Summerabbacat

“The queer one!” River put a fork-full of rice into his mouth and chewed slowly. He felt like he was eating sawdust. “Yeah, Daddy. I’m the queer one.” “Still, I did pretty good.” Art emitted a loud burp. “Three outta four turned out okay. You’re okay too, kid, but it’s too bad you’re a fairy. That’s not gonna work out, but I bet we can get you fixed. One of them conversion camps should do the trick. You wait till I get back on my feet.” Art ate a few mouthfuls. “Makes ya wonder, don’t it? I mean, those chinks eat this crap all the time, and yet there’s like a billion of ‘em. Is there anything to drink around here?” “Eat some more food, please, Daddy.” River went to the sink and ran a glass of cold water for his father. He handed the glass to Art. “Water!” sputtered Art, after a sip. “You trying to poison me?” He laughed. “It’s not my fault you’re a fruit.” River pushed his plate toward him. “C’mon Daddy, eat a little more. You need to eat.” Art stood up and wobbled toward the front room where his bottle waited on the coffee table. “Don’t you tell me what to do, pussy-boy! Just tell the others to be up early tomorrow. I wanna get this place back in shape.” Any sympathy I had for Art Jameson for his recent personal losses, which was minimal, evaporated completely with his treatment of River in this discussion. I hope he falls foul of the castrated pigs who don't exercise the same forgiveness their friends showed to River. I doubt his testicles would be very tasty though, and quite possibly shrivelling due to his constant inebriation. I would like to give both Pete and more particularly Doreen the benefit of the doubt @SnowBear; she in particular may not realise how little regard Homeland Security is likely to have for Zhiv and his safety. If he were to die at their hands I can just imagine the headlines, the spin doctors would concoct bullshit like "Vegan voodoo sex cult, orgies between children and adults (Hector and by association possibly Celia), rampant bestiality (the video footage Melissa took would be doctored)". The only thing Zhiv has in his favour is the protection of the animals in the forest. @Biff SporkI fear the end is nigh for Zhiv at least. The strange weather may herald a disaster such as beset the prairie dogs, Marcus and Bumper.

No surprises Zhiv had a profound affect upon both Melissa and Hector. Equally no surprises Homeland Security are closed minded and itching for a fight. “First, people should realize that the animals didn’t start this war. Humans have been making war on animals for thousands of years. They capture them, kill them, and eat them. Most humans do it every day. Every time someone sits down to a plate full of animal parts, it’s an act of war. What’s changed is that the animals have decided to join together and fight back." The statement in bold made me feel ashamed again for continuing to eat dairy cheese. As Prince once said "no other species drinks the milk of a species other than its own." “Many people will think this war is some kind of game. They will think that if humans make a good move, then the animals will back down. It’s not a game. They’re determined to wipe out humans, and that’s when the war will end. We’ve been treating animals like enemies for a long time. Now it’s mutual.” Apocalypse now. I so want Zhiv to be able to just be a teenage boy for a little while @Biff Spork. He has had so little love in his life until he moved to the forest. He has much in common with River in that respect, although River did have the love of his mother and apparently his father at one time in his life.

I think Hector is right in his belief "the authorities" will seek a scapegoat, and that scapegoat will be Zhiv. I think the helicopter was looking for him in anticipation of the meeting to take place at which Hector and Pete will be in attendance. It would not surprise me to learn Zhiv is on a "wanted" terrorist list. With groups of animals now attacking seemingly innocent humans such as the wildlife photographer, sympathy for them will wane amongst the general populace. The spin doctors and right-wing press will have a field day reporting this type of "animalistic" behaviour; animals and their supporters will be demonised with hysteria unparalleled. Doreen and Pete are wonderful, no wonder David is like he is. I am certain River will end up living with them, but I am equally certain Zhiv will not, even if he does manage to survive, which I think is extremely unlikely. His death will devastate all who have come to love him, but especially David. It will take every ounce of his strength and the love of his parents for him to have any chance of recovery. I hope Nicky takes a turn for the worse and passes away @scrubber6620 as there is no chance he will recover. Living in a vegetative state will be costly and all consuming and who will he have to care for him. His father is a right off, Aaron does not give a shit about anyone but himself, and River is not capable either financially or emotionally of looking after him. @Biff Spork I am a pessimist by nature. The helicopter is a very bad omen, a portend of the death and destruction I feel is imminent. It will be the innocent who suffer the most, if not all. Zhiv becomes more otherworldly with each passing meeting with David. I am weeping profusely for him in anticipation of his death. I hope for a miracle, but I think it unlikely.

