Arran

Then Jake has the problem; he doesn’t have to reciprocate. He just needs to remember what happened last time and put his foot down. Actually, he needs to find someone who will reciprocate his feelings and not merely his desires.

I felt him put his arm around my chest. I grabbed hold of his hand and gently pushed him away. I felt him sigh and turn the other direction so we were now turned back to back. I laid there a long time, but I didn’t really sleep. I don’t think Danny did either. This is a lesson for both boys. For Danny, he can’t carelessly plod over someone’s heart who has deep feelings just because the moment feels right. If he continues, he is not Jake’s best friend but merely an opportunity seeker. For Jake, he knows the next time will be another dead end and he will have to endure the same feelings again, so carefully think about going there again. Jake wishes that he had given into Danny’s desire for anal sex. Because that would have changed the outcome? It is more important now that he follow his head rather than his heart. Maybe denial will force Danny to confront his demons, because he has them. Vey good chapter, Jeff. Who could possibly quit the story now?

Or says he does.

Another great chapter. Except after his antics in front of Jake, I think Mr. Reilly will have difficulty coming across to Jake as he did before, less teacher/student. Maybe that’s what was intended; a more relaxed relationship. Jake is going to need some capable guidance to navigate the times ahead, though, since he can’t really rely on Danny. I’m looking forward to what Jeff has planned for us next.

I think it has more to do with social networking and pocket amusement devices like cell phones. I played outside and had lawn mowing jobs during the summer when I was a kid. No way today. Neighborhoods look more like cemeteries today.

I googled Mon City and it comes up as Monongahela, so apparently Jake doesn’t live in Donora. But the school district apparently serves both towns.

I’m always going to be the string that ties you two together. You can’t cut him off because you’d be ripping me in half. I think this is one of the “Easter eggs.” Pretty thoughtful for a fifteen-year-old. But then again, it’s coming from the heart. Jake’s dad is feeding Jake’s emotions, blaming all his shortcomings and deficiencies on Jake’s mom. Hopefully, Jake will recognize it and ignore them for what they are: his father’s inability to cope as an adult. Another fine chapter, jkwsquirrel. And thanks for your observations in the comments too. BTW, Hey Jude was the song that Paul McCartney wrote for Julian Lennon. i think he affectionately referred to the boy as Jude.

I’m impressed with how far Bret Reilly has come since W.A.R.; however, when he expressed his anger I saw the old Brett peeking through. I think there were two reasons for his anger; Jake was using his class for an unacceptable purpose, since Brett had so much faith in him. Also, Brett might have been reliving some of his own turbulent past as well. Question for jkwsquirrel: you refer to it as Mon City now. What happened to Donora? Another very good chapter, showing us more of the main characters.

Very good point!

The best chapter so far. The story is really beginning to take shape now. And I especially liked Brett’s (jqwsquirrel’s) perspective on the Beatles. When I think about it he is absolutely right. To me, Lennon & McCartney were one of the best teams of music writers ever (1965-1967) and then everything started falling apart with John going peacenik and George going mystical. Then John kind of abandoned his son Julian which Paul picked up on and wrote a song for the boy. Great chapter, jkwsquirrel.

I hear you. I just couldn’t help throwing that in because the W.A.R. saga seemed to take me forever to read.

It looks it’s going to be a blend of characters from W.A.R. And String and, so far, very nicely done. I agree with you, Talo.

The series wasn’t long enough for you?

I thought Brett got the scar when he took off on Dustin’s motorcycle and crashed it.

Good start, jkwsquirrel. Same place, different times. Might there be similarities in the main characters between now and then?

Oh, and I wonder why Danny is pushing for the club and not Jacob…

“Well, my father is very set in his ways, and unfortunately those ways have contributed to the state of things around here. But he keeps getting voted back in as school board president no matter how bad things get. I guess I know a thing or two about being used as ammunition by your parents. I see a bond developing here. I also think that Taylor and Danny might be shooting for the same goal. I see some of Billy in Jacob and some of Brett in Danny. Could String be the attachment between this story and W.A.R.?

Thank you, droughtquake.

What happened in Nova Scotia? Are you in Nova Scotia, Dodger? All I know is that it’s colder there than in Michigan because of the polar vortex hovering over eastern Canada right now. And it’s April!!!

Now for my thoughts about the story in general. I think come chapter 200, which this story appears to be heading now that Alex is back in the picture, Robbie will not have changed. He will still be hard-headed, combative and still chasing after that elusive “perfect relationship” which I think even he can’t envision. With Alex back in the story, I see Robbie continuing on his path of self-destruction—maybe even including Alex in his growing list of failed relationships, which of course will immediately be DOA. He seems to ultimately leave a bad taste in the mouths of everyone who has anything to do with him. Of all the people in the story, Robbie should appreciate Sue most because she has always had his interest at heart. He just hasn’t realized it because of his selfishness and stupidity. With Alex in it again, the story is seeming more like a soap opera to me now. How long has Days of Our Lives been going? Over forty years? I think Jo needs to whip him into shape once and for all (maybe take him over her knee and spank him until his entire butt hurts). The humiliation alone might do him some good. Then Dodger can seal this one up and take us on another fun and humorous ride. What I’m saying is I’d really like Robbie to find happiness in someone with whom he is most compatible (boy or girl), and I’d prefer it to be sooner rather than later. Finally, I think Dodger has done a great job entertaining us up to this point, and I like his involvement in the chapter comments, feeding us his thoughts, yet not giving anything away. Thank you for that, Dodger. But I guess I’m looking for resolution now. What do others think? Of course, if Dodger decides to take this to chapter 200, I’m so hopelessly invested, I’ll still probably hang on for the ride. I just hope I’m still alive by then.

True.

Dodger, if he “gives” Alex the money, he could be complicit in Alex’s crimes, thus subject to criminal detention.

If Robbie gives Alex the money (it won’t be a loan to Alex), he could be considered to be backing Alex and thus complicit in a crime. This could put him in criminal detention. If he thinks it hurts when Conner does it…

I attended an engineering college in a small midwest town in the early 1970s. Students were predominantly male, so fraternities were popular. To me the only advantage was that they kept old tests on file, which gave them an advantage over non-fraternity people like me when testing. I did fine, though, so no problem.

Right now, I’m more concerned about Corbin’s relationship with Hutch than with Pete. I think he’s beginning to see that he isn’t omnipotent like he thought he was until now. With what is going on with Pete and with Hutch, it is giving him pause to maybe reflect on his his ambitions. Let’s hope that he comes out of it a better man. I started college in my mid-twenties after a four-year enlistment in the service, so I was more concerned with my education than involvement in a fraternity. I thought it was more a rich kid pastime.