Summerabbacat

I cannot take credit for that. If one is, then @Paladin must take full responsibility for another member of that vile family. LOL.

I made them up @Ivor Slipper; a little "frivolity" which I have been "guilty" of before. @Paladin's comment about the "shadow of the Thompson family" being still present in the town motivated me to do so. I was going to refer to the them as Yobbo #1, 2, 3 and 4, but could not help myself, they just had to have names.

A very well-written and informative chapter for some of the characters and for we readers alike @Vcs. This chapter started with the informative, the revelations from CC and Shir to Mannly of the full extent of their relationship, and then to Jake and Mannly of the attraction which each holds for the other. The latter led to one of the funnier interactions in this story to date: “You two... You two are just too gosh darn cute!” CC struggled. “Well, what are you both doing still sitting at opposite ends of the sofa? I don’t think either will bite.” “At least not unless the other asks." Shir laughed and winked at them both." The latter half of the chapter turned "dark" with Jake's revelation to the men that the three men who heinously assaulted Mannly, may intend to return to Two Spirits Horse Ranch to finish what they started. The sudden change in mood in the room was palpable, with all in attendance pledging to protect Mannly, Shir, CC and each other. Well done @Vcs. You crafted a chilling suspense by chapter's end without melodrama.

I particularly like your comment in bold text @centexhairysub. I think it is testament to Levi's character growth, that the comments made by the arseholes bothered him, particularly with regard to Matt and Luke. The Levi we first met would likely have agreed with the arseholes, albeit without saying so, as this was what his bigoted and tyrannical grandfather had preached to him. I suspect that with confidence, Levi may even begin to defend Matt and Luke against the ignorant comments made about them as he is a teenager with principles. He may never be a Harvey Milk, but I don't think he will remain silent, particularly if he starts to experience same-sex attraction, which he has hinted at. If he does I hope he seeks Father Costas' counsel as that is when his grandfather's beliefs imposed on him will sorely test him.

Children are invariably vile @Gary L. I was called "four eyes" in kindergarten because I had thick bottle-top glasses and was relatively smart and very well-behaved (I did not start swearing until much later @weinerdog). By the age of 10, "poof" or "poofter" had started to creep into the vocabulary of some of my classmates, but I have to say it did not bother me as it was not said with any real malice, or none that I can remember. By the age of 12, some of my classmates and older children were starting to call me zit head (in reference to my hideous acne) or metal mouth (in reference to my "railway track" braces on upper and lower teeth). The only nicknames which really hurt were those directed at me because of my acne. It is my recollection that, perhaps not totally accurate, girls were much nastier than boys, complete bitches some were. I can still remember the names of two I hated, neither of whom was intellectually blessed, and only one of whom had any degree of physical beauty. I certainly swore at them @weinerdog, although I don't think I was using the "c" word as yet, unlike now when that is exactly what I would call them to their face. Levi being referred to as "Churchie" was fairly mild and may not have been said with derision, although more than likely it was. When I was at school @weinerdog, at the same time as @Mark Ponyboy Peters, it was not "cool" to be religious as the majority were not, certainly at a public school. It was also not uncommon to be given a nickname rather than being called by your given name. Invariably a nickname was a variation of your family name or your second given name or something totally different e.g. when I was in Year 7, there were 7 boys named David, myself included, in my class alone. Not one of us was called David by our classmates. In fact, very few males were called by their given name. It may have been different for girls amongst other girls. The comments made by the arseholes, Thommo (Blake Thompson), Jacko (Hamish Jackson), Smithy (James Smith) and Eddie (Christopher Edwards), were as you said @gary, utterly awful. I can only surmise that, as did @weinerdog, their parents have become aware of the new boy in town and with whom he is living, as Levi did not disclose any details of where he lived and the name of his father. I found it interesting Levi has retained Julie's family name of Chambers. I wonder if he will ever change it to Parsons for convenience sake. Jimmy certainly gives the impression of being a friendly and pleasant lad. Hopefully his parents are not amongst those townsfolk who refer to Levi's new home at Beachside Lane as the "gay house". Whatever their beliefs, Jimmy will be made welcome by Matt, Luke etc should he choose to visit Levi. Matt is very aware Levi had few friends back at home with Julie and his tyrannical grandfather, and is determined to see that change. He is encouraging Levi to experience friendship without being pushy. A very well written chapter as usual @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I strongly suspect the word "poofters" has been almost universally replaced with the word "faggots" as spewed by Thommo, Jacko, Smith and Eddie in this chapter, such is the encroachment of American culture on Australia. Personally, I am far more offended by the word "faggot" than by the word "poofter". To some extent I think the word "poofter" has been reclaimed. If anyone was to call me that now I would likely respond with "that's Mr Poofter to you arsehole" (unless I was by myself and then I would likely ignore them).