The bathing scenes, both in and out of the shower, were very sensually written @gdaniel. Both boys got to experience something truly wonderful their first time with each other. Mother Cannady certainly surprised with the "little extra" she left for the boys at the hotel. Both of Joseph's parents were exceptional in their acceptance of the love between the two boys, much like Sam's parents. "I wanted so much to jump up onto the chair I had been sitting in and yell at the top of my voice, "THAT SONG WAS FOR ME!!!" But thoughts of the Uncle I never knew surged through my head and kept me rooted to my seat." This was for me perhaps the most profoundly moving and poignant statement in all twelve chapters. It reminded me of the song 'My Mother Had A Brother' from the album 'Patience' by the late, great George Michael. Although the circumstances of their deaths were different (in George's song the uncle commits suicide), the outcome was the same, neither nephew had the joy of meeting their uncle from whose death they derived the benefit of family acceptance, a death which only occurred because they were gay.

@gdaniel you have made my point far better and more succinctly than I. In my long-winded ramblings the point I attempted to make was if Daniel was comfortable with Kathy getting him off, why was he so against experiencing the same relief at the hand of Sam, unless he has concerns that it could negatively impact his relationship with Joseph because of their prior relationship. @gdaniel tops and bottoms was just my long winded ramblings again, totally unrelated to the story, a bit of mischief-making or stirring the pot if you will.

I found this chapter somewhat unsettling @gdaniel. The final scene between Joseph, Daniel and Sam was for me a little puzzling and troubling. Dare I say Daniel was even a little disingenuous in his reasoning with Sam, although I am not criticising him for this. I believe at least part of the reason Daniel stated "Sam, it really is a tempting idea, and I know how frustrated you must be, sexually, but Joseph and I aren't comfortable with this. For you, it's just sex stuff, and that's OK. We wouldn't want it any other way. But for us, sex is always a result, not a cause. We just can't have sex without love, and there wouldn't be any love if the three of us tried it together. We just can't go back. OK?" is that he and/or Joseph are concerned they would enjoy any sex play with Sam a little too much and want to experience it again thereby maybe causing some friction in their own relationship. I am not saying there is anything wrong in having these concerns nor am I saying they should have admitted this to Sam; however, I believe they should admit it to each other. What I found most puzzling and to some extent troubling was the scene with Kathy in the cinema. Neither Joseph nor Daniel has ever expressed any desire to have any form of sexual contact with a woman. I can appreciate this as it mirrors my own inclinations. What I found puzzling was that Daniel allowed Kathy to "feel him up" in the cinema and Joseph seemed to encourage this, finding it amusing. I realise they were not having a three way jack off session like Daniel and Joseph would have experienced at the hand of Sam (and yes this is a deliberate pun), but their was a touching of genitalia by one party of another, followed by joking and a post-mortem discussion of the "incident". Is this all that different from what they refused to experience with Sam? Perhaps, perhaps not. I was also a little disappointed with Mama Whittington's statement: Well, I notice that neither you nor Joe seem particularly effeminate, so I can guess that neither of you is going to accept the role of wife in your relationship." "So?" "So, you both better learn to do things that his mother and I have always done. Otherwise, you'll both starve and stink!" I had to remind myself the story is set in the late 1950's early 1960's when this kind of attitude would have been the prevailing one, although it almost certainly would not have been talked about in the "best homes" as to do so may have suggested some sympathy for homosexuals. One must remember homosexuality was still considered a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association at the time. In fact, I have to remind myself that his kind of gender role stereotyping still exists even today, and in some cultures is accepted by men and women as the universal truth, even by supposedly intelligent people. People in a same-sex relationship may naturally fall into gender stereotypical roles within that relationship, but they just as often will not. I must confess to getting a perverse pleasure when heterosexuals apply "top" and "bottom" roles to gay male couples based on their outward appearance, only to find that the butch burly guy is a power bottom and the twinky effeminate small guy an aggressive top. This is such a mind fuck for some as it totally flips their preconceived ideas.

