Summerabbacat

“Neither, but I need to tell you something about my past that you may not find pleasant” and “Because my family is far from boring or ordinary” prefaced what I assumed (or was it hoped) would be a startling revelation regarding Dante and Patrick’s parents, or at least some salacious titbits of their own sexual exploits. Perhaps I have read one too many gay stories featuring twin sex because nothing Dante has revealed (yet) was for me either startling or salacious. I cannot envisage Thomas de Sade being disturbed or revolted by Dante’s revelation, if anything, he may be inclined to request a retrospective demonstration. If Madre and/or Padre Ricardi subsequently joined in “the action” or if they filmed "the action" between their sons for public consumption without their sons' consent, it may be enough to disturb Thomas. Could this be what the teaser for the next chapter is referring to? Perhaps @chris191070 or @ReaderPaul may have something to say on this. Thomas once again displayed his quick wit with his most amusing description of Dante’s “offering”. I could almost hear him as the pretentious wine connoisseur critiquing Dante’s vintage. @Wombat Bill you are teasing your captive audience very effectively, with a soupcon (love that word so had to use it again) of information chapter by chapter. My patience is only holding up (so far) because each little revelation is in of itself so intriguing and amusing.

Your scenario sounds like Chinese whispers or the superb film from the 1990's Six Degrees of Separation @ReaderPaul. I acknowledge it is a possibility Carol may learn of Dante's indiscretion and it be attributed to Patrick. I am still uncomfortable with Patrick disclosing to Carol the source of the mistaken identity though as it is not his story to tell. If Thomas were to learn of what happened from Carol and he challenged Dante about it we have the scenario you have painted above. I believe @Wombat Bill has presented us with a moral dilemma. Fancy that.

If the senior Ricardi's exist or existed at some point in time, what did they do that has so shamed their sons. Patrick appears to be the more "forgiving" twin, whereas Dante appears to be bitter and resentful towards their parent(s). This conundrum becomes more intriguing with the passing of each chapter. The intrigue has not quite reached the same heights as "who was Jared's father" prior to the revelation of his identity, but it is heading in that direction. I wait with bated breath @chris191070 and @ReaderPaul for our author to reveal all. Dante has apparently been "stepping out" on Thomas, however, unlike @chris191070 and @ReaderPaul I cannot see any reason for Patrick to reveal this to Carol. Unless Yashuki is employed at Arcobaleno as a waiter, it is unlikely his and Carol's paths will cross or have I completely missed something lads? The teaser for the next chapter suggests we may learn something of Thomas' background pre-Crystalline. Unless the vaccinations of the past year have really "fried my brain" I don't recall Thomas having revealed any details of his childhood to any of the other members of the "CWB family". I may be reading too much into actions and interactions @Wombat Bill, but is Robert Woods, Bob the Fister rather than Bob the Builder?

@James Matthews you captured teenage angst and despair perfectly. Even without the personal disclosure, the authenticity of the chapter had me surmise it was autobiographical. I had a similar experience, although for a much briefer period and I was a a little older, more like Joe's age, but hopelessly naive and growing up in rural Australia. This chapter also featured some of your most metaphorical writing of any of your literary works. I was most impressed with "It's all a foggy pond of spaghetti in my head" and "whitewash of dismissal". The only thing I did not like about this chapter was the musical references, particularly when you mentioned your Mum played Dionne Warwick's Heartbreaker, a song which I loved. I was an adult when the song came out, so it made me feel old when you said it was a favourite of your Mum's (LOL), although I was only 20 at the time.

Thank you @ReaderPaul for your kind words. I think your speculation Patrick and Dante's conception resulted from an extra-marital one-time fuck or relationship on the part of their parents is certainly a possibility, although being ashamed of this appears inconsistent with Patrick and Dante's behaviour in general. If they are ashamed of one or both of their parents I hazard a guess it must be because one or both are in prison for drug-smuggling or something similar.

