Summerabbacat

I have to confess @Talo Segura I only listened to about 1 minute of the song before posting it. I chose it because Dolly like Phil is 78 years of age and I thought the title Welcome Home was apt for the culmination of the story, not only for Phil, but for Susan and Stanley, and Allen and Derek. I also really like Dolly Parton and was having a PM chat with another author, who is a big Dolly Parton fan, earlier on this evening (it is 12.15am Saturday morning in Sydney, Australia).

Now that is just plain mean @Lee Wilson. Maybe Charlie Daniels was right, The Devil Went Down To Georgia, reinvented himself as @Lee Wilson and wrote wonderful stories for GA, but "tormented" his poor readers by withholding "life-saving" information from them.

I hate to think what defence attorneys will do to Steve's psyche in particular @Mancunian. If he is not traumatised already, he surely will be if he is grilled by the incubator's attorney especially. Jill I think may be OK as she has been remarkably strong thus far, unless the abuse she has suffered is even worse than what we are imagining.

The incubator is off to the slammer without spermie by her side. What is in store for her? Maybe Dinah has an idea. Brendan may be a single gay man with no experience raising children but he is sure doing a fine job. His organisational skills are phenomenal. Between he and his brother, Rich, they have provided more enjoyment and fulfilment for their niece and nephews in the space of a few days than spermie and the incubator did in the children's lifetime. Nick's revelation that his intent was to find Brendan's home was not surprising, but the reason for it was. The delicious irony of him looking for a man his mother deemed bad which for Nick meant he must be good. I am looking forward to spermie's arraignment. A welcome home from Bubba awaits.

A fellow 78 year old with a message rather appropriate for the conclusion of this most uplifting of stories:

Not if they can sack you or shoot you first @AustralianEmu. I am an Australian too and things such as this which we have enshrined in legislation, other nations would not dream of contemplating.

This magnificent story proved two things without a shadow of a doubt @Ronyx. Firstly, the delightful Mr Wilbur from Taking Off The Mask was not a flash in the pan because secondly, you are equally adept at writing characters whose teen years are long past with the same degree of authenticity, delight, wit and entertainment, as you are those who are in their teens (dare I say even moreso). Although I am almost 2 decades younger than Phil, @pvtguy's comments resonate with me as do those of @weinerdog, @Al Norris, @Paladin and the Man From Massachusetts, @drsawzall. I enjoyed this story as much as my hitherto favourite @Ronyx masterpieces Brittle As A Bird and Down A Darkened Path. From the tragedy of Phil's stroke emerged a family, both blood and non-blood, who have blended to improve and rejoice in the lives of each other. A family in the truest sense of the word, a little like that family from 28 Barbary Lane.

🎉🎉🎉🥂🥂🥂

Another gem from the master of simplicity. @Robert Hugill has an exceptional talent for making the mundane fascinating, for shaping characters who are as ordinary as most people are, yet making them so appealing that you cannot help but be enthralled by their lives, charmed by the simplest of pleasures which give them joy and fulfilment. This story, like Robert's other completed works, was a rewarding experience to read. I became far more invested in the main characters and some of the delightfully entertaining minor characters than I thought possible when the story commenced. And no story set in the Hugillverse is complete without some of the local idioms, wry descriptions of the physical appearance of some of the characters and architecture, and at times a riotous sense of humour. Robert's first story he wrote he has stated. What a spectacular literary debut.

Oh fuck. You warned us @Robert Hugill, but I am still sad. The sad 'emoticon' is not sufficient though. I want one that is for sobbing, shedding buckets of tears. It is a sad day when the Hugillverse has shrunk by 50%, leaving us with just a smidgen of Hugillisms to look forward to (unless a new story is waiting in the wings or the return of Brian, Gordon, Toby and the rest of the gang is imminent). My "complaints" aside, the story was ended beautifully, Thomas and Keith coming full-circle. Aside from their relationship with each other, it was wonderful to observe Keith being embraced wholeheartedly by Nate and Caroline as part of their family, and both Keith and Thomas extending their circle of friends and activities they enjoy, both singly and together. And for delivering one of the funniest, wittiest and cattiest Hugillisms in this story I nominate Caroline: “The view from the vicarage”, Caroline nodded, “I think it’s a good idea. The trials of living with a saint!” Fucking hilarious.

I agree with several of my learned friends who have speculated Samantha is aware Tim and Guy are a little more than just friends, and to her credit it appears of little if any significance to her. I believe she will prove to be a loyal friend and ally to Tim and Guy if they are given any grief by any of their fellow students. I also think Tim overreacted to Jason's taunt; as expressed by @Cane23 it was as telling what Jason did not say as what he did say which indicates he has no issue with Tim being gay. I perceived Guy's reaction to Tim's rebuff of his desire to fuck him differently from others it appears. Guy was disappointed, but that does not make him a bad person. His ego may have been a little wounded, that makes him human. The rebuff does not seem to have soured his obvious attraction to Tim nor did he behave like a spoilt brat; and for all we know, he may be equally horny for Tim to fuck him. And whilst it appears preparation for Tim's first time bottoming was lacking, Guy may be blessed with exceptional rimming skills, a tongue so formidable he was known at his previous high school as Guy "Gene Simmons" Harding. It gives a whole new meaning to I Was Made For Lovin' You. See that tongue working at 3.03 and imagine Guy's skills working Tim into a dripping frenzy. Another great chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters.

