Summerabbacat

@drsawzall summed up my thoughts perfectly and for once I cannot add anything further, other than agree with @Paladin that both Rocky and Manny are developing a real affection for each other, which is beneficial to both.

A terrific story from a talented and relatively new writer @Paladin. The strength of the story is in the authenticity of the characters and the manner in which the author presents the commonplace situations in which they find themselves, although there is one storyline which is anything but commonplace. The characters are for the most part likeable and characters (at least the likeable ones) with whom most readers I imagine will identify to at least some extent. The story is set in Australia, outside of any of the capital cities, but in a large regional centre. The locale although not integral to the story, does add to its attraction. There is plenty of humour, some of it quintessentially Australian, and one storyline which is dark, unpleasant and at times very intense. To the credit of the author this storyline has been written with compassion, discretion and to its benefit, without melodrama. It is the latter which I admired the most, the storyline is presented factually, allowing the reader to experience whatever emotion is most appropriate for them, without being cajoled or manipulated into feeling the "expected" emotions. Celebrations abound in this story with descriptions of food and beverages aplenty. I have on a number of occasions in writing comments "teased" the author regarding the prevalence of Tim Tams on the menu. They are a beloved Australian chocolate biscuit, some would say iconic, which I dislike intensely.

An exceptionally well-written story set in the late 1990's/early 00's which has not dated and has universal appeal. The story premise, two boys meet in their pre-teen years and as they mature they realise a new facet to their friendship has crept up on them in their teenage years. There is plenty of action, with the boys, Luke and Matt, facing the usual hardships which many teenagers do with family and friends. Throw in several unpleasant and one particularly nasty character and you have a story which is as authentic as the characters themselves. @Mark Ponyboy Peters has written several stories in which Luke and Matt feature as the main cast or supporting characters and this is the first. To quote Molly Meldrum, a well known Australian from my youth and that of the author, "do yourself a favour" and read this story set against the beauty and sunshine of the Australian urban landscape. I guarantee you will not be sorry you do.

I certainly don't want you to lose your left testicle @drsawzall, but it would not surprise me either to learn that Judge Crustypants aka Stephen Arthur is related to the Beck/Thomas/Martin knuckle-dragging flat-earthers. Perhaps Mrs Donald Beck, as I have no doubt she would insist on being addressed, is the former Betsy Mae Arthur, Stephen Arthur's younger sister, once a beauty, now a wizened old hag who has suffered years of mental and physical abuse at the hands of the bully who is her husband, the Reverend Donald Beck. She produced three God-fearing children, Debra Beck now Debra Thomas, Donald Beck Jr and the baby of the family, little Bobbie Sue Beck now Bobbie Sue Martin. If as you suggest @drsawzall incest is a favourite family game I hope they don't participate in another abhorrent sexual perversion and don't have any pets. What an unhealthy environment for a boy like Lewis to be raised in. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who are all bullies and book burners, all completely unhinged and violent. You must remove him from this heinous environment @John Henry. Perhaps Billy and Trevor can adopt him as a brother for Kenny. Perhaps @John Henry you can also arrange for the entire Beck/Thomas/Martin clan, bar Lewis, to be present at a rally in their compound to denounce the sinning blighting their town and its school(s). The former superintendent Angela Ridgeway (Ritchfield) should also be a guest speaker at this hillbilly hoedown to stir the flames of hatred. Unbeknownst to all present, flames of a very different kind are about to engulf the compound, leaving nothing but a pile of ash trash. The good Reverend, unbeknownst to his family and flock, has a very expensive habit, one which he indulges using the proceeds from the church collection plates. He fails to ensure that maintenance is regularly conducted on the compound and a massive gas leak is imminent. His expensive habit is cocaine and high class hookers, but on this occasion it will be gas that will ensure he is well and truly fucked.

My bark is worse than my bite, unless the health and/or safety of my beloved felines is threatened. I am least fond of our species, and The Monolith represents a number of the things I dislike most about our species.

Although it is somewhat dependant on how much @matcha has changed this story, I think you will enjoy it @Al Norris. It has some very intriguing plots and several characters who you will just love to hate, much like your standard "mean girls" in movies like Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion, Heathers and Clueless, except this time the mean girls are mean gay boys, who make all those mean girls look like amateurs.

I agree, but I also still think Charlie dug up some "dirt" on Crusty which Billy disclosed to him and he, Crusty, is reminded of every time he sees Billy smiling (smirking) politely at him in court.

I have just read about the Pillsbury Doughboy @Al Norris and I imagine The Monolith enjoys many of the products he represents by the shovelful, but somehow I cannot imagine her giving off a warm chuckle if poked in the belly, more likely a gust of wind.

