Summerabbacat

Unlike the majority of those in the hospitality industry I believe they will too @chris191070. I imagine the hospitality industry worldwide is fairly consistent in its treatment of its workers, with many rogue corporations (especially the larger ones) underpaying their staff and providing them with little job security. These bastards were certainly exposed big time in Australia when COVID was at its worst, but I don't believe many were surprised with just how many unscrupulous employers treated their staff like shit, whilst weathering the storm personally quite nicely as paid for by the taxpayer's in Australia. Absolute scum of the earth. A very moving chapter @Andre Delport, vividly describing a time of upheaval, uncertainty and unwarranted deaths. Unfortunately, I don't think that we as a species have learned very much from it, memories are short and appalling behaviour on an international scale went largely unpunished.

The story title, its meaning and significance, has intrigued me from the very first chapter, but never has it seemed more important and potentially prophetic than in this chapter. Firstly, the word keeper. Is the keeper merely someone who works at Brother Wolf, a de-facto zookeeper for want of a better job description? Or is the keeper someone who has and continues to observe the rituals or someone who has maintained said rituals? And what are the rituals, is it reference to the rituals of the Native Americans or something completely different? If Martina is not the killer, and I am still not convinced she is not, then who is, and what was the motive? I have long assumed the murder was motivated by money and to frame Micco. But what if the motive was money and to protect Micco. Given the story title and this speculation the murderer was motivated to protect Micco, I am speculating Billie may have murdered Sam. Billie has not struck me as being particularly involved in the “politics” of his people, he appears more concerned with maintaining the "rituals" of his people, rituals he believes Micco is capable of “keeping” in the event of his death. Perhaps Martina approached Billie after the death of Jacob, thinking he may have some influence over those who made the decision not to provide her with any surviving spousal support. Perhaps Billie does not agree with this decision and believed the only way to gain any support for her receiving surviving spousal support was to embarrass the decision-makers. What better way to embarrass the decision-makers than to have the wolves and panthers escape due to lack of financial support for Brother Wolf. When plotting this course of action with Martina, Billie may have learned of a possible "threat" Sam poses to not only Brother Wolf receiving a bequest from his grandmother, but also to his beloved Micco. He may have thought Micco in danger of being sucked into Sam’s world of drugs and does not believe Sam was worthy of Micco’s affection. Of course, this still does not address the murder of Micco’s mother and sister, which I have long held somehow related to Sam’s murder or the appearance of Long Ears, although who better to throw in this “red herring” than someone who is aware of the legend. More, more, more @Libby Drew. Intrigue abounds and speculation is running rife. Martina’s pity party has not drawn much sympathy from your readers, and I have to say I am in full agreement with them. She appears to believe that she is “owed” for her altruism, but surely that altruism should have been freely given without the expectation of reward, to be considered at all noble. I still think she is a bitch and deserves whatever she has coming to her. And it appears you were correct @drpaladin. Elvis was not in "da house".

Toby has come a long way under the watchful, caring and loving eye of his father and step-father, but one thing neither has been able to achieve is assuage his insecurity regarding his mother, largely because it is beyond their control. I think Denise went some way to easing his insecurity in this chapter, let us just hope Deirdre does not renege on whatever "promise" she made to Denise. Denise's attitude to Brian and Gordon's evolving relationship with Russ was somewhat of a surprise. She appears to have adjusted herself to it with little or no moral judgment. Seemingly she is ever so pleased Brian is free of Deirdre and is happy with someone she obviously is impressed by; Russ is just a little extra flavour. I look forward to the wedding and Toby's 14th birthday @Robert Hugill. You have created a wonderful story with this one, with characters who continue to delight. Even Deirdre improved a little in this chapter, for once making a decision and sticking to it. May I suggest if she is having trouble with regularity she introduce some prunes or psyllium husks into her diet.

Thank you @Robert Hugill. I assumed it was a large washing machine, it was the description of such an appliance as a "fuck-off" one which puzzled me. Now that I know it to mean "fancier" I can "hear" Owain making such a comment to Colin.

I hope you are right @akascrubber as the depravity of Keres, Watkins and Angel seems to have no boundaries.

A part of me admires Billy for initially exposing the judge's obvious prejudice against him and by extension his client, but another part of me thinks him foolhardy as it is his client who has the most to lose and he should have kept his ego in check. I do not as a general rule have much respect for the judiciary, or the process that is used to review their impartiality and behaviour, and I cannot imagine the process in the USA is without reproach, particularly in red states (as a non-American the colour "scheme" is antithetical). I just hope when the matter is referred for judicial review the review of Judge Arthur's behaviour is fair and just and not just rubber-stamped. I agree with comments made by other readers that Steve should supervise Calvin's visits with Bryan and Caleb, not only for their protection and to strike fear in to Calvin's heart, but also to deny Calvin any opportunity to "needle" Diego about their past relationship and his alleged behaviour preventing Calvin from seeing his children. Steve has a very cool head, whereas Diego is easily provoked and/or angered and Calvin apparently knows how to push his buttons.