I hope you have been following your grandfather's sage advice @drsawzall.

Neither. She devours.

A vivid and horrifying image @chris191070. I would not want that mouth near any part of my person.🤮🤮🤮🤮

They likely did not know. Sloppy work again on the part of Detectives Cross and Reyes and Chief Paulson in "overlooking" Caleb is legally represented and not recording their meeting with Blanchard, judge shopping on the part of Diana Holloway who also offered the judge an oral incentive to sign the warrant, and fraudulent documents prepared by Dr Duclose.

"Under" literally @drpaladin?. I do like your thinking.

I recall you recommending The Room Next Door. I vaguely remember trying to source it locally on DVD without success, and searched on eBay and to purchase from overseas was very expensive. I refuse to buy anything on Amazon so that is not an option for me, regardless of the source country and/or the price. And I just read he has a partner whose name is Fernando. Could he be any more perfect @Gary L? Perhaps they have cats named Chiquitita, Andante, Elaine and Cassandra, and live in a home named Mamma Mia, Voulez Vous, Happy Hawaii or Summer Night City. One thing is for certain, I do not imagine Almòdovar is short of Money, Money, Money. Have you ever listened to their album Gracias Por La Musica? It is wonderful, especially Frida's heavily accented Swedish/Spanish vocals.

Bitter Christmas? His films are virtually impossible to obtain now in Australia as he has not had a "hit" film for many years, and I cannot recall the last one shown at the cinema. The most recent film of his which I saw only by purchasing it on DVD was The Skin I Live In, which was released 15 years ago. All About My Mother remains my favourite. I vaguely recall you saying Volver is your favourite and I must say I too think it is a spectacular film and it is in my top 5, along with Kika, Law Of Desire (my first Almòdovar experience) and Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown. The only one I have seen which I did not enjoy was The Flower Of My Secret, which I should have enjoyed as Marisa is in it. I think it was because I was so used to him making more outrageous films and this one was so "tame" by comparison. I may have to watch it again (I have it on DVD).

Smart thinking @Topher Lydon; that is why you are the author and I a lowly putz making uneducated guesses as to character motivations and outcomes. I must say Sallyanne's substantially rejuvenated and corrected cleavage and botoxed forehead have taken years off her true age of 77 years. Check her hands though for liver spots, and unless she has had vaginoplasty, she could swallow a three seater lounge when she sits down.

It's Grey Harbour @drpaladin. Judge shopping? More than likely. When Blanchard is alerted and takes action hopefully Dr Duclose will be working as a cleaner in Walmart, Grey Harbour, and Diana Holloway as his "understudy".

He was a little spitfire if I remember correctly, and I liked him already.

"Then, once the IKEA boxes were delivered, he had appeared—much to Mother’s amazement—and proceeded to assemble everything. Meticulously. Far better than I could have done—nothing wobbled. Though he worked with a constant running undertone of cursing, which was frankly hilarious." Is there no end to Neil's practical talents. A skill not to be sneezed at. I have limited myself to purchasing funky lamps (bright orange and bright green) which only need to have a bulb inserted. No Allan key required. I don't know what IKEA is like in other countries, but the one in Sydney is huge. I am not certain of this, but I would guess by the time you have exited the store you may have done your 10,000 steps for the day. "He went bright red as he unfastened his work jeans to reveal... Well, go figure. And we didn’t use a condom. So double cause for celebration." Practical and very sexy. They can frame a somewhat saggy arse (like two empty wallets) and still make it look relatively attractive. Lift and separate. A kebab, not something I have ever had the misfortune of eating either. Filled with questionable meat, which I would not eat even if the quality and source could be guaranteed. In short @Gary L, I don't believe you need to add eating a kebab to your bucket list. Meeting Almòdovar and presenting him with your manuscript is far more important. @Robert Hugill may be able to score the theme music for you. Suggest that to Pedro.

