SilentandBroken

Ugh! I was all happy and set to blurt out “Called it” from my comment prediction in the last chapter on Andy’s schedule change and then I hit the section where Zander came out to his folks. OMG that hit home. Not in the way you might think. I can’t relate. Well, I only could’ve in my dreams but my life is much different now and I’m waaay past high school. Helluva chapter.

New math new classmate. Or new physics new partner. Lunch boy

Andy is playing Russian roulette here.

Another good chapter. It’s good to see Eustace trust Eric a bit to do things totally unsupervised while he went into town. That said, it’s better Eric delivered. I wonder if delivering those bags of garden pickings to old T where another artful way of Eustace probing his own subtle investigation. I think had Eric recognized the name as kin and especially since that’s the house Eric thinks Eustace thinks he lives, Eric‘S reaction to Eustace would’ve been different and Eustace I think knows it. I think he’s setting Eric up to have to explain things and either he’ll able to cover with another lie only to have it discovered or they’ll cut right to it and something is gonna come out that won’t be able to be answered and covered in a lie. Eustice gives me the impression he knows or at least highly suspects more much more than he’s telling. Eric flinching at the dinner table and Eustice catching it I think confirmed a big suspicion to Eustice and it means it’s only a matter of time now. You can only lie your way so much. My only fears now are that Eric is going to get caught stealing food and or caught in the barn loft squatting.

Ok first off, I don’t blame Eric for trying to fit in. In fact I applaud him. Just the fact that he encouraged himself in the bathroom for one night, just have one night, was a big step. Then, after Carrot-Top showed up and showed his ass..sigh well alcohol and testosterone are poor partners. You’d think society would learn by now🤣 anyway, I am not blaming Toby either. The power of the all mighty pussy will win out every single time with a straight guy. It’s unfortunate but whatever. I wish Eustace would’ve pressed more on Eric. The kid trusts him enough he might just start to crack if for no other reason but desperation right now. What happens if winter hits he’s still not under a HOUSE roof? He better start thinking longer term than just tomorrow and soon.

You could say he was hot for more than one reason 😝

Glad you are. I’m back to 101.5 temp bleh

Oooh Eric you got yourself into a pickle now. You’re lucky Toby didn’t try to make you remove that shirt so you didn’t overheat.

Your warm thoughts and encouragement help thank you. Sigh. A lot of my trauma started around a boy who was a narcissist abuser, using that “power” to control me and manipulate me and rape a few times. That started at 13. I was a freshman, he a sophomore. Things got bad quietly when i finally grew a spine and tried to end it. He called me over to his house before school one morning, and from 15 feet away i watched him out a snubbed nosed 22 revolver to his temple and pull the trigger. I blamed myself for decades. I’m mostly passed it now. Therapy has done tons. But triggers still happen. My brother is one. I love him bc well..he’s my brother ya know? But he’s got his own demons and poor coping skills to go along with even more shitty decisions. I just can’t anymore. I can’t be around him and his drama. I don’t want to cauterize the relationship but I’m afraid I need to. It saddens me and the fact that he viewed suicide as his only option to fix his life. Fix? Hmph. More like quit. He refused to listen to anyone’s advice, only asking once he’s made up his mind to see if anyone could convince him to change his mind. He’ll do it again if the docs cut him loose soon. Now he’s really fucked his life over. This hole he’s dug suddenly got very deep. I won’t lie, I’m very very worried for him.

Eustace reminds me somewhat of my grandfather. Strong, quiet, hard working. Observant

He’s got you figured out boy. You just don’t know it yet.

Ah farm work. I grew up learning that. Makes me miss it. I can even smell those hay bales. Stefan would be better to come open up a little about his story. At the very least say he’s not related to the other Anderson’s and has no place to stay. I have a good feeling about this old guy.

He better hoof it off the road all together but keep the road in sight for a bearing. 10-1 that trooper is swinging back around. I just hope he didn’t touch anything. If that trooper pulls his prints off the dash or door, he’s gonna pop.

I saw the title and thought oh no… upon finishing I’m glad he got away save a little work. lot lizard life is no life worth living. He’s much to good for that life. good chapter.

Why is it always the hot boys are the meanest ones? Poor Stefan. Ugh.

