Summerabbacat

Hopefully you like this one @Lee Wilson and it is not too "folky".

I imagine feathers would delight you @Ticklishboy30, very ticklish. Hopefully faux feathers though.

Like a snow globe, unwanted and unloved.

Michael is a remarkably mature and calm young teen. I am not however, I was furious on his behalf. The IOC regard him as an insurance liability, but are happy to turn a blind eye to the obviously "juiced" athletes whose physiques have changed from resembling Timothee Chalamet to Arnold Schwarzenegger in a short period of time. A heart "episode" in the waiting when "juiced" to the eyeballs. I am curious as to Michael's intended destination. Great chapter @Lee Wilson, with Michael's rejection predictably realistic.

Now is NOT the time for that out-of-control 18 wheel semi-trailer, driven by a middle-aged male who has just had a heart "episode", to make an appearance @Lee Wilson. Nor is it the time for Abel Taft or Kathy Taft to be released from detention for a weekend only due to good behaviour, unless they happen to be in the vicinity of the out-of-control 18 wheel semi-trailer driven by a middle-aged male who has just had a heart "episode". All that wind @Lee Wilson, LOL. Have you been eating too many cruciferous vegetables? I for one am glad you have been "windy" as this story has been a delight from the word go, with only one really serious "villain" in Uncle Mark, and some small-time hoons like Melton, Sandy et al who were not life-threatening (or has my mind slipped as well my eyesight?).

I am about to read the new chapter entitled Return From California @Lee Wilson, and it appears it is I who have taken performance decreasing drugs. I made my comments above on February 5 on the basis the next chapter was titled Return To California. I have checked it again and you have not changed the title. I am, as we may say in Australia (at least in my age group), a complete Wally, which translates to a fucking dickhead or idiot.

I must say @Mark Ponyboy Peters, the The Prisoner of Carronne suggests a Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Carronne, although your writing skills are vastly superior, or a blockbuster action hero movie, Indiana Jones and The Prisoner of Carronne.

I agree wholeheartedly @Gary L. I assume they allow all humans to visit, and humans are the filthiest, most disease-riddled and most inconsiderate of the comfort of others, of all creatures on Planet Earth. One only has to visit the garbage room in my apartment complex to know this to be true. And the worst offenders of all, humans with babies. Filthy disposable nappies just thrown in the bins. They should be banned, disposable nappies that is (at least). Give me pooches, or better yet the perfect creation 🐈, any day ahead of many, many, many humans.

"Carefully, they had made their way down the tower in which they resided, managing to sneak past guards until they were in the deepest parts of the castle, where light never shone, and the rats grew as big as cats." Very Bowie-esque @Mark Ponyboy Peters; Future Legend from the marvellous Diamond Dogs album. It is apparent Garrett is a fine specimen of a man, horny and healthy; certainly no Leif. A sense of humour, mixed with mischief and a dash of raunch (well maybe more than a dash). The behaviour of the Knights of the Order of the Dragon, the taking of a young male lover, would be frowned upon in today's world by many, although in defence of Luther he has waited until Jamal has come of age, which appears to be 18 if I am not mistaken. Have Carel and Willem found a way to escape the dungeon in which Willem has been imprisoned? If so, will Willem be able to foretell the future still and assist those who attempt to overthrow Septimus? May a putrescent plague descend upon Septimus and his arse kissing cronies. What an incredible talent:

Is that Mr Darcy, Mr Knightley, Edgar Linton or perhaps Heathcliff amongst the trees on the right of screen @Gary L? The gardens certainly are magnificent, definitely more Austenesque than Brontëesque though. Imagine the fun Greta and Lilibet (or is it Lilibeth and why can I not remember) could have. So many things to sniff, so many places to mark their territory. And the pool/pond in front of the pavilion, imagine the cat fights Alexis and Krystle could have had in it. The perfect setting for a Merchant/Ivory classic, except James Ivory is the only one still alive and he is 97 years of age. I have always thought he was English, but he is an American. A real feel-good chapter @Robert Hugill. @centexhairysub was correct with his comment on the previous chapter: "Charlie is, I think, more upset that he isn't more upset than that Aunt Daphane actually met her demise." Very astute.

I thought it too obvious Ox was the culprit who stole the artefact which Mahaka found. I was not surprised the culprit was revealed to be an indigenous student, nor was I surprised by the reason he removed the artefact. I think Principal Ricketts did the right thing by not involving the police and by discussing the theft rationally with Bonner (named in honour of Senator Neville Bonner). His parents Archie and Aretha were eminently sensible and between the four the matter was resolved satisfactorily with very little fuss. Given Bonner's intention was neither malicious nor motivated by personal gain, I believe any kind of punishment would have been counterproductive. CI Richards displayed a good deal of knowledge regarding procedural examination of the artefact. It is apparent watching Law & Order, Midsomer Murders AND Morse has not been for entertainment purposes only. Will this be sufficient to earn him the position of School Captain or is Florence's son, Scott, a shoe in given his popularity, or is there an unknown dark horse yet to reveal his intentions?

I can totally relate to the text in bold. I just hope Andrew and/or Brody are able to convince him to return home and work on what is important i.e. his relationship with Andrew. Andrew may have to start shouldering some financial responsibility too given their comparative young ages, with Will being the younger of the two.

