Summerabbacat

Too true @quttzik. Matt's mother seemed far calmer upon his arrival at the hospital than she apparently was when she telephoned Matt to inform his father was in the hospital. The fact she hung up on Matt and forwarded her phone to voicemail made it seem something dire had befallen Matt's father. She may need a stern talking to from both Matt and her husband if a life or death scenario did not exist.

I wonder @SilentandBroken if Colt had not, at least from Noah's perspective, made friends with Amy, Brett, Tyler and Christina, if Noah would have been more inclined to trust him. Those four, with the exception of Amy (perhaps) have given Noah grief in the past, so he fears Colt by association will likely do the same going forward. Colt's "confrontation" with George, although well intentioned, made Noah very uncomfortable as he knows only too well what a cu%t George is. And whilst I have no doubt his mother, Pam, fears George, I don't buy the excuse she cannot do something about George's treatment of Noah. There is no indication, at least thus far, that George owns a gun(s) or has harmed Pam in any way, so she needs to stop allowing her husband to abuse her son.

This could be Matt’s son @Suddaby. Well spotted.

Not so stupid that he found Rylee attractive though.

He has a spine, a moral compass and is capable of independent thought. Amy may possess these qualities too, albeit in “lower doses”. The other four, of no substance.

And so not worth the effort.

Damn! No chainsaw wielding deranged murderers, or hillbillies with poor dental hygiene, or supersized wild animals affected by an environmental toxin swimming in the lake, intent on killing or consuming human flesh. What a disappointment.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Brett is an arsehole, apparently just like his father, the sheriff, but at least he did not like Rylee and was unimpressed with her high maintenance behaviour, which she proudly displayed and thought amusing. She is hoping he will get her a part-time job. For the sake of her mother, I hope it is not one which is too intellectually demanding or requires any concerted effort to actually work. Tyler is a turd, and a lazy one at that, refusing to assist in carrying the beer inside as he does not do heavy lifting. Perhaps he is a millennial princess just like Rylee. Maybe he and Christina should have a three way with Rylee, a mutt and two muffs. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮. Methinks Tyler does protest a little too much about the "faggot" Noah too. Amy is the only one of the group aside from Colt, who has even an ounce of compassion and humanity. “Yeah, well, I need you to come inside so we can get this beer in the fridge,” Brett said, angling for the front door. “Amy! Come open this for us.” A rare, very humorous moment in this chapter @mastershakeme, albeit unintentional I suspect. Because the group had been talking about beer and weed, I misread the latter part of this sentence as "Amyl Come open this for us". I quickly realised the error, but the ! does bear a resemblance to the letter l. LOL.

@Gary L are the Spaniards similar in attitude to the bulk of other Western Europeans in that wearing such an outfit on a public beach would barely raise an eyebrow?

That would be cause for concern @chris191070, but given Matt's father's chill response it may not be anything serious, other than "you are a father, Matt", in which case his mother needs the riot act read to her.

A lime green mankini then @Gary L, Borat style?

The response by Pam, Noah's complicit-in-abuse mother, that Noah is in "quarantine" is very concerning. It makes him sound like he has some communicable disease like rabies. I wonder if George has Child Services "in his pocket" such that they have turned a blind eye to his abuse of Noah. Hopefully Colt will report his concerns to Child Services at least. I was also appalled at Tyler's and Christina's comments about Noah. The only one of three who had anything kind to say about Noah was Amy.

Part of the fun is having characters to loathe. The difference with this story is we are spoilt for choices.

And very desirable, not. LOL.

I thought Colt would likely have easier access to a baseball bat, although this may not necessarily be the case depending on where the story is set. I was impressed Colt is beginning to see how awful his sister’s friends are, a reflection on what a vile person she is.

"Rylee’s friends left through the front. “You didn’t have to be such a bitch,” Rylee protested at once. “They didn’t have to eat anything. We were just talking.” “Sorry about that darling, it’s been a long day,” Michelle said wearily, then nodded for Colt to carry the groceries through to the kitchen. “There’s more out in the car, too.” Way to go Michelle. Let your disrespectful bitch daughter treat you like shit and do fuck all around the house to help you, and then ask your son to go fetch groceries from the car. Colt is by no means a model son, but Rylee needs to be slapped into the middle of next week. Whilst her mother is at work she could get off her lazy skanky arse and cook dinner, which would help to save money so her mother is not spending money on take away food all the time because she is so tired after work. However, little Miss Spoilt Bitch Millennial Princess is too busy on her phone to do anything to help around the house. As for her skanky friends Amy and the hideous Christina, bitches both. Hopefully Colt changes his mind and does not go away with them for the weekend and they all get so wasted they are in a car accident. Are they all killed, could Colt be so lucky. Pam, what a useless spineless mother, she'd rather see her son abused than stand up to George, the fat, slovenly, drunken turd bully. Maybe Colt might get a baseball bat and take to both of them, especially if George has harmed Noah. What a truly vile bunch of people. The only cast members with any redeeming features are Colt, Noah, Vincent and perhaps Michelle (if she would put her boot into Rylee's arse). Now I have said what I really mean @weinerdog, a cunch of bunts.