More merriment and mischief in the lives of our intrepid explorers. Alison again proved her weight in gold with “Don’t tell me you got a stiffie!” and "You need a thicker towel". Quick witted and not at all uncomfortable discussing and seeing the humorous side of Thomas' and Keith's embarrassment. I sense she would be equally comfortable taking the piss out of herself and laughing at any physical embarrassments she could encounter as a female. She appears to have genuinely enjoyed the company of Thomas and Keith and not because they presented "no threat" to her as gay men. I was also very impressed with her remark "You should be proud of your eye for detail. Don’t be embarrassed, just think that us plebs only get the general impression, but you see a lot more.” Thomas' wit also came to the fore again with the hilarious"Keith with much deliberation had chosen a cocktail, one that had white rum and lime juice in it. When it appeared there was much comment, Thomas said it looked like an extra from ‘Hawaii Five-O' whilst Alison simply rolled her eyes. But once he’d fought his way past the flowers and the umbrella, it tasted fab." And finally, the conversation revealing annoying habits. They cannot possibly be this perfect or this easy-going, can they? What joy you have created with these two characters @Robert Hugill. And to think they were your first, the progenitors' for all your other charming and delightful characters who occupy the Hugillverse.

Actually I must stop referring to Aunt Margaret as a sea-calf as such animals are beautiful whereas Margaret has neither inner nor outer beauty. From now on I shall refer to her to as the monolith as she is large and has a heart of stone with the mind and attitude to match.

The identity of the hate-filled spray painter? My guess is that it is Davo as he did indicate to Hoss that he would "get back" at Matt for having one-upped him. What better way to get back at Matt than to attempt to destroy something he loves, something he worked hard for, his beloved black Holden Commodore. I wonder if such property destruction would now be considered a hate crime as it is almost certain it is not just some childish prank? The scenes between Luke's mother and father and then between Luke's father, himself and Matt were beautifully poignant @Mark Ponyboy Peters. I found Luke's forgiveness of his father not only for his own sake but for the sake of his mother too profoundly moving. This is where my generosity of spirit ends though. If and when Tony is proven to be a liar any gesture of apology on his part should be rebuffed by both Luke and Matt, they should turn their back on him. If a miracle occurs and the sea-calf attempts to apologise such apology should also be rebuffed. I hope when Tony is proven to be a liar Luke's mother takes to the sea-calf with a cricket bat. I feel there is a hint of hope for this fractured family @Mark Ponyboy Peters, the only thorn in their side still the poisonous sea-calf and her spineless son. Perhaps you can arrange for a fatal car accident on their return journey to Sydney @Mark Ponyboy Peters, with the driver at least a fatality statistic.

Most definitely, but I doubt I could deliver it with the same degree of acerbity and panache as Billy. He is all style AND substance.

OMG I hope this is NOT what I have to look forward to later this decade. I think I will have to continue to always cook for myself if this is the best which is on offer.

And he understandably is having way too much fun revealing Calvin Turdblossom's real character and Judge Crustypants incompetence and bias.

Welcome back @matcha. The first change I noticed is the locale, a move from Florida to the ironically named (perhaps) Paradise Hills. The description of the cookie-cutter houses made them sound hideous, I had visions of Desperate Housewives, Knot's Landing and The Stepford Wives all rolled into one very unattractive suburban mass. The second, and most significant change, is a more detailed history of Blair and Alex, the events which led to the present. I recall it being mentioned a fight brought the two together, but the details of what led to the fight and its aftermath are a new revelation, and I must say an improvement to the story as a whole. We know a little more now about the death of Blair's parents and the sudden appearance of Alex a a young age in a new environment and the angst that these brought to both their young lives. They were united by grief and a radical disruption to their lives and bonded because of this. The thing that struck me the most with this chapter though, and I do not recall feeling this as strongly when you delivered the story in its first incarnation @matcha, is that although Blair and Alex are very different in many ways, they are both, unbeknownst to the other, pining for the same thing, the love of the other. It was very apparent from the get-go previously that Blair yearned for the love of Alex, but I don't recall it being as immediate for Alex, or perhaps my recollection is not as good as I thought. Whatever, that was then and this is now. And now has started with a sense of joy masking a sense of abandonment for both Blair and Alex. I look forward to this "revised" journey in the lives of Blair and Alex and those who come into their lives as their journey continues.

The trial has become a farce, a circus starring not one but three clowns, Judge Crustypants, Counsellor Clarke and Calvin "Turdblossom" (LOL thank you @drsawzall for this hilarious name). If Crusty has any more outbursts like the one during this court session he very well may "die on the job" and it won't be in the arms of a hooker. I have to agree with @weinerdog YET AGAIN. I think Kenny should be informed his mother is not responding to treatment thus far, with the disclaimer that if she does not, Billy and Trevor would like the option of adopting him if he is agreeable to this. His whole life appears to have been one of uncertainty and this uncertainty could be "put to bed" if Billy and Trevor sit down and discuss this with him and present him with the option of adoption. Well @John Henry, the trial has to date been mostly tense and at times infuriating but this session really did descend into farce. Although the revelations were dark and disturbing the performance of the three clowns, primarily Crustypants, made it exceptionally amusing.

