Summerabbacat

But what about your marmalade?

Their first misunderstanding and Bart's sage advice proved to be Keith's catalyst for courage. Keith so hesitant to speak to Thomas and frightened of the potential outcome, Thomas so forthright and sensitive to Keith's worries. Beautifully written @Robert Hugill. These two lads have grown on me so, I now think of them as fondly as I did of Owain and Colin. And the appearance of another of these young, handsome and randy young Italian men. Delizioso.

She is blonde and I have mentioned her given name only in comments before @Cane23. She is dangerous, a menace and wilfully stupid. Ms Alaska is a brain surgeon in comparison.

@Zuri's comments about the motivation for Manny and Bass' marriage had me pondering, how many people marry for love as their sole or primary motivation and how many marry for any number of other reasons, without love even entering the equation? If, as speculated in Western countries at least, the majority of people marry for love as their only or primary motivation, then the divorce rates in Western countries would suggest the majority of those who marry are fools or at least overly-optimistic. If this story was steeped in reality, I doubt Manny and Bass would have been able to adopt Rocky with such ease. Given the wealth of the Tanner family, such an adoption may well have come to the attention of vultures like 'Moms For Liberty' and/or the 'Southern Baptist Convention', and if there is one thing the bitches from the former and the nutters from the latter do well, it is spread lies and hate about the "evil of the gays". They would have mobilised protests, made hate speeches and created all kinds of mayhem and hysteria to stop such an "abomination" taking place (thus raising their own profile and cash reserves, purely with honourable intentions of course). A certain Republican representative from Georgia who shall remain nameless for the sake of @Cane23 would be all over something like this like flies on a cow pat (a much more appropriate analogy for her). I have to say any opportunity to erase these people from reality is a welcome respite, and that is not meant to diss @Zuri in any way (and I am not even an American @Zuri, but the aforementioned are purely evil, a blight on humanity). This is my first exposure to the literary talents of @Lee Wilson and I have to say I have enjoyed the exposure. I have also been overjoyed to read many of the comments made by the faithful (and there is definitely no religious connotation to this comment), and have found much comfort in the humour of many. With the death of two of my beloved felines in the past three months, stories and comments thereon on GA have brought some degree of comfort to me at times of overwhelming sadness, and for that I am thankful. And, finally I must point out a spelling error in this chapter @Lee Wilson, perhaps the greatest Freudian slip ever, and I insist you do NOT correct it: “This website says, we need two witnesses, Bass.” “Let’s have four. We’ll let Rocky stay home tomorrow and we’ll all go.” “Really? Tomorrow?” Ass smiled, “Why not? “Why not, indeed.”

I see that Elvis and Fine Young Cannibals have been hard at work with you again @drsawzall. Your Suspicion Mind(s) has/have come to the fore again. I wondered about the legitimacy of Paola T, but did not think of the money laundering aspect. Your first suspicion though is the most impressive.

Tangelo and lime. Now you are talking my language @Paladin. I imagine that combination would be quite tart and thus would appeal to my taste buds greatly.

I "borrowed" (stole) it from Peggy Lee @Doha. On her album The Man I Love she included a song entitled Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe. I like the song and thought the title quite clever (and corny too, but it was recorded in 1957). I thought it leant itself well to being "borrowed" for this delightful chapter.

Brilliant deduction @CincyKris. It makes perfect sense, but the question remains, for me at least, have the dodgy dealings ceased or are they more cleverly hidden now?

The purpose of a seduction crossed my mind too @Cane23, but I failed to think of the most obvious commodity for smuggling as you have so cleverly speculated. Maybe one or more of your randy tenants may like to make such a purchase.