And if the "secret" is Matt has a son @Mark Ponyboy Peters, I dedicate this song to them. I always assumed the song was about two lovers, but I have just read it was inspired by Bill Withers' relationship with his son. A great R&B/smooth jazz song with impressive sax work by Grover Washington Jr.

@Gary L get yourself settled in your favourite pair of fluorescent lime green Speedos, your body slathered in coconut tanning oil, a pooch on either side, a bottle or case of your favourite wine(s) and your favourite wine glass, and commence the binge reading. Halcyon days for you in Villa Valencia. Now if only you could teach Greta and/or Lilibeth (have I got her name right yet) to fetch your caviar and cigars for you.

I don't know how I did not see your comment before I wrote mine @wenmale64. It must have been because I was so pissed off with Matt's parents. I love your suggestion that Matt go and stay with Luke's parents and block calls to his phone from his parents. Petty behaviour yes, warranted reaction yes.

It looks like a "secret" child is the winner in the Speculation Stakes @dboggs9700 and @Mark Ponyboy Peters. A 2000m race run under weight-for-age conditions for 3 year olds and upwards. Prizemoney, ongoing child support.

@VBlew I believe you are thinking of Samantha and Ben as to who lived with the lads in Beachside Lane to begin with. The piece of work aunt I think you are referring to is Margaret aka the Monolith, Tony's corpulent mother and Luke's aunt.

If I have any semblance of rational thought processes at the moment @Mark Ponyboy Peters, this story takes place some years before the events depicted in Traditions. Matt is still working as an employee in the auto-shop owned by Don Weston, rather than as the owner of the service station where Charlie was employed. If I am correct, then the dark-haired boy who cycled out of Beachside Lane in the last chapter of Traditions is unlikely to be Matt's son as surely he would have mentioned his son at least once in a conversation with his employees, including Charlie. If this is so, I am wondering if the dark-haired boy might be Jess' son, Tony's nephew.

Matt's parents' behaviour was irresponsible, selfish and reprehensible. Frankly, Matt should tear strips off them both and refuse to speak to either of them until they kiss his arse repeatedly. Just imagine if Matt had been involved in a car accident in rushing to get to the hospital to see his father, and had been injured or worse. His parents' attitude upon Matt's arrival at the hospital pissed me off even more, both almost cavalier in their dismissal of Matt's concern for his father's health. I remembered who Julie was immediately, and if I recall correctly (which may not be the case), she was a bit snarky when it was revealed she had been "dumped" by Matt for Luke. I had forgotten she went to stay with relatives though @centexhairysub and paid no attention at the time as to why, probably just relieved she left town as I cared not for her. As soon as Matt's stupid father uttered "Julie" my immediate thought was she is dying of cancer and has disclosed to Matt's parents directly or someone else has disclosed it to Matt's parents, that she was pregnant with Matt's child when she left town all those years ago. With her death imminent, she wants Matt to know his child and hopefully take care of him or her going forward. Completely fucking selfish, just like Matt's fucking parents. If this is the scenario, I have sympathy for Matt and the child only, Julie and Matt's parents can go fuck themselves. A fantastic opening chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters, one which has infuriated me no end. I don't recall any character in the Thompsonville stories, other than the Monolith, who has pissed me off as much as Matt's parents did in this chapter. I have had a shitty day, so unleashing my speculative rage has been somewhat cathartic. Of course, if my speculation is completely wrong, I will feel like a complete twat, but it won't be the first time and I am sure it won't be the last. I will still be annoyed with Matt's parents though as how could they not have realised how the call Out Of The Blue that Matt's father was in hospital would be interpreted by Matt. If Matt is a parent it will certainly qualify as a shock coming Out Of The Blue.

Well consider me gobsmacked. Jack threw the Embercasting flint into what he thought to be the eyes of the Wicked Tree and now The Trammps have paid a visit to the Black Forest. Burn baby burn, it's a disco inferno. Theodore has been punished for lying that he stole the Embercasting flint. His father does not believe he did so, even though it is clear he did. Jack and Vince need to make haste to the Whiteflame pack to alert Tharion that Jack managed to get the Embercasting flint from the Wicked Tree and set fire to the entire Black Forest which meant to do harm to the Whiteflame pack.

Krystle or Alexis? What is the old saying about "assume" @Paladin? LOL.

So George, the school principal, is a drunk as well as a child abuser. I wonder if he and the crooked sheriff, Brett's father, are friends? A town where the "old boys network" is alive and kicking. A town where the likes of Vincent, the librarian, and Noah, the bookworm, are looked down upon for not being "manly" enough. Something has to be done about Rylee. Perhaps Carrie could visit the town and set fire to her by looking at her, or Freddie Krueger could visit her in her sleep, or she could go swimming and Jaws could have her as a snack.