A visit to Ravello is guaranteed to delight, even if the visit is in the cool of winter rather than the warmth of summer. The scraping of the cicadas, the perfume of the lemons and the vines resplendent with olives may all be missing, but there is still much to delight. The avenue of oleanders, the burst of winter sunshine and the comfort provided by pasta and wine make the trip worthwhile, even if only for a short time compared to those long languid evenings spent in the heat of summer. Angelo and Gianni once again star as they did in the first book of the Ravello series. They are older now of course and have adult responsibilities, but continue to enchant and delight with their timeless appeal. Both have matured, but it is Angelo who appears to have grown the most, revealing a side of himself most attractive and rarely displayed. The scene inspiring the story title is one of many scenes of sheer beauty in which to rejoice, but for this reader at least, the most joyous scene during any of the ten chapters came as the final moments of the last chapter; the moment “life begins” for my favourite “little mouse” Marco. I weep as I write this review and mention this most "battle-scarred" of teens, whom I did not like at all when he was first introduced in a prior story. Such is the character development in a Carnarvon masterpiece, that a trip to Ravello would be unthinkable for me now without an encounter with Marco. James’ writing is as one has come to expect, exceptional. He paints some of the most beautiful, emotional, challenging, haunting and devastating pictures to be witnessed, all with an economy of words which never ceases to amaze me. And as a final appreciation, thank you @James Carnarvon for the inclusion of Alfredo and Ennio in this book. Although brief their appearances may be, they always charm and delight with their winning ways. Like the "little mouse" they add immeasurably to the joys of Ravello by their mere presence.

@James Carnarvon when I saw the dreaded green ‘Complete’ before reading this chapter my immediate thought was that in this case forewarned was not forearmed. I thought this will just not do; I will have to engage in “virtual begging", use emotional blackmail “How could you do this to us and leave your followers in such a state of extreme deprivation". Alas it was not necessary, for you have surpassed even your imposing standards; this chapter must surely be one of the finest you have written to date. As I have commented before I have no experience in looking after human children and do not regret this at all. Suffice to say, my assessment of Gianni’s parenting skills is drastically different from those who have commented before me as is my assessment of Sami’s behaviour. I hope for Reza and Tiziana’s sake they have a great deal of patience and Sami finds them more to his liking. Dani the superhero struck again. He was instrumental in moving Marco from the parental home to live with Gianni and Angelo. If you want an example of lousy parenting look no further than Lorenzo and Gemma. And finally, he may not have roared yet, but in his new environment the “little mouse” will have the opportunity to roar if he so desires, and for this alone I could not be happier with the outcome of this masterpiece of fiction. Well done James yet again.

If this be the case @drsawzallsome people are "trapped in puberty" well into their 50's, 60's and sometimes even beyond. Perhaps it is the taking of the deep breath that becomes more difficult as the body ages, particularly for those with a more sedentary lifestyle or those who have smoked, or who to continue to smoke, cigarettes. That time-out in the "naughty corner" appears to have worked wonders for you @gdaniel. The uncharacteristically mean-spirited interloper who hijacked the previous chapter has obviously been caught and exiled to a place unknown (hopefully for good), with his predecessor resuming his rightful place on the throne. Happiness abounded in this chapter with Daniel and Joseph rekindling a childhood friendship which is blossoming into something more. I hear fellow readers say, but what of Sam? Sam who? Oh that Sam, the Sam of Sam and Pam, or should it be SamPam. He is Daniel/Danny/Dan's past, Joseph is his now and his future. Over and out.