Norway, the birth nation of my beloved Frida from ABBA (my favourite member of ABBA). The trip to Norway is adding immeasurably to Colin's growing confidence and acceptance of his body. He and Owain share a number of interests and their separate interests seem to compliment each other well. Owain's suggestion to Colin to leave some of his clothing (including some of his "smalls") at Owain's place is a good one. A leisurely pace to possible cohabitation is a sensible one for both for various reasons. I have to say @Robert Hugill I find Owain and Colin's trip to Norway far more appealing than Brian, Gordon, Toby and "Mr Russ'" trip to France. And I have to ask what is a "big fuck-off washer"? I have wracked my brain to try and work out what this means, but have come up blank. Is this another local idiom or one very specific to Colin?

The mundane in life, particularly in a domestic situation, is the "true test" of a relationship. If the relationship between Chis and Andre is to not only survive, but to strengthen and grow, they have to be content to address the mundane together. After all life cannot be all parties, weekend trips to the Hunter Valley for wine tasting and cheese, and endless fucking. Perhaps this comment is indicative of my age and distrust of most humans, but I have to say I was alarmed when Chris disclosed his password for his personal and business accounts to Andre, and disclosed them over the telephone. I can understand a joint bank account for mortgage payments/rent and household expenses, but disclosing all his financial affairs to Andre this early in their relationship was to me very premature. And as for disclosing a password over the telephone, has he not heard of identity theft. I enjoyed this chapter immensely @Paladin. The only thing missing from Chris and Andre's life is a dog or a cat. As for babysitting William, let's hope Chris has a strong stomach and an endless well of patience. Some baby humans are relatively easy to care for, but some are a nightmare. I have a nearby neighbour whom I dislike intensely (she and her husband are universally loathed) and their first child as a baby was vile. I am not sure how old it is now, but another neighbour refers to it as Chucky. Suffice to say it, the mother and the father and even the dog, are all obnoxious.

What a shame Jillian and Zoey did not gate crash the "party" at Sean and Ollie's place; the rest of the party could have locked them out of the basement. I hope Sean, Ollie and Diego are able to save all the animals. Although I would not like sharing the basement with the chickens (I am terrified of most birds, chickens included and I do not like lice), I would not want to see them come to any harm either. Even Rachel was bearable in this chapter, but what is it worth Ollie calling Sean, Seano?

Lance isn't stupid, I think he will wake up to Danny's ulterior motive(s) sooner rather than later. He just cannot seem to get a break in either his personal or professional life. If I may be so bold as to give him a word of advice - ditch the red hair. I have no sympathy for Rachel, she is a cold-hearted self-centred bitch, but Ollie appears to be a genuinely nice man. Will he be upset Sean is stepping out on him? If anything, I suspect Ollie will be more upset with Sean on who it is he is stepping out with, rather than merely stepping out (I love that euphemism, I first heard it in a song sung by Dolly Parton in recent times). Another enjoyable chapter @AusGlitterati.

It's time for that bitch Zoey to pay her dues. Mamma Gloria and Mamma Pearl need to sort her out and quick smart. It seems very clear to me she deliberately got pregnant to Diego, viewing him as her meal ticket to a better life. He needs to get full custody of Julian and the monster Jillian, even if he has to put her up for adoption, and then cut off all support for Zoey. Let her go and live in a trailer park and get a job in Walmart to support herself.

I usually abhor violence, but I so want to see Audrey body slam Zoey, Gloria king hit Margaret and Julian throw Jillian through a table literally. I am in total agreement, the doctor's diagnosis of Jillian's disorder is just a fancy name and excuse for her being a total bitch. Perhaps she and her equally cuntish mother deserve each other. I hope Diego's statement regarding Julian was a genuine reflection of how he now feels. If genuine, then he has finally realised that his macho bullshit attitude was what made him boring, more than anything else. Ironic how he recognised the white trash who harassed Lance and yet his own behaviour was to certain extent only marginally better.