As a species we universally believe we are smarter to stroke our own egos. Combine this with the tenets of many religions many humans follow which elevate humans to being the "superior being" or "God's chosen species" and one can see why so many are so easily fooled into believing we are smarter. In some respects we are, but in so many we are not. Rocky finally broke and showed he has feelings of compassion after all. There is hope for the lad yet, he just has to drop the homophobic rhetoric and may be a half-way decent person. Vulnerable Bass, a hard concept for many to imagine given his large frame. And @Cane23's description of his transition from ugly duckling to hot bull. Most apt and amusing.

I did a little "research" on the 'net and found the following (I don't know accurate or old the data is): The top 10 states for fraud of all types per capita are: Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Delaware, Michigan, Texas, Maryland, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee The state with the most fraud committed against senior citizens (who are allegedly technologically the most vulnerable): Florida The state with the most investment fund related fraud: Utah The state with the most identity theft fraud: Michigan The state with the biggest fraud bill is unsurprisingly California which as the most populous makes sense.

Now that's what I call a bombshell. Fuck me, Calvin is really, really, really stupid as well as really, really, really vile. I would say he is well and truly fucked, royally fucked one might say. Mrs Knutson, if it were not for the red hair and the fact she was carrying a few extra pounds, I would have had an image of her something akin to Brigitte Nielsen. It seems your suspicions, which I supported, were well-founded @weinerdog. I wonder who Christopher Martin has connections too. I sincerely hope it is both the Thomas' and the odious twat Carolyn Mitchell. Surely if there has been an incitement of violence against a child by Debra Thomas and/or Carolyn Mitchell they will have to be held accountable, even in Homophobe Central. If it has been orchestrated by one of these right-wing parents' groups who rejoice in re-writing history in accordance with their beliefs and burning books which don't suit their agenda, then I hope Billy and Diego unleash a lawsuit against them which will decimate their financial base and see multiple members imprisoned, or perhaps even worse still for them, living impoverished lives in beige ill-fitting track suits without any access to breast augmentation, botox, dermal fillers and ozone depleting hairspray. Outstanding chapter @John Henry. Brigitte with her hair dyed red and a few extra pounds has I believe destroyed any last shred of credibility Calvin maintained. Now bring forth hell for the knuckle-dragging flat-earthers.

My "snark" was more a comment on the fiduciary obligations rather than the elder abuse @Al Norris.

Let's hope its a large one otherwise she won't fit @Paladin.

You are a reasonable and obviously well educated man @drsawzall and I assume you live in Massachusetts or in close proximity thereto, a region of the USA I as an Aussie believe, perhaps naively, is a bastion of proper due diligence and civilised conduct on the whole. Again as an Aussie, I believe one cannot expect such behaviour is observed across the board, particularly in "red" states and/or by those with "red" leanings.

Me too @Al Norris. It's a beauty.

Like an aggressive sea-calf Margaret stormed in flapping her fucking fins and bellowing her hate-filled lies, hellbent on causing as much trouble as she can for Luke and Matt. Whilst I have some sympathy for Tony (just a smidgen) he is essentially a spineless lying little weasel, who is aiding and abetting his incubator in her quest to destroy the lives of two teenagers whom she has deemed are not living according to "God's plan". It is about time she was harpooned and taught a lesson about life; her bloated ego and opinion of herself prove she is fucking delusional. Once Tony is proved to be a liar, both he and his mother should be charged with making a false statement to the police and told NEVER to return. I hope Luke's mother, whom I assume is the unfortunate one related to Margaret, tells her to fuck off and stay out of her life for good. SHE, Margaret, is the abomination, not her nephew or son. @Mark Ponyboy Peters you have created a grotesque harridan in Margaret. One could be forgiven for believing you must be prophetic in giving her this name, but it is a relatively common name. I cannot recall if it is ever mentioned if she enjoys a game of tennis. The tension you created in this chapter is palpable, such that I can physically feel it myself. I cannot recall for sure what happens to Margaret, but I am almost certain she does not get what she truly deserves (a lengthy stay with "Queen Bea", "The Freak" and "Vinegar T*@s").

I had forgotten this @weinerdog and you are right to be concerned. Hopefully it was solely related to Phil entering the hospital rather than being cared for at home, although given Roger's involvement I expect the worst. Unlike some of my fellow readers who are far more reasonable minded than I, I feel no degree of charitableness towards Roger. He is a small minded prig as far as I am concerned (and that is charitable as I am prepared to be towards to him).