One of your best physical descriptions of a character yet @Robert Hugill with Paolo described as "she was well-upholstered, to put it mildly. Chignon, severe yet elegant dress with sleek lines that probably owed something to firm corsetry." Mutton dressed as lamb perhaps, albeit very expensively dressed, not something you would find in WalMart or its Italian equivalent. And Vaughan's description of Tony's "crinkly grey hair, not unlike a Brillo pad" reminded me of Joanna Lumley's description of a former US president's hair as like an "orange Brillo pad". Dante is very observant, vocational hazard I would think, but it is something which may be useful for Vaughan too. His comment about Paola and Tony's dear friends more likely being a "renta crowd" was very amusing and was supported by Vaughan's skepticism that the non-arty crowd were genuine friends. The intrigue of shady business dealings concluded the evening for Dante and Vaughan with the former dismissing any possible drug-related shenanigans. Drugs aside what else could it be? Human trafficking from Eastern Europe, arms smuggling, art forgeries? All shall be revealed, if there is in fact anything to be revealed, in the fullness of time.

Even to a dispassionate outsider, Blair's excuse appeared feeble at best and disingenuous at worst. Add to the mix a teenage mind conflicted and confused by his changing feelings for his best friend Blair and waaaaaaaayyyyyyy too much alcohol, and you have one very traumatised Alex. In Blair's defence, I perceive a teenager with anxiety issues of his own, particularly his insecurity about his new school environment, and a mind also conflicted and confused by his changing feelings for his best friend Alex. Add the two together, stir and shake, and you have one fucked up situation. In some respects I believe Alex's reaction is exactly what was needed for both boys to address the elephant in the room. Far better he be brutally honest, otherwise the trouble between the two festers and neither knows where they stand, and voila you have a Bold And The Beautiful scenario where for the next 10 years they dance around each other, too scared to know what the other is really thinking as it might destroy their friendship/relationship. I have to say I do not recall finding Matt obnoxious in the first "draft" of this story @matcha, but on this occasion I am finding him just a little annoying and somewhat condescending. Wes appears larger than life again and James delightfully nerdy again. The "Country Club" sounded bloody awful.

My goodness you are "in the wars" at the moment you poor lad. Perhaps you can convince Dan Levy to pay you a visit and give you some well deserved TLC, and maybe whisk you off to tropical island for some R and R. I was pleased to see Counsellor Clarke attempt to reign in Miss Diesel Tailpipe when she verballed Diego. For the first time ever I actually had a fleeting sympathy for him having to represent such trash. Not surprisingly now Calvin is no longer interested in reacquiring Bryan, he has become Diego's "little bastard". Perhaps you can arrange for Miss Diesel Tailpipe to acquire a case of toxic tampon syndrome @John Henry. If Calvin is fucking her unprotected I would be very surprised if she has not come into contact with any number of bacteria. The thought is enough to make one puke. I have to confess I was surprised by the number of times Diego was molested by Calvin. I suspect Counsellor Clarke will play on that when he cross-examines Diego. And as for Billy's final witness? I have to wonder if he has left his trump card until last, and I have to wonder if his trump card may be Calvin Sr, who from what has previously been stated, has no love for his son. His testimony may be very damaging, particularly if he has some idea as to why Calvin is so interested in reacquiring Caleb.

Bruce's transgressions are far worse than what one could have imagined. Sex with a two year old is truly sick. His father presented as far more reasonable in this chapter and unless he was lying to Manny and Bass, it does not appear he is the source of Bruce's homophobia. He may not win "father of the year", but it does not appear he is the deadbeat he presented as in the previous chapter. Rocky accepted his punishment far better than I thought he would, particularly given he was not punished for bad behaviour by his father and/or stepmother before their untimely demise. In some respects their deaths may have been a blessing in disguise for Rocky. A chapter filled with surprises @Lee Wilson.

Weird, perhaps, but interesting, at least to me @Paladin. I am far more likely to remember this than what the chemical symbol for beryllium is (I just looked this up but 5 minutes ago and have forgotten it already), who the king/queen of England was in 1483, who the first Prime Minister of Canada was (I don't even know who it was in Australia, let alone Canada), what Kim Kardashian's favourite colour is or what year Facebook was first introduced.