Indeed @ReaderPaul. Justin's "instrument of pleasure" has certainly brought pleasure to many in some unusual ways. I cringed when reading of this past penile insertion, it was just too much like a catheter. Patrick's response to Carol regarding the state of the relationship of his and Dante's parents “No they’re not divorced, but not together” has me thinking one of them must be in prison. If the parents were not married when Patrick and Dante were born and had not married subsequently, then surely Patrick would have stated so. Similarly, if one parent is now deceased then surely Patrick would have stated so. Does your crystal ball reveal anything regarding this hypothesis @ReaderPaul? Carol and Patrick's walks in the garden @Wombat Bill had Edelweiss from The Sound Of Music invading my mind again. A younger me could not have related to such activity as entertainment (unless it involved some "horizontal walking" too), but the maturing me thinks how lovely to walk in the gardens hand in hand, especially in the warmer months with the sounds of the cicadas and the fragrance of such delights as gardenias and sweet peas. Bliss. The words to describe this chapter, saucy and rollicking. Cook is becoming a favourite; the development of her character a joy to witness. Well done quadrupedal marsupial.

A very astute observation @VBlew. I commented similarly on an earlier chapter that I thought @James Matthews was handling Luke's mental health challenges authentically and with empathy. I particularly liked how he (James that is) did not reduce Luke to a one-dimensional character, defining him by his mental health challenges alone. He may always face these challenges, but he also proved to be a smart, decisive and caring person, particularly "when the chips were down". Hear hear @weinerdog. Of the unresolved matters, the murder of Ben Flowers to be confirmed, was the one I found the most upsetting, moreso because if he was murdered and he was not reported missing, it meant not a soul cared for him. Undoubtedly he was not a likeable character, however, I cannot help but think he deserved a chance (unlike Medea, Elaine, Clyde, Yeltsin and Seth, who if they had been "processed" in acid, I would have cared not).

OMG @Wombat Bill, this chapter moved faster than Ethel Merman wisecracking in any number of films she appeared in (and in her autobiography). Ethel plunged into my head with “So, is your room comfortable?” asked Thomas. Before Patrick could answer, Carol giggled and Cook laughed raucously. The description of Cook’s laughter as raucous, sheer perfection; it matches beautifully to her physical description as a ‘plump, full-breasted chicken’, hence the image of Ethel Merman. My question to you is, can Cook sing? I am not one to usually point out errors in an author’s work @Wombat Bill, but I have to point out one in this chapter because it appealed to my dark sense of humour. In response to Patrick’s enquiry regarding Carol’s past relationship experiences, Thomas responded “I’m really not the one to be giving relationship advice, but I am a bit protective of Carol and would want to see her hurt”. Given Thomas’ penchant for “pain” as experienced with Jared, you may guess the image that formed when Thomas made this statement. We saw a glimpse of the formerly arrogant and clueless Jonathan with “Maybe we could get one of them to grow a moustache or a beard” suggested Jonathan and Lachlan laughed at the suggestion. “What?” asked Jonathan “You don’t think that’s a good idea?”. “It might help you, but I’m not sure we can ask him to do that just so you can tell them apart”. “If he’s working for me I can”. Fortunately Lachlan seems to be very persuasive. Speaking of Jonathan and Lachlan, I had a great chuckle (perhaps almost raucous laughter) when Patrick asked Thomas if Jonathan and Lachlan were father and son. It reminded me of the time I went to a George Michael concert with a heterosexual married couple I have known as good friends for many years. Sitting next to us were two guys who were clearly in a "daddy-son" relationship, clear to me and the wife of the couple, but not the husband, who remarked to the younger of the two guys that he thought it was delightful he was with his father seeing the concert. Now that occasioned raucous laughter from myself and the wife (in private after the concert was finished of course). This chapter best described as informative (for Patrick) and riotous. Well done @Wombat Bill; you are once again managing to entertain, educate and amuse, a particularly welcome tonic for this reader after three days of less than stellar health (I had my 2nd COVID booster, and as usual the side-effects, including a severe spike in my blood pressure have been less than welcome). I look forward to the comments of my fellow CWB groupies with antici......pation.

