SilentandBroken

Ok I agree to a few points by others above. Small town rural mostly (I’m guessing here) white blue collar where in Joel’s family the mother wears the pants and is the boss and Phil goes along to get along. Trace on the other hand, pisses standing up as a man should. I can see, as mentioned, Lisa and Trace having similarities on paper but there are also some very stark differences between them too. One of them being, you accept your children for who they are, not ostracize and otherwise disown them. Lisa is blinded by her prejudice and shock..allowing those emotions to dominate her reasoning. Because of that she is weaker than her husband Phil. Joel is right. Lisa tore the family apart. If Phil grows a pair and stands up to her, will she kick him out too for siding with Joel? Hmm

Absolutely

I’m gonna go on for a bit here and sorry but I feel it needs saying to have it said. I can’t say for sure whether or not American boys at 14 are generally more mature that their European counterparts but I would imagine there wouldn’t be THAT much difference. That said, I think it honestly depends on the individual upbringing. We are dealing with kids that are already trying to cope with life that is ..well..let’s face it, a tad not normal. Not every 14 year old boy comes from abused homes or is abused in other ways. I’d say MOST don’t. At 14, there’s still very much an innocence to kids, that is by and large unless of course they’ve had traumatic experiences that force them to mature earlier. In my mind, it becomes the difference between the bullies and the kids being bullied. The kids doing the bullying are still ..invincible and don’t really comprehend the consequences of their actions on others. There aren’t repercussions for them. Hell, if it’s a group of them, they encourage it and that’s affirming the negative behavior. This behavior can go on full on into adulthood if the bully is never stood up to. Look how long it has taken US schools to instill anti bullying policies. They fail to work of course. The teachers and staff still don’t recognize it for what it is. Not until it’s too late anyway. Sadly teaching what to look for will never equal being able to recognize the behaviors of both parties unless they experienced it themselves. Bullied kids are forced to mature quicker as a means of survival for them. There are many forms of bullying and many levels of it. The more severe forms are obviously more easily recognized but usually by time the bullying has reached that point, that level of severity, it’s too late. The damage has been done. Trauma changes the mind. Literally. Areas of the brain develop quicker in some areas than regular kids and other areas fall behind elsewhere (social skills). I swear it feels like some folks who have never been through “it” don’t take it seriously and blow off the red flag warnings given by those who have and that’s one reason why the advocacy and research of childhood trauma specifically is so far behind. Abused kids learn as a survival method not to say shit to anyone in hopes it’ll just go away. One of the great things about GA is many of the stories bring a voice personal experiences of folks in a means of safely bringing to light what they experienced in a sort of semi-fictional safe format that is affirming which is HUGE to the abused person’s view of their own self worth. They feel safe enough to tell their story. Some of the anonymity of the internet helps there obviously. Sorry for the minor soapbox rant but I had to say it. It wasn’t meant as a berate at anyone or anything. I just wish I could write my story in a fictional style and write as beautifully as many of these authors do here. For that and the engagement all the readers bring to the stories, I love you all. Keep spreading love.

I wasn’t speaking about the anger he showed towards her on the phone in my previous comment. I was referring to his comfort he seeks with Nick in bed. Yes, you’re correct, we don’t know what’s going on and for a 14 yo kid to rip into his mother that badly, he clearly blames her for whatever he’s gone through.

I have a bad feeling Mark is going to spill the beans to Jack who Nick went with while they’re still gone and by time they get back, and repairing that needs to be done by Nick will be beyond difficult. Hopefully it won’t be irreparable.

Yep. He needs pick one and quickly ..before it’s decided for him. I’m for Camp Jack but that’s just me. I have soft spot for broken kids as I used to be one. Something happened to that boy.

Mostly but it had to start from somewhere

Great start to a story that has much more to say. I have an inkling of where it might go but I hope I’m surprised .

I think they have history. Both have been there at the school for a few yrs I think

Absolutely. Nick has his own anxieties from trauma of some sort. I agree the med given is much less a mood stabilizer for him than a sedative, although it’s probably being used as such off label, meaning that the medication’s primary use is more of a mood stabilizer but the side effects from taking it make folks drowsy and so there is a secondary benefit there because quality sleep affects their ability to keep emotion regulation under control.