A terrific start to this new chapter in Adam's life @ChromedOutCortex. I was very impressed with his honesty in his disclosures to Alex. He did not attempt to conceal his mental health struggles and answered many of the questions some of we readers raised when commenting on In My Mind. I was particularly impressed he acknowledged he was able to fool family and friends alike for a long time because of what he had learned in his Psychology minor. He really is a remarkable man, with or without Jamie. The return to his hometown is a very good idea, particularly to visit Jamie's gravesite. It will be very difficult for him to do so I imagine, but I hope it helps in the healing process he must go through, perhaps for a very long time, perhaps for the rest of his life. Alex has been his friend for a long time, the one who continually made an effort to maintain a friendship with Adam whilst at University. He certainly appears to be in it for the long haul. I imagine he will be welcomed by Adam's and Jamie's family alike.

Some very important facts were revealed in this chapter, facts which well may assist in the investigation of future crimes at Maroubra High School: Mahaka is packing some serious meat and is cruising the school grounds after hours to meet online hook ups Mahaka's mother Moana swallows her vowels to the extent she would be difficult to understand in person Lucas is NOT a size queen Neither Lucas nor Caleb could remember Joshua's name, once again falling back on it being Jacob Joshua's isolation at school really is as depicted in his story, Joshua Miles

The attack on Jack's character by the "evil entity", its lies and attempt at deception, remarkably like the circus we know as "politics". Theodore's tongue, a salve applied liberally to Vince's cut bicep, the equivalent of honey and seemingly just as sweet, better than any antibiotic. I daresay Jack may have a few abrasions, perhaps not as visible to the naked eye as Vince's cut, which need the attention of Theodore's muscular mouth organ too. Theodore's granite-like defence mechanisms are beginning to erode under the pressure of his attraction to the field mouse and the guardian. There is hope for him yet to fully reveal his desire for human companionship and lust.

From Bette's critically maligned album Thighs And Whispers. The critics hated it because it was disco, and the disco sucks movement was well underway in the USA. It is my favourite Bette album, and this song was very popular in Australia, where we did not have an anti-disco backlash.

Fellow readers and authors may think I am crazy, some may even get annoyed with me posting YouTube clips of songs, but in stories I enjoy a musical reference pops into my head very often, quite often more than one. The same thing often happens with readers comments, and for your comment it was instantaneous. I often remember events or years in terms of the songs/albums that were popular at the time, although in recent years less so because I like so little music released nowadays.

Direct from Ronardo's Boom Boom Room on South Street @drsawzall. He is tired, and hungry, and lookin' for love.

Dewey says no @weinerdog.

I got the impression @chris191070 Luther's visitor did not stick the sword into him, rather he merely touched him with the end of his sword: "When the sharp point was taken away, Luther half rolled over, coming face to face with the dull sheen of a finely-crafted sword, and a pair of eyes he had not seen in many a year." Hopefully my impression is correct.

My immediate thought was that Luther's visitor was Chandar, the Keeper of the Sword of Erasmus, but then I realised it could not be he as Luther has not met him before, and whomever stuck their sword into Luther's back had eyes he had not seen for many years. Perhaps it was Brian, after all if he was not the Messiah, he might be a Knight of the Order of the Dragon, or perhaps it is Brad, Dr Scott or even Rocky. Whomever it is, I just hope the sword they possess is not the Sword of Damocles. I don't know why @Mark Ponyboy Peters, I don't think it is just vague memories of Monty Python and the Holy Grail or Jabberwocky, but there is something Pythonesque about this story, apart from the gay "sex scenes", although I am sure Graham Chapman would have approved of them with delight.

Perhaps they might persuade Gran to join their team @chris191070. She may be able to teach them a trick or two, and the excitement for her would maintain her new youthful enjoyment of life.

Hunter has one friend only whom he can trust completely, Max. Everyone else wants something from him, some moreso than others. I still like Yeison because I think he is genuine, and still dislike Miguel because I think he is not. It will not surprise me if Miguel's father has instructed him to get friendly with Hunter for the same reason Hunter's father has instructed him to get friendly with Miguel. If Miguel's father is as wealthy as it is believed he is, I imagine he has many contacts he could use and/or bribe to obtain information about Hunter's father.

Caleb and Lucas, Batman and Robin, Starsky and Hutch, Dalziel and Pascoe, DCI Barnaby and DS Jones, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, The Hardy Boys. Is this the beginning of a crime spree at Maroubra High School which the intrepid duo will investigate, at least until the police are contacted, if the police are contacted. I assume if the thief was wearing a hoodie it would be impossible to tell whether he or she had Split Enz, and the robbery occurred when the school was anything but a Crowded House, with no witnesses likely in the vicinity of the school. Was it perhaps a disgruntled former resident of Shortland Street @Wombat Bill, or a roadie for Dragon, Sharon O'Neill, Split Enz or Crowded House. The Ox is an obvious suspect, a little too obvious I think. Perhaps it was an Aboriginal student who has taken it and given it to a tribal elder for safekeeping.

I have 9 days and several years on you.