I am quietly confident @SnowBear Pete will not intentionally do anything harmful to David, Zhiv, River or any of the animals. I also think he is smart enough to realise if and when he is being used to further the agenda of powerful groups with a vested interest in keeping animals at the mercy of humans. I did not know pigs eat human flesh @scrubber6620. I felt very uncomfortable when the screeching angry pig began his earnest examination of River's genitalia. I thought River may suffer the same fate as the pigs who had escaped from Jameson Farms. Fortunately for him the pigs were forgiving. “Just that it’s easy to fall into thinking that you know more about life than your clients. Because you’re in a position to help them with their problems, you start to think you’ve got all the answers. Then you feel you don’t need to examine your own life because you’re the one who knows all the answers.” “Yeah. When someone like Sol comes along, and makes me realize how ignorant and self-centered I am. Then it’s hard to do the work with the same enthusiasm and confidence. I know much more than he does, but he knows things that come from a different level. He knows stuff that I didn't even know I didn't know. And what he knows is better and truer than what I know." Much like Pete and River, Celia has completed a journey, a transformation which has resulted in this greater sense of self-awareness. She is intrinsically a decent woman whose motivation to rescue Zhiv (Sol) was not even partially ego-driven as I first feared, but a genuine concern for his welfare. “Some of the South American incidents are particularly interesting. There are several reports from Brazil of animal-human cooperation. Some isolated rain-forest tribes appear to have formed alliances with local animals. Nobody knows how they did this, although shamans are thought to be involved. Somehow, working together, they succeeded in driving the loggers and ranchers away. A union of animals and human forest dwellers makes a formidable enemy. It's hard to shoot a poisonous spider, especially if a venomous snake is biting you.” This is a very interesting development @Biff Spork, one which is sorely needed in many parts of the world now, but perhaps nowhere moreso than the Amazon. Even with Bolsonaro removed from power and replaced by Lula, the powerful giants of agriculture and other forest destroying corporations continue to exploit the Amazon and murder the indigenous forest peoples. The impact on the climate from these activities is catastrophic. “Let’s go down and spend a few minutes doing parental maintenance. They don’t need much, but it’s always good to make them feel useful and wanted.” and “It would have meant an easier life for me, though. Being an only child is a bit of a burden. You have to meet the emotional needs of two adults twenty-four-seven. It’s not easy.” demonstrate not only what a wonderful sense of humour David has, but also the easy and mutually fulfilling relationship he enjoys with Doreen and Pete. “There’s something else I’d like to do this morning,” said Celia. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s hot. Every day it’s hotter than the day before. I’ve never found the heat so uncomfortable. I want to go to the mall and pick up a couple of fans, so we can be a little cooler when we’re working here." and ”The grass, so green a week before, had begun to yellow as it went to seed under the relentless sun." are I fear a warning which will remain unheeded, heralding an impending climactic and ecological catastrophe. My fears for the life of Zhiv in particular may amount to nought if Planet Earth has exhausted its reserves. "PETSELF and the shadow government are colluding with a cult of vegan pedophiles…”. As laughable as this is, in such circumstances I can imagine the conspiracy theorists coming up with something this ludicrous, which would be seized upon by those with a vested interest such as the agricultural industry, and perpetuated as truth. The spin doctors would be out in force, aided considerably by the right wing press and conservative governments world wide. The true stench of humanity would reach its peak. A most extraordinary chapter @Biff Spork. Although much of what has occurred on Jana Mountain and as a result of the meeting of the animals in the mara is more than our feeble minds can contemplate as a possible reality, the cooperation of the animals of the Amazon with the indigenous tribes to halt the destruction of the forest was something which struck me as so desperately needed now. Whist there is so much beauty in this chapter, particularly the strengthening of newly forming human to human and human to non-human bonds, it was tempered by the warning signs of an impending environmental apocalypse. The fragility of the bees was something I found profoundly upsetting as we are already seeing this occur worldwide and yet the environmental terrorists who continue to poison Planet Earth with their toxic chemicals and toxic corporate behaviour, march on unyielding, aided and abetted by right wing billionaires of the press and right wing governments.

When I first started reading this chapter @gdaniel I was outraged by Kathy's plan. I thought, here we go again, another cisgender female with an ego the size of an elephant, a woman who thinks she can wiggle her ass and bounce her breasts and the little gay boy will "magically" realise that he is not really gay after all, he just had not met the "right woman". I still think maybe there was a little of this mentality motivating her seduction plan, but she at least had the good grace not to press the issue or insult Danny when her seduction failed. Mama Whittington's response to Danny about the intervention of God surprised me. She really does seem to get it. Danny is gay not despite this God she believes in, but because of this God she believes in. Quite remarkable given the decade and location in which the story is set. Danny is very fortunate to have such supportive parents.

I am bereft after reading this chapter. I don't write well or rationally when so moved @gdaniel, so am limiting my comment to realism sucks.

@gdanielwe shall definitely have to agree to disagree on American presidents. The Q is for queer which if I understand it correctly includes those persons of any gender and sexual orientation who feel more comfortable living amongst those of us who do not conform to heteronormative concepts of gender and sexual orientation. The word queer has to some extent been reclaimed by those against whom it was used as a slur. In Australia we have the word poofter or poof, although the word faggot, has gradually infiltrated our society, much like everything else from the USA, some of it good and some of it not so good. The I is for intersex which refers to people who have the sex characteristics of more than one gender; in prior times this was often referred to as hermaphroditic. BTW I was "holding back" on what I really think of the Republican Party in its current incarnation.

