Young and Hungry - For Life - 32. Blow Up

OMG Stupid fight Justin you big dumb arsehole you over reacted and now you will have something to haunt you for the rest of your life if Edward dies. 

Some one needs to grow the F up.  Revenge is never the way to go.  And Craig is absolutely correct Hate only causes grief for the person Hating.

1 hour ago, quttzik said:

OMG Stupid fight Justin you big dumb arsehole you over reacted and now you will have something to haunt you for the rest of your life if Edward dies. 

Some one needs to grow the F up.  Revenge is never the way to go.  And Craig is absolutely correct Hate only causes grief for the person Hating.

Well said @quttzik

I was very disappointed in Edward's behaviour in the last chapter, but softened in this chapter when he was clearly remorseful that he had caused such distress to Justin. In hindsight, I believe Edward was genuinely surprised Justin was so upset; he was, I believe, naive at worst not to have contemplated Justin may be distressed. Another aspect I had not considered until this chapter is that circulation of Edward's novel is to a small and select audience (presumably), most of whom would be unfamiliar with the "inspiration" for the story, and perhaps most importantly, Edward makes no profit from the story. If Edward lives (and I sincerely hope he does), Justin should re-examine his response.

I do not envy Romel, he is caught between a rock and a hard place. If Edward dies, he will be inconsolable, as will Peggy. Cats are so intuitive, Peggy knows exactly what is going on. I suspect Edward will live, but will he ever be the same, will he lose some of his joie de vivre.

OMG @Wombat Bill this is THE most upsetting chapter you have ever written. Of all the story lines, this was the one which has saddened me the most. Edward cannot die, he is the glue that holds the CWB group together, even if that glue seems to have come unstuck for the moment (hopefully not permanently).

As for those two bitches, Alma and Brenda, I quote Justin "Now fuck off out of my life”. Their behaviour was selfish, calculating and sinister. They have thought of no one but themselves. For the sake of Dean, Andy and the unborn child, I hope Brenda has a miscarriage. She is a see you next Tuesday, and Alma in apparent complicity, is not much better. With these two bitches as friends, Dean and Andy don't need enemies.

I sense though Alma may not be as impressed with Brenda's "initiative" as what Brenda herself is. Brenda did not seem at all concerned when Smidmore indicated what she had done could be considered rape, however, I am not so sure that this was how Alma felt. I wonder if the method of conception of the child may ultimately sour their relationship to the point of collapse. If so, Dean, Andy and Alma, will all need to get "lawyered" up; I do not trust Brenda one iota.

39 minutes ago, Summerabbacat said:

Another aspect I had not considered until this chapter is that circulation of Edward's novel is to a small and select audience (presumably), most of whom would be unfamiliar with the "inspiration" for the story,

Yup I had mentioned this myself in the last chapter comments. That I assumed this was going to a gay author website for publication and not many aside from the CWB group would know the whole story behind it. 

So sad to see Justin losing his temper over something so trivial.  And so so sad to see how it has led to Edwards distress. Romel probably didn't help the way he went off on Edward in the car either. 

I've not much cared for Justin ever since he met Jared anyway and now I just about very highly dislike him.  His cheating on Craig which pretty much made Justin successful turning around and cheating on him with his own brother....  

I've mentioned it before but a lot of these guys need to learn to keep it in their pants unless its with their own partner.

2 minutes ago, quttzik said:

I've not much cared for Justin ever since he met Jared anyway and now I just about very highly dislike him.  His cheating on Craig which pretty much made Justin successful turning around and cheating on him with his own brother....  

I've mentioned it before but a lot of these guys need to learn to keep it in their pants unless its with their own partner.

I have to say @quttzikI was less concerned than you with the infidelity; what concerned me was the effort Jared and by default Justin, went to to conceal the infidelity and the blatant lies they told when questioned about it by their respective partners. In similar circumstances, I believe I would find it very difficult to trust my partner, which would lead to suspicions, perhaps not justified, and jealousy. I am surprised Craig did not press the issue further. I have wondered if his response was perhaps diluted by the fact Justin strayed with his own brother rather than a complete stranger. I suspect Craig may have seen through Jared's act too, and recognised him for the manipulative bastard he proved to be.

@Summerabbacat Yes thats pretty much what I meant as well not so much the infidelity but the whole cover up lies and schemes to get away with it. 

Also was thinking I bet Justin his just burned a lot of bridges when people find out that the blow up from Justin's public confrontation and his comment on Edwards story is the reason for Edward to have attempted to take his life he is going to lose a lot of friends. For his sake if anything he better hope Edward was not successful.  Edward means a lot to the group and they love him like a father/mother figure over the group.  I for one would be dropping Justin as a friend. 