What a refreshing teenager Toby is. He is able to "live" without a mobile phone, social media, video games and music "sung" by BJ featuring Cumbucket, Motherfucker, Piggybottom and Da Fat Ho. Russ has previously commented on how much he enjoys Toby's company and it seems he won a new admirer with Arman. I had a great chuckle when Russ expressed his horror at the state of the accommodation. I am a spoilt precious princess myself when it comes to travel accommodation (although it has been many years since I travelled anywhere). I would never contemplate roughing it, even if it meant having sex with the hottest man on two legs. More delights from your deep well of imagination @Robert Hugill

Some great comments made by other readers on this chapter @AusGlitterati. I realise the story is complete so any "suggestions" I have to resolve various problems for the protagonists are a moot point, nevertheless I will make them: Zoey, Rachel and Jillian join forces to ruin Diego after Rachel learns of his "dalliances" with Sean; a subsequent car accident is fatal for two of them (Jillian may only be a child but she is a psychopathic monster); the surviving passenger is kidnapped by aliens (ala Fallon Carrington in Dynasty) and taken to another planet where she is never seen or heard from again, much to the horror and misery of the kidnappers Lance's parents move to the USA with Zander leaving behind the odious Lola and Nicky to a life of "chavery"; Zander becomes good friends with Julian which helps Diego to learn to like/respect Lance a little more Lance meets a non-Republican gay man of Cuban descent who is besotted with him and not at all troubled by his apparent femininity Gloria's ovaries experience a pre-menopausal "recalibration" and she becomes pregnant and gives birth to twins; she subsequently meets a very attractive 40 something gever and settles down to a life of domestic bliss with lots of hot shtuping Sean cannot decide between Ollie and Diego and because they both like each other too the three decide a throuple is the way to go Diego's sister returns to his life and is immediately attracted to Audrey; the attraction becomes mutual when Audrey realises that cock is not all that it is cracked to be

It is time for Zoey to pay big time. A hit man is well deserved, but then she would suffer only briefly. Bitch needs to suffer for loooooooonnnnnngggggggg time. Maybe Gloria can her rough her up a little bit too. I am liking Audrey more and more each time she makes an appearance. If nothing else, she is a good judge of character as she detests both Zoey and Rachel. She is seemingly not a leach like Zoey either. Lance is selfless and I think may become a great role model for Julian. Very well written chapter @AusGlitterati.

What a motley bunch of characters fill the landscape of this story. Like several others have commented, Diego is becoming somewhat tiresome in his continual harassment of Lance. Lance is a "flamer" certainly, but so what. Diego needs to get over himself and at least be civil to Lance (I must reiterate though, the red hair would be a challenge to me too). Diego also needs to stop prick-teasing Sean, particularly given he is the one who backstabbed Sean to become the champion (or whatever the wresting equivalent is). I am sure Sean will eventually become aware it was Diego and not Lance who stabbed him in the back, and I imagine the fall out will not be pretty. Hopefully Ollie will be well enough to return to wrestling soon and Sean will get over his little crush on Diego because Diego is not worth fucking up a relationship over. Diego also needs to make up his mind about Rachel. Frankly I don't know why he bothers, she is vile, but then he is not exactly Mr Nice Guy either, although I cannot but help still being fond of him. And he needs to tell Zoey to fuck off and get a job, lazy ho should not be relying upon him solely to support those twin brats. Perhaps you could arrange for Audrey and Zoey to have a wrestle that is not a fake @AusGlitterati, one where Audrey knocks the bejesus out of Zoey. No wonder Jillian is such a monster, her mother is a prize see you next Tuesday. Wonderful character development @AusGlitterati.

Or Elvis.

I am somewhat flight-challenged (read terrified of flying) and am prone to vertigo, so there is no fucking way I would ever go on some crappy flight to save money. I think Owain was very wise to insist on the more expensive flight given his recent bout of ill-health again, just as I think Colin was very mature to acknowledge Owain's insistence on the more expensive flight was ultimately the more comfortable and suitable option for their travel. Their mutual respect is something which continues to strengthen their relationship. And on this occasion they were "up with the lark" rather than "up at sparrow fart". I still think the latter is the more evocative @Robert Hugill, perhaps because it is the one with which I am very familiar. The weekend away in Oslo had much to appeal to both parties and both were prepared to compromise to satisfy the other. What a joy to witness their growing relationship. I am on the see-saw again @Robert Hugill in having a preference for this story or the equally entertaining and impressive Brian: Taking Courage. Is it coincidental that in both stories the protagonists are presently holidaying abroad?

OMG @AusGlitterati how desperate is Diego for female attention. Marisol, Zoey and Rachel, the adult axis of evil, and Jillian, Jillian, Jillian, the spawn of Satan and the child axis of evil. I am not fond of children at the best of times, but Jillian is a monster. The only "sympathy" I have for Rachel is when she is "forced" to endure Jillian and the significantly less, but still annoying Julian. If I was Rachel I would refuse to ever be in their presence. Lance is the epitome of defiance and resolve, qualities which have carried him to this point in life. I was shocked by his revelation of his younger self's worship of Diego. He is becoming more likeable with each chapter (except for the red hair, I have a "thing" with red hair, my hang up yes). Diego's homophobia is deep-rooted, but is it just because of the banishment of his beloved sister, Luiza, from the family home?