It seems my memory has not served me as well as I thought @James Carnarvon. Not only could I not remember the local priest's name until I searched for and found it (it is Father Stefano @drpaladin), but I had forgotten Antonio's nastier proclivities. I remembered Ettore, but thought of him as more of an amateurish goon, whereas his sister-in-law, now she was a cold-hearted nasty piece of work. As horrible as they were, I still dislike Lorenzo more. He may not have the criminal behaviour of the other two (yet), but he is making the life of my favourite 'little mouse" miserable, and for what reason? He has not as far as I can recall (which I am now doubting is as proficient as I thought) shown any particular affinity with organised religion, so his objection to Marco being feeble or a "lesser man" than he wants him to be is motivated by what, machismo? Pathetic loser. If he does raise a finger to Marco at any time I do hope you release Gianni and/or Paolo's inner Alexis Morel Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan and one or both of them remind him of what it is to be a man in accordance with his anachronistic views i.e. beat the crap out of him. Melodrama will be required to protect my favourite "little mouse".

I agree they were menacing @drpaladin, but I always got the impression that many of the threats made could not be delivered on i.e. they were bullshitters who were essentially cowards, especially Antonio. I don't have this impression of Lorenzo; I don't think he is one to make idle threats. Of course his appalling behaviour is fresh in my mind too and it is directed towards his son, the little mouse whom I have come to adore with the passing of time. My attitude has become one of "Don't fuck with Marco unless you want to cause yourself unspeakable grief and pain". Enzo at least redeemed himself with his assistance in rescuing Daniele and Sami from their respective life-threatening situations.

@James Carnarvon I think your economy with words is what prevented, albeit not solely, the scene from becoming a second rate melodrama. Had you resorted to the "interveners" behaving as I so wanted them too i.e. punching the bejesus out of Lorenzo, bitch slapping Gemma into the middle of next week and liberally using profanity when addressing the two, then it would almost certainly have crashed headlong into a second rate melodrama. You wisely chose to have the "interveners" behave in a mature adult manner, as much as I wish they had not. I had never considered this, but I think I can understand you becoming quite tired while writing this scene. As negative as the whole scene was, I imagine you had to be "up" the whole time writing it to keep it flowing at a fierce pace, unlike the beautiful scenes you invariably create which flow at a languid and leisurely pace, much like the tide coming in and going out. So restful and wholeheartedly welcome to this reader at least. I have to confess I had forgotten about Enzo and Antonio, but I don't recall (perhaps incorrectly) either of them behaving with such menace and hatred as did Lorenzo.

Jude’s desecration of Nicky’s body was the most sickening thing he has done to date. Nicky may or may not have been a horrible person, but to keep him alive in his current state is unforgiveable. It does not appear he is being kept alive artificially, but he is not living. "Dogs, rabbits, and chimpanzees had revolted fiercely against workers in vivisection labs. White mice had become vicious". I am so glad you have raised this issue @Biff Spork as it is one I find intolerable and cannot understand why it is sitll being practiced, even in allegedly civilised countries like my homeland of Australia. I have signed countless petitions over the years and written to several universities who still employ these barbaric practices. There is NO legitimate excuse for this barbarity anymore. Some countries such as China still insist on testing of cosmetics on animals. This should be reason enough for countries like this to be subject to the harshest of sanctions. "Crop failures across the continent mimicked the failure of the local almond crop. Birds, many of which had been feeding off insect pests of food crops, were also disappearing. The ‘Silent Spring’ had come to locales where birds and other animals had fled to wilderness areas. As food shortages loomed, supermarket chains were quick to raise prices". Reminiscent of their response to COVID. "The shelves of distributors stocking bio-hazard protective gear were empty. The same was true for apiarist supply stores. No protective clothing was available. Handgun sales were up". The latter would be a huge surprise, NOT, especially in the USA. “Hey, thanks. But I’d rather have you as my… I don’t know what you are. You’re my everything — father, mother, brother, sister, auntie, uncle, husband, and wife.” Normally a statement such as this made by anyone, but particularly made by a teenager, would be laughable. In Zhiv’s case and for that matter, David’s too, it is entirely believable. I thought River may have been named after River Phoenix. I was aware of Joaquin’s animal rights activism and I have a recollection their sister Rain may also be an activist, but did not realise River was. He died so young. I only saw him in two films that I recall, and he made a lasting impression in both. Superbly written chapter @Biff Spork, with much to digest, ponder and take a stance on. I feel danger is looming like an ever-thickening blanket of cloud or hurricane or firestorm, ready to strike at the heart of the protection of the non-human persons, Zhiv.

