Summerabbacat

If only I was that flexible.

Not something I am ever likely to taste @LittleBuddhaTW given I am vegetarian. I had to look them up on the 'net to remind myself what they looked like.

A very troubling chapter. I am beginning to think @drsawzall's suspicions regarding Micah are well founded. His outright refusal to accompany Killian to DC was reversed within 30 minutes by Adam and Steve. I found that very very strange. Killian may be a lousy driver, but his feelings of unease are usually proven correct. He is wary of Noah, even if partly in jest. This does not bode well for a friendship between the two. "I had a feeling it would be a weekend to remember." Ominous perhaps? Without a doubt when in the hands of @Josh Aterovis, the bon vivant of Baltimore.

You are roughly my mother's age @Paladin and she grew up near Maclean in northern NSW on a sugarcane plantation, before moving to Scott's Head (near Macksville) in the late 1950's where my grandparents had a banana plantation, which they sold before I was born and moved into Macksville itself. I am like you, although I only like the green kiwi fruit, the golden kiwi fruit are vile. I like them rock hard and sour, so much so that they make you wink when you bite onto them. When I was a younger lad I used to eat them with the skin on, although I did chop off the rough ends.

@weinerdog, @drsawzall and @LittleBuddhaTW have commented on their "image" of Miss Charice, so I am going to add my two bobs worth too. I had a very strong image of her as Loretta Devine in her portrayal of Marla Hendricks from Boston Public, a TV show I saw on occasion and quite enjoyed. Her character was somewhat eccentric if I remember correctly, and was always colourfully attired. Nick is going to need lots of therapy after learning that Butt Breath Johnston had been spying on him naked in the shower. What a despicable man. There have been many sad moments in this story to date, but none moreso than Nick's departure in this chapter and the sorrow both he and his best friend, Mr Bojangles, experienced. Mr B remains my favourite character.

It wasn't me, it was all @weinerdog's suspicious mind. I was too busy being repulsed by Butt Breath Johnson. I did however, enjoy the praise from @weinerdog that I had written "how does someone smell like human excrement, Limburger cheese, and a dead raccoon at the same time?” The only "flaw" in this speculation is the reference to the dead raccoon. As an Aussie I have no idea what a raccoon smells like (dead or otherwise), mind you I have no idea what a skunk smells like either, but could have referenced a skunk relying upon TV portrayals of them e.g. Pepé Le Pew.

I am the same age as @Mark Ponyboy Peters and also grew up in rural Australia like Mark did and I have never heard the expression before @Paladin. Mark has used many other expressions which date back to our younger years, or which were very much a rural expression, so I am surprised I have not heard this one (and it is not as if I am unfamiliar with and refrain from using "rude" words). I did not know that about kiwi fruit either; I assumed they originated in NZ. I only like the green kiwi fruit.

I have not drawn the conclusion @Golden Ghost Pen condones Olly's behaviour @Davide; the only conclusion I have drawn is that he has challenged his readers with thought provoking material, something which can only but add to the quality of the story.

Perhaps you share more in common with your fellow Brit, the genius known as Kate Bush, than @Robert Hugill does @Gary L. Having released only 9 studio albums in 47 years, Kate's output is not what one would normally refer to as productive, but when the product is of the quality of Kate's exceptional work, prolificacy is redundant. Speaking of Kate, how are your Hounds Of Love @Gary L? Have they had you Running Up That Hill?

Bum fruit? Now that is a phrase I have not heard before @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Did you make it up? I don't eat eggs, other than when used in various foods as a binder, and to think of eggs and fruit as having any "connection" is 🤢🤢🤢🤢. I may not be able to eat kiwi fruit again without thinking of eggs as they are a similar size and shape. It struck me moreso in this chapter than the previous chapter, that the assistance readily offered and accepted by all the residents of Kandanga Falls is not unlike the experience of living in a kibbutz. Nate has certainly had his horizons broadened in the past week, losing his virginity, or at least part of it, to Skye, and now seemingly a little bit more, with Danny and Jake. Nate has been most fortunate, or is it because of his discernment, to have had such positive and safe first time encounters. A chapter of new adventures and reinforcement @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Most enjoyable for cast and readers alike. And in deference to the trio, a little bit of sweetness from one of your favourites Mark. Not one of their best IMO, but a pleasant song nevertheless.

If Mack had been a woman whom Ollie fingered whilst she was apparently sleep I dare say there would be almost universal agreement that it was fundamentally wrong. The fact that Mack is not a woman has perhaps "clouded" the issue somewhat, and in principle it should not. I too have to wonder if James was trying to convey to Ollie that a sexual "experiment" between himself and Ollie is a possibility he is open to. Is it possible he lusts after Ollie and Ollie is completely oblivious to this? I personally find James far more appealing than any of Ollie's other male friends, apart from Noah, even if he is somewhat "furry" @drsawzall.

Loser Lachlan. What a prick, perhaps a very small one. Maybe this, penis envy, is the reason for his toxic homophobia. Audra and Jock are everything their son is not. And what of Toby, Irma's father. As noted by @Seraph28, he enjoyed an evening meal with Irma and the members of the "gay commune". And the sky did not fall down; the town was not beset by all manner of natural disasters; and no pervert tried to convert him to their evil ways. Felix forbid, he should be a reasonable man, and it seems he is. Heavenly Hugillistic again @Robert Hugill.

A very moving account of a young man with a not uncommon physical disability, one which due to its nature, many would prefer not to know or discuss. @Gary L presented the physical disability factually, without melodrama or apology, which I found very effective in demonstrating the discrimination and indignities suffered by the young man. The "real" tragedy of the physical disability was the impact it has had on the young man's self-esteem. Exceptional work Gary.