LOL @ReaderPaul. A very appropriate song choice. A great song which was a substantial hit in Australia for both The Weather Girls and Geri Halliwell of the Spice Girls many years later. I prefer The Weather Girls version and the video is hilarious. One would hope Carol and Patrick are using condoms, although being heterosexual it may be they don't see any issue with not doing so, assuming Carol is using birth control pills. I assume the treatment of AIDS is very similar in the USA today as what it is in Australia, with infection rates having risen again due to complacency and the belief, largely evidence-based, that it is no longer a "death sentence".

Welcome back @ReaderPaul. I look forward to some more of your invariably clever and witty alliteration and your astute observations. @Wombat Bill Carol has certainly blossomed. I too wondered @ReaderPaulif Dante may have been her first sexual experience. If so, she is certainly wasting no time in an attempt to increase her skills. Her newly revealed voracious appetite may take some time to sate. I had several songs in my head again this chapter @Wombat Bill. I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair from South Pacific began to play in my neural jukebox when Patrick, Carol and Cook were doing the dishes and S-S-S-Single Bed by Fox made a very welcome appearance when Carol practically threw herself at Patrick when walking in the garden with him (after also having Edelweiss from The Sound Of Music make a brief appearance). The first intrigue of this new story, what are Dante and Patrick "hiding" about their parents? Is it something sinister, something of which they are ashamed, or are they perhaps very unpleasant people (the parents that is, not Patrick and Dante). Many possibilities exist. Has your crystal ball revealed anything to you yet @ReaderPaul about the cast of Crystalline and what calamities may befall them in the story moving forward?

A few songs, the promise of some champagne, a hearty chuckle and a sexual soupcon. What more could one ask for. “Then that’s decided” concluded Jonathan. “We’ll build a cottage for two, our little love nest” prompted the delicate tones of Peggy Lee singing her delightful version of ‘The Folks Who Live On The Hill’ to invade my hitherto impatient mind. Peggy continued to soothe my impatient mind until “A few days later, as Craig and Justin drive up the Crystalline driveway, Justin said “Remember the first time we drove up here?”. “I remember you calling the place, a fucking castle”. With barely a whisper Peggy segued to Dionne Warwick, her pipes assuaging any residual impatience with the lovely R&B ballad ‘Dejavu’. Tranquility prevailed until the very end of this most enchanting of chapters thanks to the mellifluous meanderings of our masterful marsupial. As you know @Wombat Bill I love my music (of almost all kinds), and take great delight when another art form stirs the "musical medley" that invariably inhabits my mind. I have remarked on many occasions your literary art has triggered a musical or filmic reference, which only increases the pleasure derived from both. Some may think me mad for this, but I think me blessed to be able to celebrate the one from the here and now together with the one from the past. I had a very hearty chuckle, almost a guffaw with "Did I hear my name?” asked a voice from a horse stall. “Oh Jonathan, you startled me” jabbered Thomas “What are you doing here?” “Just doing a bit of measuring” he replied as he emerged from the stall and a measuring tape retracted into its case. “Wanted to see if the stall is wide enough to hang my sling”. I visioned Jonathan popping up unseen like a meerkat. The mere mention of sexual delight for Jonathan, and a soupcon of sexual activity for Craig and Justin, and Caleb and Lucas, stirred the loins, much like the image of the 'realistic Jeff Stryker dildo' I mentioned when commenting on the previous chapter. And the teaser for the next chaper Nonna. Do we get to meet Dante’s grandmother or is our fan-favourite Gran going to embrace her inner signora?