I am glad you added the qualifier "as far as we know" @drpaladin. I have but one additional word to add after the word "friends" and the word is, yet.

@gdaniel I have none for the current incarnation of the party as it only seems to attract the most extreme right-wing gun-totin', GLBTQI+ hatin', animal killin', paranoid anti-abortionists, or is it only this type of person who is successful within the party because they are loud-mouths? I did not like either of the Bush', although the senior Bush at least appeared to be smart. I cannot imagine the party that nominated either of them would have nominated the most recent Republican president and tolerated some of the lunatic element that have been elected to government in Colorado, Georgia and Florida (and that is just the one's that I as a non-American am aware of). Doris Day was allegedly a registered Republican. As a woman I much admired for many reasons, I think the party must at one point in time had some moderate policies and admirable principles.

Several of my fellow readers and our resident wordsmith @James Carnarvon have made comments and offered possible explanations for Lorenzo’s appalling attitude towards his son. All have been very measured. With all due respect to my fellow readers and to James, my comments are not measured. I was infuriated by this smug bastard’s remarks from the moment he opened his hateful mouth. I don’t give a shit what happened to him as a child or what may have influenced his attitudes, he is a first-rate asshole through and through and does not deserve to have a son as wonderful as Marco. No wonder poor Marco is like a frightened mouse, having such a bully as a father. Lorenzo’s rudeness towards Gianni, the predictable insinuations of molestation or “recruiting for the gay agenda" had me tightening my fists. I was surprised his snide comments about the “feeble” behaviour of other people’s children did not provoke a stronger reaction from Paolo, Patrizia and/or Elena. Intellectually I know violence only begets violence and does not resolve anything, but I so wanted Paolo and/or Gianni to tell Lorenzo to fuck off and then punch the bejesus out of him. And as for the spineless bitch Gemma, she is as predictable and pathetic as her asshole of a husband. I don’t know what the collective noun for a pair of assholes is, but whatever it is it applies to Lorenzo and Gemma. I was hoping Patrizia and/or Elena would bitch slap her into the middle of next week. I realise she is afraid of her husband, but she needs to grow a spine to protect her son. If she can't then she should fuck off too. Although I am not overly fond of children, I despise those who have them and then neglect and/or abuse them. Frankly Marco deserves way better than these two losers. I have commented previously that the priest (and I apologise again James, but I still cannot remember his name) may have been a useful person to bring to the discussion too as suggested by @drpaladin. Given Lorenzo’s final comments “They have the nerve to tell us how to bring up our own son? So that he can turn out as… feeble as their own brood? As long as Marco lives under my roof, I’ll see him brought up as a proper man.” I doubt even the priest would have made any difference. Lorenzo is determined to remain an asshole at all costs, even if were to mean the death of Marco by suicide. Now that I have vented my virtual rage (and boy did it feel good), I will comment in a more even manner on the rest of the chapter. I confess to growing a little weary of Sami and can understand why Gianni is maybe having second thoughts. I will attest to being impatient and very results-oriented @James Carnarvon, and therefore am entirely unsuited to being a parent to human children or attempting to understand them. Angelo was delightfully amorous in this chapter, reminding Gianni why he is so beloved. I too would have wanted to leave the restaurant before the fireworks, which I find excruciatingly boring and overrated, to make far more interesting, and less environmentally damaging, fireworks at home in the boudoir. Brilliantly written chapter @James Carnarvon. I chose the ‘Angry’ emoticon which I could never have imagined being apt for a story in the Ravello series. Lorenzo is detestable certainly, but he is still believable. Too often characters like him become a caricature; you avoided that pitfall with your usual economy of words. An extremely well written and authentic asshole, so unlike any other character in any of the Ravello series. Did you find him more difficult to write or was it an enjoyable challenge?

