Mattyboy

Mike Delport was nice to Cal back in an early chapter, right? and wasn't part of the bike-shed bully crew? Sorry to see his calf blow up like that, then.

These chapters seem to always include a turn in the road, and by the end point you can't see the start any more. (Don't make the installments shorter, Sean, the pacing is great). but yes, that business of the boys not going two-hundred-miles-an-hour, and "maybe we're just emotional-support-bros-with-family-issues" has well and truly sailed.

Back from the 'rugby" part of the chapter... looks like Chris now the first XV fly-half-presumptive?

Cubby and the Thing were such perfect gifts. And Chris (and the time out of school up at the Teakloof cottage) have boosted Cal's enormously. This is suddenly a fairly reciprocal and equal relationship.

I was kind of reading this as just lost-a-few-key-teen-years to taking care of grandma. Maybe combined with some homeschooling, but I see Laura implies attending at least some school earlier on. Interesting set up, I'm intrigued.

I thought the Martin Smits story did a lot... it shows that Chris has been having deep "social system" thoughts. It's very old history for him, but it's mixed right into the present. Which is why the golden boy with the 10 on his back and the 10 over his head for the cheerleaders, who'd be perfectly able to integrate into that social group, wants to sit with Cal and his friends and go for real : he's already climbed that ladder once, and has matured to the point that he wants to chart his own path. (I also liked the Martin Smits story, for the Archie comics detail. That kind of group-turns-on-one-person bullying is most obvious when it's over something wildly trivial and normal like that, until suddenly someone decides Archie is anathema, and BAM, we're off to the Island of Misfit Toys.) Chris' diary also sets off how much of the first chapters aren't just fancy writing on Halford's part... but he's been showing us how rich and messy and clever and about- to-spiral-off-into-depression Cal's mental life is. Chris is a thinker too, but in a much more straightforward way. Chris knows how to navigate a Capetown high school, but a relationship with Cal is still a new challenge. So there's a lot of answers here for what the heck Chris thinks he's doing, as well as how Halford is telling Cal and Chris' stories.

Chris' perspective is so much fun after Cal's. And explains so much!

My heart had finally had enough and staged a coup in my brain I❤️ this turn of phrase

I also really liked the hotel room and 'team' scenes, showing Charlie and Jackson and Drae, and Tara and Shay all having grown with each other as teammates. The serious-but-comfortable vibe was cool. This has really grown from an emergency fix to something pretty great for Jackson. The nice team-vibe resonates especially after last episode, when Jack told Welker he didn't feel supported by the school, so he didn't want the school taking credit for him or celebrating him. (Although Jackson should change his tune with on that, Welker might want to shove it Cindy's face that Jackson has worked really hard and that a major university values him enough to pay up with a scholarship.)

"The only thing that stung was the fact there would be no true redemption, no chance at a last second rally to finally beat Pete." Great sentence, Krista, but what about the 💯? Love the race descriptions, what a meet! Although from my limited swim-racing experience, I have no idea how somebody in 3 could have a clue what was going on in 8 or beyond. Looking forward to Ep52 and the 100-final! Outstanding focus from Jackson, he hasn't even looked up for Luke yet.

What are we calling the Rybalt-Slicky sub-plot ? Ryplums? Slickybalt? 😈👿

oh, fun! looking forward to it

I expect Rusty will excel at nailing Coolplums, but I hope he gets a good second-identity sorted out as well.

Hehehe so much fun that its RUSTY that says "“So, you wouldn’t be terribly upset if there were another version of me prancing around, doing stuff, while keeping his real identity a secret from the rest of the world?” What an excellent time to be a seller of cat-suits and ninja costumes. I hope Rusty can nail it with his fursona origin story rather than the scrambling mess that Slicky Coolplums (😈😈) emerged from.

It's not too late yet, John might be back just in time for the Jackson-Pollocking

You're darn right it was a good job 😈😈

"all them first times... or maybe not all of them." Of course it's not all of them: 😈👿 hasn't gotten past second base yet.

“You’re breaking my fucking heart.” "We could have talked to Scott" Yes, you goddamn could have talked to Scott, Jackson.😠 And sorted out in-state tuition while you were at it. Wonderful surprise at the trading post, Krista, and another great connection back to early chapter-days.

Interesting from Gus. I'm enjoying the slow reveal and development. Seems very early to let the new guy into the accounts payable systems, but very cool that Ben is smart and has found a way to make himself useful.

I mean, I'm literally not done yet. You can play with it later.

ahem!

Fun episode! And some serious progress! Unless August is keeping a big secret that doesn't quite seem to suit her, the SHIT accusation is provably wrong, and a college student having younger siblings is going to pretty believable for the Sunny Hill readership. And Rusty knows now that John's going to need some dealing with. And the whole road trip was good enough and real enough for Rusty (and Matty) to drop a lot of the façades that this is all "tutoring," or "helping" Also, excellent news that this road has many turns and miles ahead.

Wow, what a beautiful set of moments as Kenan and Asher figure out how to take care of each other while dealing with pain and trauma. I also really appreciate you delivering these in discrete episodes that have endings. Cliffhangers and teasers are fun, but the last couple of chapters delivered such a punch that some closure at the end is better (or I liked it that way, any how).

I'm pretty sure Luke is getting lucky tonight, but I think he has something else in mind.