You’re welcome but to be honest it’s from a personal experience from Trauma, specifically c-PTSD. I was initially misdiagnosed as ADHD until more was learned about c-ptsd years later. Unfortunately I see myself in Jack because at that age, I behaved very similarly for what’s it’s appearing to be much the same reasons. A lack of love and affirmation and good social skills. That said, I do have a vague understanding of abnormal psychological behavior that I remember from my college days. The abuse affects the social skills, which affects his appearance to others. He’s got some disassociation tendencies there too when he’s cryptic and emotionless in his responses WHEN he responds to Nick. At first I was thinking he might’ve been what was called Aspberger’s syndrome. Now I think it’s just another type of autism on the spectrum. But I don’t think that’s Jack’s deal. He’s just got unresolved trauma and it is affecting his social life. The school isn’t equipped or trained to handle it. Mr. G however, sees what’s needed but as an adult he can only do so much. Pairing him with Nick is already showing to be a great move, the best move honestly, so long as Nick doesn’t screw it up more.

Absolutely on both points. Telling Jack he loved him started the trusting process so well…only to be undone once Jack learns Nick invited Noah to his house after Jack already warned Nick Noah is not a good person. Jack is only going to speak when he wants and he’s very economical in his words. He’s straight to the point. He’s not going to fill the silence to kill it or hear his own voice. Nick will realize that very soon. Perhaps in a very difficult way. By not being transparent with Jack, Nick might lose Jack’s trust and affections to Mark. Remember, Jack already outed Mark to Nick earlier.

It’s not ADHD. It’s trauma. Whether it’s more emotional than physical is to be determined. Often times inattentive behavior looks like straight ADHD but it’s more likely straight up anxiety. That vitriol Jack had for his mother was definitely harsh but came from somewhere deeply personal. Given is other manic behavior, and his desire to snuggle up to Nick in bed and the almost childlike way he does so, this boy has been deeply hurt emotionally and for a long time. This can appear to someone on the outside as immaturity.

Great start to a very compelling story imo. I love your character building. I really hope you pick this one back up with part two with a chance at states or higher with the boys on this team in the next level being modified (8th grade?) and on into high school as Grady and Brennan’s friendship blossom and perhaps maybe Grady can go out for swimming in the off season to be with Tom too. Then there’s David. Anyway, there’s so much potential yet to this story. You’ve invested 5 chapters . I just hope you haven’t lost interest.

I’d wager Brennan is feeling jealous and doesn’t know why, doesn’t understand. Time will help

Two chapters in and I’m really enjoying this story. I hope @LittleBuddhaTW you pick this story back up and finish it. Currently, it’s abandoned.

Bravo. Nicely done. Now let’s see an epilogue chapter where Natalie and her band bring Connor in and they do a summer concert series and Connor gets noticed by a big name.

Seems like Jack gave up for now at least

So Ryan owned up to his behavior with humility which scores well for him. But, I think, he scores better with the fact he didn’t try to explain his behavior right the and instead differed to one day. That’s a maturity I don’t think either boy has shown yet. He knew Connor was still sore and pissed about it. But, to Connor’s credit, he didn’t throw any barbs either. The 3 weeks apart was exactly what was needed. Whether or not they’ll get back together remains to be seen but I do think, from what we have seen so far, Ryan is right. Ben will be good for Connor.

Poor Conner. Doesn’t even know what to do much less recognize he’s doing everything exactly what he needs to do and nothing more.

Wow great start . It’s ironic I’m kind of in a dark depression like Cal so his mindset is kind of hitting close for me. I felt like Jonas didn’t quite recognize those markers from Cal. But he was a bit more insistent that the counselor. That woman totally mailed in her effort

Eh idk, having to pull up stake bc your son’s a dumb ass and throughly embarrassed the hell out of you so much you were asked to step down from your false sense of influence on the school board much less couldn’t even go to the grocery store in public where everyone knows what happened is pretty fitting. Kinda got ‘em where it counts if you ask me. Now they have to start over completely

And there it is. The first shot has hit the fan.

Ok I about lost it at the end of the chapter.. If Connor doesn’t let Ryan in, Ryan is going to force him to. Connor isn’t hiding shit. It’s obvious to all around him.

Maybe. He definitely lost control of his emotions obviously but I’m not sure it stemmed from anger. I might be a bit biased here but it looks like the results of a trauma response. Like he lost control of keeping his emotions under control. That’s a broad brush I know