I agree with you wholeheartedly @pvtguy. The Romani family and its criminal associates have committed more than enough crimes to find themselves guests at Her Majesty's pleasure. Of course, proving those responsible for said crimes would no doubt be a difficult, if nigh impossible task, particularly if said persons have contributed to the financial health of the police in the town. @James Matthews, we your readers, seem to have unanimously accepted Leander is telling the truth, Elaine is his mother and Scott his father, to the best of his knowledge, but is he telling the truth? Apart from Len, Luke and Taz, I am beginning to have my doubts any of the other main characters in this tale have ever had even the slightest acquaintance with the truth. I don’t recall the nature of the goods stolen from the hardware store at which Luke works having been disclosed yet. I wonder if at least some of the goods stolen may have been acid and plastic drums. How convenient it would be to pin Ben’s apparent murder on Luke. He had the motive, he was being stalked by Ben; he had ready access to the necessary equipment to carry out the murder; and, he likely had the skill set to know how to use the equipment at least. The purpose of the murder, other than to satisfy their lust for violence, blackmail Leander into returning to “the family”. Leave Luke and return to the family, and the police will not be tipped off regarding Ben’s murder and the likely culprit. This chapter has once again raised more questions than were answered, at least answered satisfactorily and with conviction @James Matthews. The intrigue, tension and suspense continued to build for both the characters in the tale and we your ardent readers. To quote Rodgers & Hart "bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I".

“Thank you Carol, that means a lot to me, especially coming from you. I thought you might be disappointed”. “Not at all, and by the way, don’t flatter yourself so much, it’s very boring to hear”. Carol's tongue has certainly loosened a little from the formerly shy daughter of a friend of Virginia's. Dare I say her loosened tongue may have come in very useful in the pleasures she and Cook, 'the plump, full breasted chicken', may have engaged in with 'The Rabbit'. It certainly sounds a far more complicated instrument of pleasure than a top selling dildo of yesteryear, the 'realistic Jeff Stryker cock'. Cook has a sassy and saucy sense of humour. I loved her suggestion Jonathan should offer vibrators as an employee fringe benefit. My immediate thought was would they attract fringe benefits tax (FBT)? Welcome back @Wombat Bill. It appears you have an increased zest for dialogue, this chapter consisting almost exclusively of dialogue between various 'cast members'. I have to congratulate you for writing the dialogue in such a manner it was always clear which party said what. I have read many stories in the past where it is not clear at all times which party has said what. Your formatting of the dialogue is exemplary. I see one of my fellow CWB groupies @chris191070 once again beat me to the punch. I look forward to any contributions our other regular groupie @ReaderPaul may also have to make.

@James Matthews I may be having a "blonde moment", particularly given not one of my fellow readers' has apparently made the observation, but what is the significance of the statement made by Leander "Clyde, over six feet, Duke, over six feet, Seb, Sam... Jesus, even Beth is taller than me. Ever wondered why I'm five-seven? Ever wondered why Josh is over six feet?". If Leander is to be believed that he is a result of an affair between Scott and Elaine, then his half siblings presumably inherited their height from the Romani Medea not from Scott. If Leander is making a connection between Elaine's son Josh and his half-siblings, then the conclusion to be drawn is that either Elaine is not Josh's birth mother but the Romani Medea is, or Scott is not the father of any of Leander's half-siblings, but Donald is. OMG @James Matthews my brain has had a complete meltdown trying to unravel the truth behind the statement "Ever wondered why Josh is over six feet". Is it meant to connect Josh to the other Sheperd spawn in a familial sense? Only you know, I assume. I may be having more than one "blonde moment" with another observation not apparently noted by any of my fellow readers, again a statement from the mouth of Leander "My Dad went to see her and threatened her, told her he'd give her £25k to shut up, but in getting that money, she was to give up the baby, so there was never a connection between her and me when I was born." I seem to recall £25k was the payment allegedly made by Scott Sheperd to the police to cover up the injury to the boy who was left paralysed when thrown from a ride at the fair. The payment amount may be coincidental, however, I have had a strong feeling about this incident for some time now. The injury to this boy may be incidental to the story, but methinks it is anything but. Luke is smart, Taz is smart and Leander is smart. Between the three of them I hope they can convince Len of Elaine's dishonourable intentions. Perhaps they can concoct a plan to call her bluff. "Double double toil and trouble". Those witches from Macbeth seem to be getting louder and louder @James Matthews.