Justin's behaviour towards Edward in public was shameful, he should of spoken to him in private.

I think Justin was a more angry about the book because it reminded him of his brief relationship he had with Jared.

I think it's far to late for the friendships to be repaired, especially after Justin commenting on the story.

Hopefully Romel has found Edward in time.

If Edward dies, Justin will find himself removed from the group of friends at Divas as they all treated Edward as a father figure.

Wow.  Just -- wow.  I hope Romel and the emergency crews can save Edward, but I don't know if it will happen or not.

Justin is overreacting, but I can only blame him just a little.  What Edward did was quite wrong.  At the same time, Craig and Romel will be the real losers if Edward dies.

What @quttzik said is so true -- "Some one needs to grow the F up.  Revenge is never the way to go.  And Craig is absolutely correct.  Hate only causes grief for the person Hating."

Looking forward to answers to whether Edward lives in the next chapter, @Wombat Bill

2 minutes ago, quttzik said:

@Summerabbacat Yes thats pretty much what I meant as well not so much the infidelity but the whole cover up lies and schemes to get away with it. 

Also was thinking I bet Justin his just burned a lot of bridges when people find out that the blow up from Justin's public confrontation and his comment on Edwards story is the reason for Edward to have attempted to take his life he is going to lose a lot of friends. For his sake if anything he better hope Edward was not successful.  Edward means a lot to the group and they love him like a father/mother figure over the group.  I for one would be dropping Justin as a friend. 

Hear hear @quttzik! I have oft said that Edward/Ed Wiener is @Wombat Bill's Anna Madrigal. Although not transgender, I too have viewed him as the father/mother figure for the group. He has oft displayed the qualities associated with both genders (albeit narrowly I think), nurturing, caring and protecting. Perhaps this is why Peggy chose him to be her human too.

4 minutes ago, chris191070 said:

I think Justin was a more angry about the book because it reminded him of his brief relationship he had with Jared.

That is a very interesting and astute observation @chris191070, not one I would have made, but I strongly suspect you might be onto something. I have never contemplated this before, but Justin may well be embarrassed and/or ashamed of his behaviour, particularly given his relationship with Jared "went south" at the end. 

20 minutes ago, ReaderPaul said:

Justin is overreacting, but I can only blame him just a little.  What Edward did was quite wrong.  At the same time, Craig and Romel will be the real losers if Edward dies.

Also a very interesting observation @ReaderPaul. I had not given any thought to Craig's reaction to Edward's death, only Romel's. You are right however, Craig may not always have agreed with Edward, nevertheless I believe there has always been a great deal of respect and affection between the two. 

@Summerabbacat, @chris191070, and @quttzik have all pointed out  pieces of the puzzle.  I would like to thank them for that. 

Craig and Romel have gone through so much together in their nursing careers.  Sometimes their experiences give them a perspective that the rest of the group does not have.  

Justin's behavior was triggered by multiple things.  I think he worries more about the public being reminded of the events concerning his father, but is also reminded of the events involving Jared.  Often, however, the public takes less notice of individuals than individuals think they do.  BUT, to the individual, any attention to something that individual does not want mentioned or remembered seems hyper-attentive to the one most directly affected.

I also don't remember if it was stated that the Amateur Authors group was a gay group of authors or just a group of authors.  Perhaps someone here can remind us.

@ReaderPaul I recall it was a gay website, much like GA, but I may be mistaken. I find I have often read things which are not there, but are perhaps implied or are a logical conclusion to draw. A little like the brain auto-correcting spelling or grammatical errors when reading (totally unlike the annoying auto-correct on mobile phones though).

@ReaderPaul It wasn't specifically mentioned that it was a gay site, however I am assuming it was since I am sure the story is dealing with multiple gay characters I could be wrong however.   

4 minutes ago, Summerabbacat said:

@ReaderPaul I recall it was a gay website, much like GA, but I may be mistaken. I find I have often read things which are not there, but are perhaps implied or are a logical conclusion to draw. A little like the brain auto-correcting spelling or grammatical errors when reading (totally unlike the annoying auto-correct on mobile phones though).

2 minutes ago, quttzik said:

@ReaderPaul It wasn't specifically mentioned that it was a gay site, however I am assuming it was since I am sure the story is dealing with multiple gay characters I could be wrong however.   

Well, I am reminded of one story website which can be accessed at more than one web address, and ends in dot org, that does not require some of the same quality that GA has, but does have some good stories, but including one category that I don't care for -- mpreg (male pregnancy).  It is not just a gay or lesbian site; it also has straight as well as gay, and some stuff I personally just consider weird.

Fortunately, @Wombat Bill is much more reasonable in what he writes.

