Paladin

I was so buoyant when I saw this word of the day that I decided to think deeply about it, but none of my thoughts were buoyant enough to float to the surface.

Trivial knowledge: We followed UK and used the PAL system.

Ouch! These are very restrictive rules that I did not know existed. Often when I want to describe my state of delightedness, I need something between just being delighted and being absolutely delighted, and I'm not delighted to find I can't use those modifiers. On the other hand I am quite, very, extremely and absolutely delighted to realize I can break these rules. Just don't start me on other rules that I believe people should not break, like using less and fewer.

I feel the same about "sir". Growing up I did not encounter any of my friends calling their father "sir" and I have not noticed it amongst the children of my friends and relatives. I have not seen it as an Australian thing, but that could be the people I mix with."Sir" is commonly used by children and adolescents when talking to male teachers and adults they don't know. As for your observations about Brad. I totally agree.

Taking the scene as a whole @Summerabbacat I believe that Brad is more comfortable in the role of stepfather than Danny is in the role of stepson. Brad is comfortable calling Danny "son", "Dan" and "mate" while Danny only calls Brad "sir". Brad "chuckles" as he walks away from the shed. That seems friendly. And right at the end our author uses the familiar and family term "his old man." I don't for one minute believe that Brad accepted the concocted story about Jake.

Always a wise and safe approach

I'm totally with you on this @Summerabbacat. I was about to comment when I saw the above, although I was going to describe Brad as an enigma. In however many years he has been Danny's stepdad they haven't bonded as father/son. But, Brad calls Danny "son". As a semi driver he is absent for long periods of time. More than a week this time we are told. His discipline is very physical. Danny is actually physically frightened of him. Yet, when he comes across Danny jerking off in the shed, he doesn't say anything until Danny has cum. Then he seems pleased that Danny is jerking off and offers to talk over a beer. WTF! No concerns about Danny back chatting his mother (presumably why he went looking for Danny) and what's with that "wink"at the end.

I love this start to the story. The Exchange students are still a mystery, or rather now more of a mystery, but protective of Matt and his friends. Let's hope the relationship between Oscar and Matt is more than protective.

A very neat ending for a story that generated a range of emotions from wonderfully positive to angrily negative. Well done.

You have the right idea @Summerabbacat us Aussies and cat lovers should stick together. Bed time for me here.

@Summerabbacat you are also someone speaking from the position of already knowing this story. I am not so I am not predicting the actual outcome, even though I know how I would like it to end. My point in comparing the two stories is that both are at a point of very significant change in the lives of the main characters; change which moves them out of the comfort of the previous sixteen years. Are you suggesting that the previous sixteen years for Roo, Barney, Olive and Pearl had been bleak and suffocating?

@Mark Ponyboy Peters and @Summerabbacat you surprise me. I do see a connection between this and Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. In both life has been routine and predictable. In one the years marked by the purchase of a doll. In the other by the counting of birthdays. The seventeenth summer brings reality and change to the lead characters in both stories. Sorry, I am being presumptuous because while I know how the play ends I don't know how this story ends. I am loving the story and the story telling.

At least for Sydney the similar incident was in 1978 when gay revelers in Oxford Street Sydney were arrested and beaten by police when they paraded in support of Stonewall activists. This led to the annual Sydney Gay and lesbian Mardi Gras and eventually changes to the Crimes Act.

Spot on @drpaladin. Whereas Latin and a lot of Romance Languages change the form of the word to indicate if it is a noun or a verb etc, English does not. Content is an excellent example and also one of many like record, produce, suspect, attribute, address and present where the word is pronounced differently when used as a noun or a verb. Think of the present you give someone and the army order to present arms. What fun if the sergeant used the wrong pronunciation. OK some American speakers may disagree with some of my examples, but accept that I'm an Australian speaker. Ain't English wonderful

I think everything I would say has already been said. I just want Brendan, Jill, Steve and Nick to survive this shit and end up more than OK. The problem with any child abuse is that dealing with it takes time and usually has the child relive the events. The effects can be ongoing.

We really do need a groan emoji

By his recent selection of words, Myr is being jovial and "spreading the joy".

I'd like to know when Brian is going to be changed and what brings it about. We know he is Jenny's fated mate and I understood that they were putting that "on hold" until Brian is changed. That must be becoming hard on both of them, unless I'm wrong and they are living together as mates.

Another excellent chapter that has Greg and his mate, friends and council looking to the future and their future needs. A building that old needs a major overhaul. I know about moving into old houses and then discovering problems with what was ad hoc updating of wiring and plumbing. I lived in a house while it was undergoing a major renovation and extension. NEVER AGAIN! I'm curious about the fireplaces and chimneys which were necessary 150 years ago are not as necessary today, and then more as decorative pieces. Also many of them would be in the way of the rebuild and have to be demolished and rebuilt. I'd have thought there would be better heating options. I'm also curious about the meeting with the Baronets. There are hints of an undercurrent of hostility to Greg. I'm interested to see if any emerges at the meeting.

All will be revealed. stay tuned.

Whatever. Welcome back @Lee Wilson

A bit of context. When, and where, this story is set male homosexuality was illegal and would be for another nine years. The police could lay criminal charges, but also just harassed and turned a blind eye to "gay bashing." This helps explain Danny's mum's concerns.

Yes @Al Norris, that is what could be called the base car. The one that a shop owner might own. The description of the car shows this one has an individualized paint job. I remember well the features of the design. I've been searching unsuccessfully for a photo showing the concept. When I do I'll post, unless someone else can.

It seems that this time Jamie has gone "off script". Once his cock was in cottontail's mouth he stopped watching the comments (and tokens). Instead he concentrated on Cottontail's eyes which had him cumming sooner than his usual MO. Now to see how his viewers respond and if he cares. Xpress readership is dropping. Will Cottontail be forced to turn on Jamie to increase readership? Jamie knows he needs to leave the band so it's just a case of how he finally does it. Maybe some advice from Rusty.

A few English words still carry both both suffixes, although the meaning or usage may have changed over time. Examples are awful and awesome, fearful and fearsome, playful and playsome, and for us word nerds, Joyful and joysome.