Clearly my "appreciation" of names @James Carnarvon is similar to my appreciation of music. From your homeland I do not care for (loathe actually) Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and fucking Adele. Give me Kate Bush, Bananarama, Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys and George Michael any day. Listening to Bananarama's new album this afternoon has been one of the highlights of the day (along with reading the last chapter of La Bella Vacanza). If you are not familiar with their music, they are a poptastic female duo from Bristol who were mega-popular throughout the world in the 80's. They had a huge following in Australia; their music was very popular with gay boys like myself.

No no I was suggesting no such thing (I would never be so presumptuous). I was merely suggesting there are many popular German male names, thus "your Otto" could in fact be "your Wolfgang", or "your Helmut", or "your Hans" or any of many other popular German male names. 😇

Maybe so @James Carnarvon, but you did indicate this was to be your seventh trip to Ravello (LOL). 🤣

A frothy vignette in the Ravello series. Step back in time with Reza and his family as they experience the delights of the town, Reza armed with his trusty camera and Nokia phone. Reza’s life will never be the same; to reveal any more would spoil the story. @James Carnarvon's latest tale is a brief glimpse into the world of Ravello and the magic of its charms, charms which Reza initially resists, but ultimately succumbs to. We see an appearance by fan favourites Gianni, Angelo and briefly, Claudia. And what would a trip to Ravello be without the scraping cicadas, the lemons and other culinary delights. Humour abounds, characters develop and the reader is left wanting more from the pen of this most impressive of authors. Truly enchanting.

Perhaps he already has @raven1. 😜 This story as written by @James Carnarvon had a strong "ring of authenticity". Otto, Wolfgang, Helmut, Hans, the possibilities are endless. I echo the sentiments of others @James Carnarvon. Enjoy your trip, whatever it entails.

Elaine, the drug mule comes as no surprise. Elaine the mother of Leander, all I can say is fuck me, I did not see that one coming. I speculated previously Scott Sheperd and Elaine may have set up Donald as the fall guy for the cocaine smuggling. I now think it very possible. I also speculated before if Scott’s heart attack occurred without assistance. I am even more suspicious now that it did not, although I don't think his death was any great loss. I have to wonder if it was Scott that Elaine had an affair with for 19 years as revealed by Taz. I speculated before, somewhat facetiously, that Elaine and the Romani Medea may have been lovers, my speculation is now genuine. Luke has to warn Len about Elaine. I think she and the Romani Medea are both truly evil. When reading of these two harridans I am reminded of the witches in Macbeth "double double toil and trouble". I have no doubt either would have any qualms eliminating or harming those who get in the way of anything they want. I am still not sure what use Len is to Elaine, maybe she is just after a little bit of company, but given what we now know about her, it is hard to imagine her motive is as simple as that. @James Matthews you continue to startle with the impossible and the implausible, making them so believable. I am glad you are not posting this story every day as it gives the reader time to digest, ponder and ruminate. I have said it before, speculation is pointless, but it is so much fun, particularly if one is even remotely close to your reality. I have I believe read most of your stories published on this site and enjoyed all to varying degrees. I consider this to be your finest work yet.

"Mum nodded. “Break out the Champagne!” she said. At Dad’s startled look, she smiled and added, “Don’t worry, Ramin… I can drink enough for the three of us.” My favourite line of the entire story @James Carnarvon, a woman after my own heart. I rarely drink nowadays, but champagne is something I always enjoy. From joy and laughter to sadness in the blink of an eye. You are a master-manipulator of the readers’ emotions (this is not a criticism by any means). With one tiny little sentence “You’ll always be my first, Reza,” he whispered, and pulled him into a hug” you opened my floodgates. I like several of my fellow readers imagine Reza will return to Ravello one day. I also imagine he will disclose his true self to his parents and hope his father will accept him as he is. A delightful story yet again @James Carnarvon. Frothy, light-hearted and comical, but still with wonderfully written characters, even if you barely scratched their surface. You have the knack for baring much even when saying little.

