not show herself when "hiding" until I have reached the near-hysteria stage. You would think after all these years I would be wise to her ways, but alas I am not. Who is the smart one in this relationship? A great story which I too would love to see "fleshed out" into a lengthier tale.

I almost fell off my chair laughing at Bryan's comment Chris. It was certainly hilarious and demonstrated that he is a very quick-witted teenager, far more so than he has ever appeared to be.

As much as I despise the Christian right @John Henry I don't think they alone spout this bullshit about "traditional families". I think you would find the conservative members of any religion would hold similar views, some no doubt even more extreme than the Christian right, in fact right-wing nutters in general likely hold similar views when it comes to traditional families. We are also a product of our times and experiences. I was listening to the album Family Reunion by The O'Jays two nights ago and as is usually the case I was cringing at the lyrics of the title track. The album was released in 1975 and had I heard it then, my 11 year old self would probably have reacted only marginally, if at all, to some of the lyrics, which are by comparison to the rhetoric of the Christian right quite tame.

For some reason I cannot get multi-quote in one comment to work today (and if I see one more fucking ad for Temu you will hear me swearing all the way over here in Australia). According to Wiktionary @weinerdog the word shittiness means badness, crappiness, horribleness, suckiness or fuckedness. I have certainly seen the word shittiness spelt as such in other stories and/or written works before.