You painted the melancholy of Lance and Sean missing their families beautifully @AusGlitterati. Lance's reminiscences were particularly sad as they arose from the fear of his parents for his safety and happiness. "They'd been there for him every step of the way, no matter how challenging it was for them. They loved him unconditionally. Always. Nobody in history had ever had the privilege of better parents." I hope for Lance's, Zander's and their parents' sake Lance returns to his home to embrace those who love him. As for Lola and Nicky, hopefully they end up unhappily cohabiting with equally unhappy chavs. A pair of Vicky Pollards.

Delivered by carrier pigeon?

Rory may have told her as Martina appears to keep her on a "short leash" by means of intimidation.

Even a momentary peek into the lives of Colin and Owain is an enjoyable and enriching experience @Robert Hugill. In this chapter we learned of something integral in Colin's and Owain's formative years, they both had parents who were miserable bastards through and through, who seemed to delight in diminishing any fun Colin and Owain should have had in being children. And a chapter replete with very British language. "Did he want Owain washing his smalls for him, would Owain mind Colin getting up at sparrow-fart when he was busy and needed to get the work done ........." As an Aussie I was aware of "smalls" although it is not word commonly used by us, but "sparrow-fart" and its equivalent "get up at the crack of dawn" are very commonly used by us.

“Of course not,” he answers. “But you and I both understand she hasn’t been the same since Jacob died.” “‘Not the same’ and committing murder aren’t even in the same ballpark,” I reply, voice hoarse. “They can be,” Calhoun unhelpfully supplies. “And I suspect, based on what we’ve learned so far, that your friend’s murder was not premeditated. I do not believe, as Ms. Higgins indicated, that the original plot involved anyone getting hurt.” I strongly suspect there is more yet to be revealed which will disprove Calhoun's suspicion. I will not be at all surprised if Martina had every intention of murdering Sam. Surely after everything they have learned of her deceptive behaviour they cannot still believe she is a good person. She murdered Sam and if I was Calhoun I would be reviewing her husband's death too. I am hopeful Martina is lurking in the vicinity of the animal enclosures with the intention of killing Micco, relying upon his connection with them and his desire to save them, to put her plan into action. I am even more hopeful that the wolves are well aware she is there (they already know she killed Sam) and when she tries to kill Micco they will protect him and exact revenge for the execution of their brother, Kane, for which she is responsible. I don't want them to kill her if it will result in harm to any of them, just fill her with such fear that she smells worse than Long Ears. I note @84Mags comment "I believe there is a connection between all that is happening now and the murders of Micco’s mom and sister." He has made this comment before as have I and I am still in total agreement. I still think her deceased husband was somehow involved in their murders. This chapter featured some of your very best writing @Libby Drew. Much has been said of the sense of urgency you created with your words and the ferocity of the hurricane as depicted. I echo these comments. "What the hell happened to my calm, ordered, predictable world? Where my friends could be trusted, and my enemies were few or nonexistent. My predicament is an unsettling twin to the hurricane raging around us, unexpected and insidious.". The latter sentence is an extraordinary piece of writing @Libby Drew. The nightlight of this chapter must surely be "And I had to get to the animals’ enclosures and open the gates. My mind tumbles with poisonous facts and thoughts, and when I add the storm’s chaos to that mess, it’s a wonder I can sense any of my four-legged friends. They are there, though. Scared, wary, but there. I center myself, do my best to flush the negativity, and let them know I’m coming. Their joy and relief at my message have me itching to get moving".

As usual Monsieur Hugill so much to delight and amuse with young Toby's enthusiasm not dampened by the apparently inclement weather (although I guess this would not be so unusual given where Brian, Gordon and Toby live in the UK), the lack of understanding of the French language or an appreciation of French food. And I had to laugh at the obligatory "frostiness" between Brian and Gordon and the locals "They just had one drink, and the locals were polite without being that friendly, but it was a nice change of focus and routine." "Toby nodded, “OK. And will he want to put his feet up with you?” Brian laughed, “Cheeky bugger.” Brian and Gordon had got into the habit, when they returned from the day’s outing, of going upstairs to their bedroom. Brian’s comment, early on, that he and Gordon were going to ‘put their feet up for an hour’ had immediately been translated by Toby into code for having sex." Many of your readers have commented before on this, but what a healthy relationship Brian and by extension Gordon have with Toby. No wonder he is growing up to be a remarkable young man in so many ways. They are giving him a life that Deirdre never could have or would have wanted to. I am so glad of this for Toby's sake. Great chapter @Robert Hugill. I am looking forward to the arrival of "Mr Russ" and what change of dynamics there may be, if any, in the relationship between the current trio. I refrained from commenting on the French, but did have a good chuckle as noted above and on a couple of other occasions. I am VERY pleased there was no consumption of foie gras.