My fellow readers have dissected this chapter so thoroughly @James Carnarvon they have left me with only one observation to note which was not noted by anyone else "Reza jogged down the stone steps, then halted abruptly as two very small boys charged, giggling, across his path, closely pursued by a harassed-looking young woman in a rather old-fashioned dress. “Andiamo, Marco!” the dark-eyed boy who was leading the motley crew shouted back over his shoulder". I could not have imagined being so fond of Marco when he first made an appearance in the Ravello series, but by the end of the "Dani books" I found myself feeling very "protective" of him for want of a more appropriate word. For him to make an even fleeting appearance in this story warmed my heart. He is a character whose back story I would love to see explored by your good self @James Carnarvon if you are ever inclined to do so. I will now proceed to read the final chapter. I have already noticed the dreaded Completed status of this story.

My fellow readers have aired many of the opinions and suspicions I share. The only question I have which no one else has raised is was Donald, Josh's alleged father, somehow involved in the injury to the boy at the fair, the one who was left paralysed? Given the alleged source of the boy's injuries, Donald's occupation may be a coincidence, but it is a bloody big one if it is. If he was somehow involved I wonder if he was framed by Scott (and perhaps Elaine and the Romani Medea) for smuggling cocaine. I don't believe there are any lows the Romani Medea would not sink to, and Elaine is looking increasingly treacherous. @pvtguy expressed best what I have long suspected, does she, Elaine, have "a specific motive for targeting Len and Luke". It is difficult to imagine what she may believe she can gain from such calculating behaviour, but @James Matthews is renowned for making the impossible and implausible not only believable, but almost obvious if one were to only employ the "little grey cells" like Hercule Poirot. Speculation is almost pointless with your works @James Matthews, however, it is one of the things which only adds to the enjoyment and fascination one can derive from your stories and the characters who inhabit the realm therein.

I so want Mary to pay for her crimes, all of them. She needs a visit from a 210cm tall drag queen in heels who was a truck driver, who is trying to give up smoking and is really craving a cigarette, who has been harassed by a mouthy and persistent Jehovah's Witness and who has just seen her entire wardrobe of wigs and designer frocks go up in smoke. She could sort Mary out; bitch needs to be in a wheelchair with a colostomy bag dribbling into her incontinence pads. I hope Duke and Leander NEVER visit her again. I have not questioned any of Luke's choices to date, but KFC? Really disgusting "food" made from chickens who were tortured before being painfully murdered all for fucking KFC. Luke eat some real food. The "missing" stock from Luke's workplace is very concerning. Did one of Leander's crazy family members follow Luke to work and then break in and steal stock, and if so, is the stock stolen going to be used to frame Luke for something. Or is this one of your famous "red herrings" @James Matthews? A very suspenseful chapter which has raised more questions than it answered. I am hoping for a miracle for Leander.

Dad raised an eyebrow. “Take a look at you,” he said, “looking on the bright side for once. Something really has got into you today.” Reza shrugged. “Yeah, well, you guys were reminding me too much of… me, I guess.” If nothing else, the holiday in Ravello is increasing Reza's self-awareness and his appreciation of his parents and the opportunities life offers him in the UK. The day trip to Positano sounded horrid. Once again your gift for vivid description without melodrama came to the fore @James Carnarvon. I felt myself tensing at the thought of so many people in such close proximity (I could almost smell the mass of sweat from so many crammed in so tightly). The one positive I have discovered with getting older is that I don't feel compelled to always be polite regardless of the situation. I am not deliberately rude, but in the situation as described by Reza I could envisage my temper more than fraying, especially if any of the people were pushy, loud and obnoxious. I have to confess to loving the sun and not necessarily always being sensible when in the sun. In Australia we are bombarded with ads warning against the danger of the sun as we have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world (or so we are told). Whilst I have moderated my behaviour (I don't lie in the sun all day like I used to), I certainly would not travel all the way to such a beautiful place as Ravello only to lie on a sun lounge all day, not with so many wonderful other things to experience. Otto needs to venture out into the big bright world of Ravello. Day 5 and the holiday is almost over @James Carnarvon. I wait with bated breath as to what adventures Reza will experience with Gianni, Angelo and the newly minted sassy Claudia.