I neglected to comment on the lady allowing him to mow her lawn and giving him a $20 bill. I think she might’ve sensed at least suspected something. He’s very much like a stray dog who’s famished and guarded. She didn’t want to prod but I think the comment of him coming back soon too again was indicative of her thoughts. Had she come right out and asked if he was out on the streets, Stefan would’ve bolted. I know I would’ve.

Sadly they do. Humans can be so cruel to one another.

@Parker Owens well I’m hooked now as I love long novellas like this. It’s a rarity that 16 year olds can navigate high school anyway. That’s with friends and a good home and social life. Throw in social stigmas like a rumor of being gay and an abusive father all while trying to hide it all only complicates life. Clueless is right. But you don’t have to thank me. I should be thanking you for your work. It’s excellent.

A much needed break for sure and a breath of hope. The scene the boy is more telling than stated. Stefan could have easily ran off for fear of an adult discovering him and reporting him to the authorities. He could’ve lashed out angrily at the kid for interrupting his sleep, possibly jading that kid too. But he didn’t. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to satisfy the kid with his lack of baseball skills but he didn’t care. As luck would have it, the kid was waay more patient than most his age and that makes me wonder now that they’ve traded names, will this kid pop up elsewhere further down the road? If Stefan stays in town a bit and meets someone special, could the kid be their lil’ bro? I think the tracks is a bit risky but it’s a small enough town maybe Stefan will be alright.

Stefan is so incredibly strong to not provoke is father so he didn’t finish him off. I’m not sure I’d have had the strength myself . Who knows. The abuse horrid but realistic. Personally I would’ve kept the hammer a weapon of self defense. You can see his fauty thought processes and logic in his decisions with the shower and fixing food. I think I would’ve bailed and got food later.

As for the father..I can’t .. I don’t have words for his behavior. Well except that I’m not surprised. He’ll be there for the duration of his suspension unless his dad wants him to cook for him. Frankly, if I were Stefan, I might poison the food at this point.

I disagree but I get where you’re coming from. The principal is going on the word of the coach who may or may not have a biased view of the abuse I. The locker room. How did he not see Stefan’s hair in his fist? I don’t know but it’s possible he assumed it was in the “throws of lust” vs forced. He may have deliberately decided to cover for the other student. Especially if he’s a star athlete for that coach. It’s also very telling on the principal not to verify both sides and there’s so telling whether he deliberately ignored some glaring facts as well as not giving Stefan a true chance to speak his side. There should’ve been a counselor there as well as the principal but it definitely seems some self serving interests are going on here .

Ugh . The whole beating by the belt highlighted how the littlest details are noticed by Stefan, like the sound of the belt being removed. I can only imagine his father folding it up into his hand so he can hit him with it faster, harder. It’s almost a club at that point. The welts that will form will be deep. All I can say is ouch. I think showing how the father was looking for ANY excuse to beat him by being a nitpick and absolute asshole to Stefan prior to beating him is perfectly portrayed. The girl’s interest is an interesting commonality I think . I say commonality because it’s high school and he’s an unknown and they’re on the hunt. Gotta have a boyfriend ya know 🙄 It’s unfortunate for the girl but definitely justified for Stefan to decline her pretty rudely. That rudeness is what the anxiety looks like. He’s right to have his guard up. While girls can be vicious, I didn’t get the feeling that was their goal this time. I think the smile might have actually been genuine that Stefan thought was for fake. To me, that’s his bias and self protection heading his perception a bit. Perhaps not. One thing I did notice though was that it’s because of his severe attempts at norm drawing attention to himself that also hurt him when there’s moments he could’ve sought help again his father or other students. Stefan cannot keep this up forever. He’ll have a breakdown eventually. Great chapter

Feel better. I’m kinda in the same boat. Slight fever, nasty cough, and chills like crazy but other than that I’d still go to work. That said, yesterday my brother tried to kill himself with pills 5 hrs from me and was fortunately unsuccessful in his attempt. That said, suicide is a huge trigger for me so I’m struggling right now. He needs to be committed. I love him but I can’t anymore. His drama is too much. One of these times he’s going to be successful. Sorry to be Debbie Downer on the holiday cheer. I’m super excited on the rest of your news Comsi. Can’t wait