Chester57

Speaking of that... I know there is a lot of interest by the readership in regard to the Chinese water torture. I have no idea how our intrepid author is going to handle the matter as there are literally hundreds of techniques that could be employed. However, if you require a visual description-- this is how GI Joe does it... m5psdTp.bmp

As I mentioned a while back, building a pipe bomb isn't hard and you most certainly don't need a background in chemistry. By the time my neighbourhood cronies and I were out of grade school we were quite adept at constructing improvised explosive devices (purely in the interests of science, naturally). I think the pipe bomb will be built elsewhere and then smuggled into the school. More on that after I firm up my theory.

I don't see Amanda becoming involved with the ring UNLESS she starts making a bunch of excuses to stay late after school. Don't forget that Alan has most-- if not all-- of his classes with her so he would want to know what's going on. Also, Jack still drives her there and back so he would be suspicious as well.

I recall you mentioning that last year. Hope she's doing okay.

My reservations about this theory revolve around the time issue. When would she have time to sneak off anywhere? After school during the week I think that Jack is still (supposedly) watching his siblings until the folks get home. I'd be willing to bet that Mike and Hannah want to know where Amanda is on weekends as well. Not saying it couldn't happen-- after all, Helena may be covering for her-- but older guys going after 17-year old girls are not known for their rational thought patterns. Someone will notice. Belle Atkins, huh? Well, it doesn't quite roll off the tongue like 'Belle Harper' but it's quite acceptable.

I have a theory about the pipe bomb, but I'll keep it to myself for now as it's based on a single fact in the story.

I liked it and I think I know what Jack is planning. He needs a piece of evidence and it will be interesting to see how he gets it. Can't figure what's going on with Amanda right now. I don't think she's getting porked by random guys since Alan says she hasn't been hanging out with Helena's group as much and Jack noted that she's spending more and more time at home. Hannah didn't seem concerned so maybe she knows something. Jack's remark about her "next boyfriend" certainly didn't help matters. Maybe Amanda really is giving up on guys if she can't have one of her brothers.

In Chapter 30, Jack relates that when he was five years old he asked Uncle Don if he was really Tara's dad and Mike then repeatedly smacked his ass for it. Struck a nerve, I guess. P.S. Thanks, Joe! Going to read it now...

Okay Joe, here it is Thursday morning and even though I'm a Zen master the suspense is killing me! I am dying to see if you named Belle as Joe Long and I suggested. We didn't get as much snow as was forcast so I'm gonna go out shopping. Please post the chapter ASAP!

That is good news! I have Thursday off and it's supposed to snow all day!

Correct. Belle was introduced on the Monday morning after the weekend of the Homecoming fight, after Brad hooked up with Jessica. Jack said that she was the only person he ever knew named "Bellen"-- but there was no last name. I thought that Belle might have mentioned her family name when she was consoling Jack after Coach Walburn shot himself, but no luck. So by all means, let her name be Bellen Ashley Harper.

Don't we all? Joe mentioned that he had been back-checking earlier chapters to make sure all his facts were correct for the upcoming Chapter 48. I hope that means we might get answers to some of the questions we have all had concerning the ring and Tara's exact relationship with Jack.

Now that I think about it, the possibilities are staggering! Mike Harrison's over-the-top reaction to the twins' having sex always bothered me. Maybe Alan, Amanda, Jack and Tara should look closely into their birth records.

I've suspected that for a while now. There's something that happened in the past that will eventually come out.

In Chapter 46 during Christmas dinner, Chester Hannigan announces that he and Mary are going out of town overnight with Blanche and Don Moreno to a "holiday gala." They only met once over Thanksgiving dinner and now they're partying overnight? What do you think-- completely innocent or... what? Okay, it did give Jack and Kayla the opportunity to have sex at her house.

Tell us about it! The details drive me crazy sometimes. For example, I can't for the life of me remember when Kayla's birthday is (Jack's is in July). Anybody know?

That's an idea. Maybe he'll take her to the same restaurant for dinner and then the same hotel.

Anybody have any idea what Jack will get Kayla for Valentines Day? I heard on the radio that the most appreciated gifts these days are either a gift card to her favourite store OR a tablet-- if she needs one and you've got the money.