River is experiencing what it means to be a happy boy and is revelling in the experience. Who else would be so happy to be a super-hero's sidekick named Asshole, albeit a super-hero he had the honour of naming 'The Insectorator'. David got his answer, not only did he connect with River in the mara, Zhiv did also. He, River, has finally found the family he has yearned for since his mother's death, a family who has readily accepted him "warts and all". I believe River will be a source of great comfort to David in the turbulent times ahead, times in which I fear Zhiv will not survive. Pete apologised to David for his part in the "trout incident" which led to David becoming a vegan. Pete is a changed man, a man with such empathy now. I believe both he and Doreen will move heaven and earth to protect their beloved David and also Zhiv now they know what he means to David. I was also very impressed when Pete, very politely, told Hector to back off in questioning David regarding his extraordinary abilities to communicate with the animals as demonstrated during the "wasp incident". Respect for Hector too when he readily accepted Pete's stance. An enjoyable chapter @Biff Spork, one which challenged me and made me examine my attitude towards, and treatment of, insects. I am proud to say I do not intentionally kill flies, ants or cockroaches, although I do not stop my cats from killing the latter. I have no such compunction towards mosquitoes and fleas though. I will gladly murder mosquitoes and have easily and joyfully killed fleas in the past when any of my cats have been afflicted with them. I would also have no compunction killing ticks if I ever found one on my cats. My current feline family have fortunately never had fleas or ticks as they are indoor cats, who only have access to the outside world of the terrace on the upper floor of my apartment, but only when I am home.

@gdaniel you described Sam and Danny's first sexual experience with each other as lovers beautifully (without any of the fumbling and embarrassment often associated with losing one's V card). Sam's father surprised with his reaction to Sam's revelation of their night of oral ecstasy. It was the same reaction one could imagine him having if Sam had had his first experience with a female; my son the stud. He is such a positive influence on both Sam and Danny. The school assembly presentation was the "perfect" forum for ugliness, but the surprise was it was not a fellow student who voiced their objection, but an alleged journalist (a future young Republican?). His ugliness was beautifully counteracted by Randy and Kathy. Randy's comments in particular reminded me of a wonderful article I read in the late 1980's, at the height of AIDS hysteria, in the local gay press. It was an account from a well known gay activist who described an incident where he had been abused (restricted to verbal abuse if I remember correctly) by some male neanderthals, who continually yelled "poofter" at him. This activist was not one to shy from such abuse and yelled back at the offending neanderthals "That's Miss Poofter to you". Physically the activist was well built and quite butch looking, except perhaps for his attire. That story has stuck with me for many years, possibly because his brother was employed by the same government department as me and I knew him somewhat. The boys continue to delight your readers @gdaniel as do their progressive parents.

My apologies @pvtguy if my comment offended. My comment was largely made in jest, the motivation being to encourage @James Carnarvon to retain his style because I think he writes beautifully without professional teaching. I also wanted to convey to him the message that to receive professional teaching may result in him changing his style to suit how a professional thinks he should write if said professional found his writing "wanting" in any way. If this became the case the authenticity with which he writes may be negatively impacted. My comment was also partially "inspired" by the Doris Day/Clark Gable film 'Teacher's Pet' which I have seen on a number of occasions and always found very amusing.

I strongly doubt it. Of the Ravello series, the only one which I liked less in any appreciable degree was La Bella Vacanza. The story itself was still very well written and fan favourites such as the scraping cicadas ever present, but for me it felt like the "odd one out" because of the limited appearance of the usual cast of local characters. I did not warm to Reza to any extent either, but I do recall you saying the storyline was more superficial, in depth characterisation was not the intent of the story, a reflection perhaps of its "holiday" nature. I have no doubt I shall enjoy a return visit to your back catalogue, much as I do when revisiting musical favourites.

A very emotionally charged chapter @gdaniel. Papa Whittington certainly put the sister(s) in her/their place when comments were made about the boys behaving "inappropriately". The reactions of the boys' siblings was a pleasant surprise, more particularly that of Bob. It appears Papa Whittington's concern Bob may not be as accepting of his brother as he and his wife are was misplaced. The rescue had me in tears; Dan's act of selflessness truly remarkable. He may be the smaller of the two boys, but his bravery was boundless in saving his beloved Samuel. A delightful chapter yet again @gdaniel. I am not sure that a dozen will be sufficient to satisfy your follower's though. We may have to revolt and demand more.