Sorry @Cane23 (well not really), but Amii was discoliciuos and this song fit the theme of the chapter, well certainly the first part of the chapter very well. As for the second part of the chapter, well Amii could have celebrated it with Knock On Wood or Donna could have dropped in with some Hot Stuff. "I hadn’t planned on doing that either. It was actually a first for me, doing such a thing anywhere else other than the bedroom. And I found that I didn’t really care. It really had been my pleasure, giving him that release." OMG Adam, you have so many rooms in your new home, try them all. The laundry can wait, and if not, get yourself a Miele washing machine, they are so efficient that it will probably hang the washing out for you (well maybe not, but the drying time is considerably less because the clothes are spun so well). I am impressed with Adam that he hung the clothes outside to dry rather than loading them straight into a dryer. Well that chapter certainly sizzled @Andr0gene, so much so that I think I may have seen a fire in Brazil from my home in Australia. Maybe it was @Tonyr letting off some steam.

I am when it comes to cruelty to animals and children @Anton_Cloche. I like your idea and @drsawzall's idea of punishments, but I don't think it is harsh enough. @Lee Wilson is on the right track though with: Why not @Lee Wilson? Add in a few black widow spiders and enforced binge-watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians and you have a punishment befitting their crimes.

Shit stinks but it doesn't set or cause permanent damage @Lee Wilson. How about cement or nuclear waste?

I agree @Tonyr. I commented after the last chapter that Jill appears to be handling her abuse far better than Steve. This chapter did nothing to change my view on this issue. He is definitely very traumatised both physically and emotionally.

"One thing he wondered about was how Nick could run, and walk, for most of two days between the two houses. It would probably have taken him less than two hours. When he asked Nick about it, Nick simply said he walked around in circles a lot. Further interrogation would wait, but Brendan thought it was more than that." Methinks @weinerdog's speculation that it was not coincidental Nick found his hitherto unknown Uncle's house is gaining merit @Lee Wilson.

In comparison @Paladin, Crackhouse Chrissie is a lightweight. The only thing which has surprised me thus far is that Nick has apparently escaped any form of sexual abuse from either spermie or the incubator.

It's what is known as value for money; getting the best possible "performance" from your employees. An honest days work for an honest days pay (or some such aphorism). Perhaps for some it may even be an "employee incentive scheme".

Spermie and the incubator are well matched, both pedophiles and rapists of their own children. I seem to recall several of my fellow readers previously speculated the family may have had to quickly relocate from South Carolina to avoid trouble there. I think it very likely spermie and the incubator have been abusing Jill and Steve for quite some time, so this speculation has great merit I believe. @Anton_Cloche's comments that the children need thorough physical examinations is paramount after the revelations of this chapter. I also think spermie and the incubator each need a physical examination, although of a very different kind to the children. Spermie and the incubator could be in for a rough time if it becomes known in prison what they are doing time for @Lee Wilson. Oh well, shit happens.

Perhaps the invitations were hand-delivered by some of the lads from Ares Security, maybe even by Brian and Gordon themselves, showing some arse in jockstraps or lads resplendent in leather harnesses and cod pieces, with sweat sheened pectorals and ample muscular butts. Perhaps Jonty may be invited to photograph the "event". Francis appears well informed of Dante and Vaughan's comings and going. Suki apparently revealed their little tete-a-tete in Ercole's "famous playroom" whilst in Verona. I suspect Francis may have many useful "connections" in many locations who are prepared to curry favour with him by providing useful tidbits of information . A little more revelation of the man who is Francis Heyward @Robert Hugill, or at least the man he wants people to believe he is. Argh, there is a Neil Tennant lyric in their somewhere, although he would make it sounder far more sophisticated and intellectual.

I can barely change a lightbulb let alone pick a lock @Al Norris. Anything "handyman like" and I am a complete klutz.

An "investment" which earns us "interest" @Mark Ponyboy Peters. A rare commodity these days.

Bloody hell @Mancunian. You are another @Paladin. Very observant; nothing escapes either of you. Eyes in the back of your heads. Well done.

If I may be so bold @Gary L, I recommend Cut The Talking, Waiting, Taken By Surprise, In Your Car and Gay Guys by The Dugites. Actually, anything by The Dugites. Gay Guys is a remarkably positive and affirming song written in 1979, and has a sense of humour too. They never achieved the success they deserved and disbanded in 1984 after Cut The Talking.

I had the same bad feeling @Gary L, anticipating the police would shine a flashlight into the front seat of Guy's car at any moment. I am in agreement with @chris191070 and @Ivor Slipper. I too think if it was Tim's father who concluded the chapter with "And just where the fuck have you been?" he would have been shouting, all bluff and bluster. I suspect it is Jason or perhaps it might be Elvis, paying a visit because none of his songs have apparently been selected for the school musical. Tim's father is behaving like a spoilt child, a little like Luke's father initially did in After We Danced. Although misguided, one can a least sympathise with the rationale why Luke's father's was homophobic in the true sense of the word i.e. frightened of homosexuals, but with Tim's father it appears to be simply a case of homomisia. Walkin' After Midnight by Patsy Cline would have done very nicely for this chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters, as would Sweet Dreams or In Your Car by The Dugites. Do you remember them Mark, a band from Perth who had some minor hits in the early 1980's, led by a female singer, Lynda Nutter? One of my absolute favourite Aussie bands, right up there with Icehouse, Skyhooks, Mental As Anything and Split Enz (OK so they were from NZ, but they were based here).