Mark Arbour

Thanks Tim. Actually, I can totally see JJ with Gathan, when JJ goes through his self-loathing phase. This is right before he gets into scat. ;-)

I'm glad you liked the chapter. Like I said, Zach is an enigma, and we still haven't seen enough of him to know whether he's evil, or just misunderstood.

The USFSA and figure skating in general does not exist in a vacuum, and is susceptible to the same kinds of influences that other sports are susceptible to: power and money.

Zach is an enigma to you, because he is an enigma to me. How much of the changes we've seen have been because of the epiphany he described to JJ? And did he really change all that much? Was he really evil, as Gathan alleges, or just the victim of sibling rivalry? I think that he and JJ will actually end up having a lot in common because of their sports activities. Unfortunately, no matter how close he and Will are, Zach's career will keep him from being a full partner for Will.

Thanks Kitt. I'm not sure if they've cut Zach off from money completely, but they certainly haven't given him some of the tools you need to function financially in this country, a credit card being the most recognizable. And this makes sense, since credit cards can be a significant source of bad financial behavior. At the same time, Zach will have to learn to use them, so not having one is a little limiting, especially when he's far from home! Book 14? I may have started typing away at a few chapters. ;-)

Thanks! Frank's phone conversation was really the first time he's done what Brad had asked him to do, and stepped in to manage his extended family. So kudos to him!

JJ is still a work in progress for me, so he's kind of interesting to write. I still have a few loose ends to tie up, or at least to tie them down enough to end things. Four more chapters!

Thanks! I've spent a little bit of time in Northern NJ, but mostly around Rutgers, so this is all just web research. I'm glad it worked! I think that Frank needed a purpose, something to focus on. I think he wanted to find that with Matt, but couldn't, so maybe he'll be able to help Zach out instead.

Thanks for the review. The big question for Brad is whether he's calmer because of the responsibility of being a single parent, or whether he's calmer because he's more in control of his own life?

I'm glad you saw some joy in this otherwise depressing story. I think that at the end, you'll feel good about it, even if everything doesn't end in a nice neat package, or as happily as we all would like.

I realize I've brought JJ along slowly, but that's more of an issue with me evolving (in my mind) what he will be, and with the limitations on how much even I can cram into one story. I visualize JJ slowly transforming before us as a character, and gaining more dimension as we go. Then I'll have him hit by a bus. (Private joke for Sharon).

November 10, 2001 Tribeca, NY I lay there in bed, torturing myself silently, and waiting for my father to fall asleep. I knew if I didn’t do that, he’d want to have some big meaningful discussion about things, and that would just be unbearable. He meant well, but it wouldn’t help me, it would just make things worse. So I pretended to be sleeping, forcing myself to lie still and keep my breathing even. I heard him toss and turn for a bit, then his breathing got softer,

Will's temper is legendary, and usually sparks some nasty comments here, but one of the saving traits of his character is that he usually is able to mirror himself, and try to atone for his errors. This is typical Will: he got a little too heated, used Frank as a target, but when he figured it out, he tried to make things right. He would be truly awful (like some people I know IRL) if he got heated, used someone as a target, and then never said he was sorry. I think that also translates back the other way with Will. If someone pisses him off, but apologizes sincerely, he forgives them pretty quickly, and much more completely than I think I could. As for the tea rooms, I'm quite sure I have no idea what you're talking about. ;-)

I agree with pretty much everything you said. I think it's important, in a time of crisis, to know when to intervene and when not to. I'm not sure it's fair to lay the blame on 'the family' for not jumping in for Matt. I think he has to go off and work things out on his own for a bit. But at his core, Matt is a strong person, a person who can stand on his own if he has to, even if he doesn't want to. I honestly can't see Matt showing the character weaknesses that someone like Jeff did, and devolving down that path.

Not with Phillips. I've got my ankles permanently grabbed for him.

Very interesting beginning! I haven't read this in so long, it's like a virgin experience. God knows, those are rare for me.

Thanks Maarten, for your nice words. You have a very different view of Will than most do (and that I do), and that's OK, as long as you're not upset when I disagree with you. ;-) I think that Will's apology was a good thing. He is doing better, but he needs to learn not to lash out, but to present his arguments in a civil and rational manner. That level of maturity escapes most adults. ;-) But if he fails in that, it's important for him to acknowledge and apologize for it, which is what he did. And I think his overriding message was spot on: Frank isn't responsible for Matt, Wally, or Clara, and it's unfair to hold him accountable for their actions. I think, though, that when Frank sets himself up as their big defenders, and trumpets their views, it is reasonable that he hear the other side. Just not in attack-dog format.

I think that JP is so old and boring now, that he'll probably relish the peace and quiet without his drama-laced family members around. I'm thinking he'll do some research, read some journal articles, go riding, and smoke some weed. ;-)

JP's a little shorter than that. Thanks for the review! SMILE!

Actually, I read this review and then thought of that SNL skit: The Californians. http://screen.yahoo.com/californians-karina-returns-000000291.html

You are the first person to ever tell him that. Thanks! That represents a lot of work on the part of readers, to post that many review. Thanks to all of you who played along!

One wonders, since Frank wasn't in Los Negros, what version of the story he heard, and how that impacted his perception of Aaron. I would have guessed he'd have gotten it from Robbie, in which case it probably would have been more charitable. On the other hand, I can see Frank and Nathan having a major bitch-fest, complaining about what an asshole Aaron was. Regardless, I agree with you, and think that Frank just used that whole situation as a way to explain his miserable childhood. Remember that he jumped into his father's fight with Jeff and beat the crap out of his old man...those can't be easy memories to bear.

As always, Jason, I appreciate your insights. I hadn't really thought of the concept of willpower vs. introspection, but I can see how that would impact them. I would have to believe that their reliance on willpower would be, as you said, a symptom of that real economic and political power they wield. One thing to consider, though, is that Matt is unique in that he comes from a very wealthy family, and he normally would not have to worry about cops any more than Will or JJ would. I think the situation in Texas was unique in that Matt was disoriented and vulnerable, otherwise I would have expected him to be more aggressive in arguing with the cop.

This is something I should probably know, but don't. I'm thinking of modern times, when a man wanted to become Prime Minister, he had to renounce his peerage (like Alec Douglas-Home). How did that work in Granger's era? When the Duke of Portland was Prime Minister, did he also sit in on the House of Commons?

Are there no Monty Python fans here? Sigh.