About what I expected-- you either get on a school sports team or you're pretty much on your own. That's really too bad. Ours was mandatory and even if you were on a team you were excused only for the season. My favourite Phys Ed class was Senior year. It was the only one that was co-ed at the time. The ladies had it all over the guys when it came to racquet sports and volleyball-- it must be in their genes. If it hadn't been for archery and track I would have been totally humiliated.

I think we're all just waiting on Joe. One thing I'm curious about is what's really going on with Paul and Rhona. She was a little vague in talking to Jack so probably she wasn't telling him everything. Rhona seemed a little too upset at Paul if he just wanted to date her again. He's either being a world-class dick about it or they were arguing for another reason.

One noteworthy aspect of the chapter was Jack telling Kayla his thoughts about the prostitution ring. She then asks, "You're not thinking about doing any Sherlock Holmes investigation or anything, are you?" Well, of course he is! After all, this is Jack we're talking about. He can't help himself but to investigate. So Jack will soon become a thorn in the side of certain people who, in turn, will do something extreme about it. The possibilities are: a) pipe bomb b) Chinese water torture c) threats or harm to family and friends d) being framed or set up with an embarrassing situation I think (d) is the most likely scenario but it may escalate from there. Also-- if the ring has indeed recruited Belle, they will use her against Jack.

I will grant you the point and admit that my statement was over-broad. It would be lunacy for a teacher to get sexually involved with a high school student these days. In my own area there have been a number of such news stories over the past decade or so-- one involving a high school principal-- and in every case the person was summarily fired... and that's before the criminal and civil penalties. I think that Jack and Mrs. Karlow will find that they have a lot in common. Jack was impressed when she recited her own poetry and Mrs. Karlow will likewise be impressed with him. Remember last year in theatre class when Jack recited the monologue from memory and got a standing ovation? I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes her star pupil. Jack will like her and enjoy her class because it will be a breath of fresh air compared to Ms. Locke's bi-polar method of teaching. It will be fun to watch if Jack develops any closeness to Mrs. Karlow because Kayla will be right there to see it. And I do still believe that Ms. Cartwright had a thing for Jack. The conversations they had were more friend-friend than they were student-teacher. And she seemed really let down when Jack told her that he wasn't taking her phys ed class in his junior year. I am waiting for her to reappear in the story. By the way, isn't phys ed a requirement anymore? When I was in school it took a doctor's excuse to get out of it.

Well, call me old fashioned but the perverted part of my mind wants to see Jack get involved with one of his teachers. I was hoping for Ms. Cartwright, but Mrs. Karlow would be perfectly acceptable.

This is an interesting point and made me realize that-- as far as we know-- Jessica has never had a steady boyfriend. That's a little strange when you consider that she's at the top of the social pecking order. You'd think that she would at least have somebody on standby to take her to school functions and just to be seen with. If Jessica is, in fact, insecure about guys (fearing rejection) then perhaps that's why she has sex with her brother and surrounds herself with admiring girlfriends. I think Jessica's relationship with Belle is key here. When Belle left her entourage and started dating Joe it probably wounded Jessica deeply-- she wasn't needed anymore. That's about when she started trying to be friends with Jack and Kayla, probably because Belle was part of their group now. Jessica was no doubt beside herself when Belle dumped Joe and publicly declared her hatred for Jack. With Ms. Locke out of the picture, Jessica will do everything she can to keep Belle all to herself. On another note: Keep an eye on Jack and Mrs. Karlow. Could be a connection there, methinks.

What was weird was both sets of parents signing off on it. I can see Becca's folks being okay with the idea since Craig would be a great catch coming from a wealthy family-- but not so much Mr. & Mrs. Carter. Maybe they reason that if Craig stays with Becca until graduation he will have matured enough to move on to college and make a fresh start. They are no doubt aware of their son's reputation with girls prior to Becca. More to the point, Craig is a year ahead of Becca and slated to attend an elite business school (his dad's alma mater). So he'll be away at college while Becca is a high school senior. I suppose it's possible but the odds are heavily against it.