I had the same thought. I can just imagine the conversation. Why did you never try to hit on me Neil? Am I not handsome enough or am I not fancy enough now you have your poncey arty boyfriend, and you're listening to Wagner and the Young Warthog instead of Oasis and Bob Marley?

Diana Holloway. Salope (thank you @Vcs). Not only should Diana be in prison, so should Dr Duclose. Or better still put them both in a psych ward and force feed them totally unsuitable and unnecessary medication as they have Caleb, regularly changing their dosages until they are dribbling into their incontinence pads. If, and I guess it is a big if given it is Grey Harbour, the judge who signed the emergency medical warrant is competent, then presumably he or she was served with fraudulent documents prepared by Dr Duclose. I wonder if Vickie Morrison had dirt on the good doctor and was blackmailing him/her (I cannot remember if Dr Duclose has been gendered)? Caleb's father's return to town must surely be nigh. Hopefully he has a bad business trip and is the mood to rip his ex-wife a new one.

That crystal clear sharp mind of yours @drpaladinto the fore again.

And maybe they all did as I have speculated before.

They were, have been on several occasions if I remember correctly and Caleb doesn’t remember it.

Is Skarg perhaps the skeleton of the real wisdom tree or the good wolf with the branches growing out of its head? I have become somewhat confused by the shifting realities, the past and the present, and the "baddies and the goodies". Fortunately we have @Laura S. Fox as our tour guide to keep us heading in the right direction. All will be revealed in the fullness of time, and I assume a HEA will result for the "goodies" at least.

Unless it is Gary.

"Someone who wasn't trying to use her," he said finally. "Someone who just... was there. That's rare, Cay. Most people want something." Caleb looked at him. At the boy who'd slipped him money in the hallway. Who'd pushed him into lockers so no one would suspect. Who'd waited for him in the woods, night after night, hoping he'd remember. "What do you want?" Caleb asked. Billy's jaw tightened. He looked away. "I want you to be okay," he said. "I want you to remember. Not just me. Everything. I want you to know who you are." "And if I don't know?" "Then we figure it out together." Who murdered Vickie Morrison and is her murderer now continuing her blackmailing enterprise? I am not sure that I really care who murdered Vickie Morrison, nor do I really care who is blackmailing Chloe RichBitch and to a lesser extent Tyler Archer, but I do care who is blackmailing Isaac Foster as he does not deserve to have been treated as he has. What I primarily care about is justice for Caleb; Caleb's mother losing permanent custody of him and being sent to prison. She has committed the "real crime" in Grey Harbour.

“With VBS over, he’s got a lot of free time. Too much free time.” He looked at me. Brief. Pointed. “There have been some distractions lately. New friends. Late nights. Activities that aren’t consistent with what we expect from a Donnelly heading into college.” Thomas Donnelly, what a man. Devoted husband and father. How thoughtful he is, thinking of his son's welfare and future, paramount in the decision making processes. Give that man a medal. Given that man a strychnine-infused enema. “It’ll keep him focused,” Mom added, in the voice she used when she was supporting Dad’s decisions regardless of whether she’d been consulted on them. “Structure is good for young men.” Hopefully Owen will remember this on the day he has to make the decision on whether to turn off Suzanne's life support or maintain her in a vegetative state. Stay focused Owen, switch her off. Keeping her alive is wasting resources. And just think, you can have her funeral with all the fancy trappings done "in house". I am sure Eric will know what is the best for her; he is so understanding and his condolences so genuine. She will look the part with no expense spared by Eric with his phenomenal cosmetic skills. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 And what of Margot. How awfully generous of her to concede Owen needs a day alone with Ryder. The fact it maintains the charade she has orchestrated would never have entered her mind. Not.