Another entertaining and thought provoking read from @Gary L, a relative newcomer to this storytelling caper, not that it shows given the polished and assured manner in which he writes. This story delves into the life of a young man facing challenges in accepting his sexuality. Self-doubt and a prior experience are his foes, foes to be overcome if he is to become the person he is meant to be. Terrific story Gary.

Qué hermosa historia @Gary L. This story appealed to me from the get-go, the melancholy of the first paragraph an indication I was in for a treat. That treat exploded like a glitter ball on steroids with the "appearance" of Alison and Vince aka Yazoo and their masterpiece Don't Go. What a fantastic song, and so apropos for the Situation Jack found himself in. And as if a sprinkling of Yazoo was not enough, the atmosphere ratcheted up another notch or twenty with the mention of the titanic vocals of Miss Gloria, Gloria Gaynor. Great music aside @Gary L (and you know I am a sucker for disco in its many forms), this story was as noted by @weinerdog, one which many of us could relate to. Simply told, simply moving, simply rewarding. And Annabel's last remark, what a hoot. A pleasure to read.

Charmingly so though I think.

I did not think it possible @drsawzall. I think you are as mistrusting of the motives of our species as what I am. LOL.

Too quick @drsawzall, they need to suffer. Investigation of their financial affairs by Sawzall & Associates reveals embezzlement and money laundering. Investigation of other aspects of their lives by Weinerdog & Associates reveals elder abuse, child abuse, slavery of household employees and sexual abuse of same by both Beelzebub and Medea. Once they have suffered reduced circumstances until the painstaking investigations are completed, then the runaway 18-wheeler can do its job.

I remember lairy well from my teenage years in Australia in the late 1970's and in the 1980's @drsawzall. I had a number of Hawaiian shirts and they were definitely lairy. I also remember well the word lairiser. It was usually applied to someone who was showing off, often someone hooning around in a noisy and powerful car e.g. someone hooning around in their Sandman shaggin' wagon with a mattress thrown in the back for use at the local drive-in.

Business trips and restroom rendezvous are for the moment Killian's bread and butter. How long will it be before he becomes embroiled in murder(s), drug deal(s) or drug bust(s), sex scandals and all manner of debauchery. Thirty something chapters you say @Josh Aterovis, that's enough time for an avalanche of vice. Bring it on. "Several guys came and went — a dad with a toddler holding his hand, a tired-looking retail worker in a department store polo, a teenage boy glued to his phone. The flow of traffic through that narrow corridor was typical, uneventful. Except Jake was taking a long time. A really long time." I hope Jake is not involved in a child pornography racket. Drug dealing is one thing, but something of that nature is reprehensible.

Me too @centexhairysub. The protection of non-human animals and the environment are easy targets for budget cuts. Imagine the outcry if similar cuts were made to funding for make believe?

"I want to take a chance on love with you.” He paused and grinned. “Didn’t mean to quote ABBA there, but they said exactly what I mean." NEVER apologise for quoting ABBA Brady, particularly when it is not a direct quote of Take A Chance On Me. Brady is a biiiiiggggg boy, so much so that Calvin may now be quoting ABBA too. After those Kisses Of Fire and that ride to nirvana, Calvin may be singing the King Kong Song as there is now a Hole In Your (His) Soul, big enough to accommodate The Visitors, or a least Fernando, Chiquitita and a Dancing Queen or two. Marvellous @KKirk. This song is most fitting, the 12" remix in particular. I have it on vinyl and it is superb.

Both spellings are apparently correct, although I was wrong in my comment above as I have re-read the source and it indicates the word is slang in either of its spellings.

"Right.” Jack scrunched up his nose. “I hate kale, by the way." LOL. I am totally vegetarian, and vegan for an average 50% of my meals, and I absolutely loathe kale. There is a reason it was used as a decoration in butcher shops; it is disgusting, inedible. I would rather eat Brussels sprouts, and I detest them. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮. After reading this story and its predecessor, it appears the phrase "hung like a donkey" should at least be interchangeable with "hung like a wolf-shifter' or "hung like a wolf". It may give a whole new meaning to the Duran Duran classic Hung-ry Like The Wolf. The bickering camaraderie between Vince and Jack is more keenly focused now that our attention has been diverted from the Danny/Ryder love match. Their joint reference to Theodore as "the asshole" was most amusing, particularly given said asshole is somewhat confused by his attraction to the puny field mouse, the clueless clairvoyant. After only two chapters this story is shaping as a worthy sequel @Laura S. Fox.

Not quite a Hugillism, but I had never seen lairy spelt as lary @Robert Hugill. Seemingly we Aussies often use the slang spelling rather than the more formal spelling of many a word. "Gilly, a rather fat woman with large round specs and a habit of blinking rapidly that reminded me of an owl, broke into a broad grin." I had a great chuckle at this physical description as I don't recall you ever being so blunt. You have always, from what I can recall, used any number of euphemisms e.g. robust, well-padded, sturdy, but never fat. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. I liked jolly Gilly and her no-nonsense attitude. She did not bat an eyelid when she referred to Matt as Gray's young man friend, nor when she warmly spoke of the openness of the relationship between Vince and Peter. I look forward to Vince getting all hot-under-the-collar about the neglect of the Reservoir pathway. It is the Vince's of the world who make things happen, kick arse and don't take excuses for inaction. I have not posted any songs to any of my comments of late on either of your stories @Robert Hugill. This chapter "moved" me to post yet another masterpiece from your fellow Brit, Kate Bush. A song from her brilliant 2005 album Aerial, a song which I believe would appeal to Gray's muse.