peter rietbergen

As one who once hesitated between a career as a musician and an academic, I find the first part of this chapter deeply moving. I don't know the body of literature about the psychology of performing, but this might well become part of it, if only because it shows how, ideally, a musician will move beyond the performance. As to the nine years that elapsed: I think the author has given us everything we needed to knoe about what happened that night, at least as far as J's parents are concerned. As to the man in the bed. Well, be it who he is - I do not necessarily crave a happy end - we yet need to know what happened to Marc, since he was a 'failed gilded thing', too, and, in many ways, more hurt than Julian.

Heart-wrenching. I must admit I now hope this story does not go on for many more chapters. Somehow that won't "work" - for me at least. But the author will decide.

Agreed. But assumedly Mark will have to learn as much as J, or even more, to escape from the cage his parents have build for and around him - as did, obviously, Julian's parents. Both face essentially, the process of growing up into responsible adulthood.

I beg to disagree. Only Mark, with Julian's help, van end this terrible form of emotional/physical bkackmail.

So now we see where M comes from. Supposedly, we also see where the solution, the end is. That is If J does see it.

I do think the pair of you- for I include AI - have done a very good job

Magnificently narrated. Whether I am really convinced that there are hints of this in the previous chapters - as there should be, should have been...- I do not know. Whether the destruction this episode brengst van be turned into something deeper, newer with M and J is a question the author will have to solve - in a convincing way...A hard task.

This was, in a quiet way, a major moment. Not (only) physically, but emotionally.

There are a number of issues, themes here. I feel outing someone is, always, wrong. The problem of being gay was, and for many still is, too complex and no one has really any business with it but the person himself. Trying to help someone to deal with it, in friendship, is another thing altogether. Consequently: no, I do not feel Neil is childish or whatever else readers may say about him. He simply is afraid, of many aspects of his personal and social zelf, and has every right to be so. But yes, if A is serious about taking some 'responsibility' for the ensuing situation, a meeting is the only courageous and potentially effective action.

For all of us who, in some way, try to create, a mentor - perhaps like A - is indeed priceless: a person to listen to, to spar with, to learn from and, in the end, to remember - pace Rossetti - both with a smile and with some sadness. ssetti's smile as well as

At least we know one thing: it was NOT Julian. That doesn't fit the format of V's stories.

As "cute" as always, but yet: I find Neil's transition from straight to cock-sucking - however inevitable in this story -: far too sudden. There is, really, no in-between fase, either in words or in slow acceptance and subsequent action. Or did I miss something!

Since I always hugely enjoy RH's stories, this one doesn't disappoint, either. But I feel that Neil's question is surprisingly sudden, not to say out of the blue...

And your own thoughts on a re-gendered W would make a smashing (chamber) opera. As to The Joys of... Why not: The Pleasures of... Depending, of course, on the amount of sensuality in the song texts. But other titles come to mind. The Dreams of Young Werther...?

But why did Robert say he (now) believed he wasn't even Julian's father if Julian always knew he wasn't Robert's son?