10 minutes ago, ReaderPaul said:

Well, I am reminded of one story website which can be accessed at more than one web address, and ends in dot org, that does not require some of the same quality that GA has, but does have some good stories, but including one category that I don't care for -- mpreg (male pregnancy).  It is not just a gay or lesbian site; it also has straight as well as gay, and some stuff I personally just consider weird.

Fortunately, @Wombat Bill is much more reasonable in what he writes.

Male pregnancy @ReaderPaul! WTF is that all about?

I think this chapter has illustrated, perhaps more than any other, the writing skills and story telling prowess of our author @Wombat Bill. Dare I say, this chapter may well be his magnum opus. It has, if I am not mistaken, provoked more comment and discussion than any of the prior chapters, in any of the books he has published to date. 

I have said it before, and I apologise if I sound like a "broken record" @ReaderPaul, but I think you have hit the proverbial nail on the head with your second comment above. In all of the four books to date there has been drama (incestuous birth perhaps being the most controversial), but @Wombat Bill always maintains a strong sense of realism (no Fallon Carrington Colby being kidnapped by aliens in the Mojave Desert will ever be found in one of his works). He does not rely upon melodrama or sensationalism to get across his point. He has a skill, much like @chris191070, one which I can only yearn to possess, he says so much more by saying less.

@Wombat Bill Why did you have to end this chapter like that? YOU NEEDED A WARNING ABOUT THAT

3 hours ago, haines87 said:

@Wombat Bill Why did you have to end this chapter like that? YOU NEEDED A WARNING ABOUT THAT

Let me explain why I sound so mad I have a very hard time with anything to do with suicide. the reason is cause even though I have never tried to commit suicide I can honestly say that I have thought about committing suicide. It's been 3 years since the day that I thought of committing suicide. Two weeks prier I had lost my only sibling a older brother to a heart attack he was 32 years old. I had one whiskey and I was not in my right mind set and I really thought of doing it but I have never have gave up on things before so I wasn't gonna start now so I left and I found my dad and he took me home. the moral of the story is when you are depressed don't drink and either get help or talk to someone.

My apologies @haines87 for thinking your original comment was a light-hearted quip.

1 minute ago, Summerabbacat said:

My apologies @haines87for thinking your original comment was a light-hearted quip.

that's all right we make mistakes besides most of my comments have been light-hearted. So I can see how you would think it was light-hearted. If you want to know the answer is no I have not had a moment of thought of committing suicide since that day for a few reasons the main one is I don't drink when I am depressed. and I stay away from the hard stuff. 

Dear readers, I am in multiple minds reading all these comments.

- Intrigued, by the varying views about the characters, their actions and their motivations for such actions.

- Elated, that my writing can illicit such strong feelings among my readers.

- Grateful, for the effort you put into your comments.

- Humbled, by your sharing of thoughts and feelings.

- Saddened, that the topic has caused discomfort to some.

I always strive to make my writing interesting, factual where needed, intriguing, challenging sometimes, dramatic, humourous, balanced and page turning. To achieve this there may be times when  confronting topics are dramatised. I try to avoid melodrama and, give all characters a mix of qualities. As in life, most people have some redeeming qualities.

In regard to the AA website - it was not specifically stated it was a gay website, but in chapter 31, Justin and Craig say the following-

“I hope Mum doesn’t see this”

“Unless prompted, I don’t think your mother would find a gay writer’s website”

Thanks for reading, contributing and being involved.

.

4 hours ago, Wombat Bill said:

Dear readers, I am in multiple minds reading all these comments.

- Intrigued, by the varying views about the characters, their actions and their motivations for such actions.

- Elated, that my writing can illicit such strong feelings among my readers.

- Grateful, for the effort you put into your comments.

- Humbled, by your sharing of thoughts and feelings.

- Saddened, that the topic has caused discomfort to some.

I always strive to make my writing interesting, factual where needed, intriguing, challenging sometimes, dramatic, humourous, balanced and page turning. To achieve this there may be times when  confronting topics are dramatised. I try to avoid melodrama and, give all characters a mix of qualities. As in life, most people have some redeeming qualities.

In regard to the AA website - it was not specifically stated it was a gay website, but in chapter 31, Justin and Craig say the following-

“I hope Mum doesn’t see this”

“Unless prompted, I don’t think your mother would find a gay writer’s website”

Thanks for reading, contributing and being involved.

 

If this chapter is indicative of your reader's sentiments, might I suggest you have surpassed what you endeavoured to achieve @Wombat Bill. Your statement that you "try to avoid melodrama and, give all characters a mix of qualities. As in life, most people have some redeeming qualities." is another key to your success. Most people as you have said have some redeeming qualities, even Adolf Hitler (he reportedly liked dogs, but was frightened of cats).