I actually quite like the dark chocolate Tim Tams if they still make them @Paladin, but I am like one of those gluttonous teens if I buy them, so I don't. I do not like the original Tim Tams and all the other flavoured ones do not appeal at all (I tried the raspberry Tim Tams once as I love raspberries, but they were too sickly sweet).

OMG @chris191070, that is just too "funny". I often say to people the most disgusting food I can think of as far as taste and smell goes is bacon and eggs. If I ever smell them cooking I have to close all my doors as I feel so nauseous. Fortunately my current neighbours are vegan so I never smell those horrible smells. Bacon to me is such a peculiarity. I have a number of friends who are Jewish, and who although not observant, will not eat pork, with one exception, they love bacon. I have another acquaintance who like me is vegetarian, but he occasionally gets a craving for bacon and will eat it, the thought of which makes me feel ill. I have on a number of occasions had a nightmare about eating meat when I visit someone who cooks me a meal and tells me it contains vegan meat substitute and I eat it, only for them to reveal it was real meat. I have woken feeling very distressed. I am a hypocrite though as I still eat dairy cheese because vegan cheese is almost as disgusting as bacon and eggs.

Aaaahhhh. The 1960's TV series of Batman, still my favourite of all the Batman-related productions, starring my favourite villain, the fabulous and statuesque Julie Newmar as Catwoman. Just purrrrrrfect.

I am assuming you meant Bruce sounds a bit masochistic @Cane23 rather than Bass. Maybe this is what confused @Lee Wilson.

I think I may have tasted marmite @chris191070 and was not impressed with it. I have not eaten vegemite for a long time. As a youngster I recall my mother adding hot water to it and giving it to my brothers and I in winter if we got heavy colds. I did not mind it as a child on toast, mostly when I was sick. Mind you as a child I liked eggs too, now I cannot stand the smell, taste or appearance of them, as well as them being non-vegetarian.

I did add Tiffany to the mix this time @Cane23.

I was wondering if there is a mother in the picture. I have to wonder if her name is Marjorie or Lauren or perhaps Tiffany.

I think I am one of the few Aussie's of my generation (born in 1963) who does not like them @chris191070, but then I don't really like Vegemite either.

I have read that Robert Plant really liked Dolly's cover of Stairway To Heaven. I grew up in the 1970's and 1980's too @BoyLove. I am not a fan of rock music, although I am not sure what fits neatly into what is classed as rock music. Queen certainly recorded a lot of music I would think is rock and I have most of their albums on CD and I really like Heart too, especially the Dreamboat Annie and Little Queen albums and some of their "big hair" classic singles, especially Alone. I think Ann Wilson has an extraordinary voice and I particularly like the songs she and Nancy wrote together.

"He is not very smart". Beautifully understated and very polite @akascrubber. The man is an idiot. We now know from whom Bruce inherited his "stupid" and it sounds as if Bruce may be well on his way to resembling his "morbidly obese" father in physique too. I suspect Daddy Wilmer has exaggerated Bruce's condition too, hoping to frighten Manny to part with some serious cash. Manny's reaction to Rocky's getting into a fight again was very measured. Again I am surprised just how effective his parenting skills are. Clearly he is a "natural" at this parenting gig, perhaps a reflection on his own parents. Although I don't think Rocky should have started the fight today, I had to admire his quick wit when he responded to Bruce's "Where were you yesterday, some faggot's convention?" with "Couldn't have been, you weren't there." Rocky is a hot little firecracker @Lee Wilson. I think he needs to reign it in though before he does someone some serious damage.

You raise a very good point @Paladin which I had given no thought to at all. A logical conclusion for an outsider to draw would be that Ollie has been placed in foster care with a relative of some description, in which Chris being related to 'Crackhouse Chrissie' would also be a logical conclusion to draw. I don't recall any Tim Tam's at Lachlan's parties either, but with Chris and teens present there is always a strong possibility that there are Tim Tam's in the near vicinity at least, not that any guests would likely get to sample even one with those ravenous teens present.