Chester57

Had one of those as well! Dual disk drives, 300 bps modem and a daisy wheel printer. I donated it all to the Smithsonian-- along with my Pickett slide rule.

Hmm... that sounds more like a Hewlett-Packard. HP-25 maybe? In college I had an HP-33E that had some internal memory. Funny when you think about it. We would go down the halls with those things hanging from our belts like we were Matt Dillon walking the streets of Dodge.

I used one back in the mid-'70s as I always rode my 10-speed to school if they weren't calling for rain or snow. The choice of backpacks in those days was pretty thin but I picked up a Vietnam-era ALICE pack at Goldfish Army-Navy store in downtown Cleveland-- OD green and made of ripstop nylon. It was pretty damn neat as it had two large inside compartments for notebooks and textbooks and three exterior compartments for just about anything else. Completely water resistant and totally secure. No way would your SR-50 fall out and cause you to cry like a 6-year old girl. [For those of you who don't know, the Texas Instruments SR-50 was one of the first "slide rule" calculators and worth risking your life for.] Anyway, my homeroom and locker were at one end of the "old" wing of my high school and the majority of my classes were in the newer sections so I got into the habit of having a before-lunch and after-lunch book load so just needed to hit my locker twice a day. Never caught any crap about my backpack and more than a few guys asked me, "where the hell did you get that?"

Thanks, Joe! Judging by all the theories, this is going to be the most anticipated chapter (and saga) yet. Something I've been wondering-- Are you going to keep the storyline in real time? That is, write for another two years until Jack and Kayla graduate? What then? End it or maybe skip over their college years and pick up after they're out on their own? If Jack studies theatre acting and Kayla veterinary science then they almost certainly won't be going to the same school. Whatever you decide to do, it's been great so far. Thank you!

Okay, I stand corrected. BTW, I think living 15 minutes from work is about ideal. I've lived closer (5 minutes) and farther (30 minutes) but a 15 minute drive in relaxes you without getting you too anxious or depressed.

Rhona says it in the first scene when she and Jack are at GameStop, before Kayla comes in.

In Chapter 37 Rhona told Jack that her parents' place was fifteen minutes from GameStop and that she was looking for an apartment half that distance, so let's assume that she's living at home with Evan and her folks at the least.

You mean Rhona's younger brother, Evan? He's going to be a Senior this coming year at Brow Ridge. Don't know if he would have the time to run the ring but he could be part of it. True, we don't know anything about her older brothers.

I was thinking that theory myself, but now I wonder if he would be re-admitted to Brow Ridge High after being arrested and expelled? More likely he would be sent to a different high school-- hell, maybe the one Tara will be going to! On the other hand, the fact that he'd be at another school would be beneficial if he were running the ring. He would be able to stay off everyone's radar and pressure Jessica and Nick to do the dirty work.

Interesting, I like the way your devious mind works. Remember how Ms. Cartwright so expertly took out Brad with one punch? And later asked Jack if he was taking her phys-ed class in his Junior year? If your theory is true, then she will need to find a way to stay close to Jack in order to use him as a source of information. And could the ring tie in to Coach Walburns' suicide?? Maybe that's why she's undercover. Note to Jashley13: Next time Jack has a scene with Ms. Cartwright, have him ask for her first name.

Don't fret, I have no doubt that Ms. Cartwright would be the sexual experience of a lifetime. I was simply suggesting that anyone who treated her with less than perfect respect would feel her wrath. This is why she likes Jack so much-- he always speaks to her as a friend and equal, never stares or makes lewd comments. She would share things with Jack that she wouldn't think of telling any other student. Yeah, I want to see this relationship grow.

The ring could come quicker than you think if Jessica has anything to do with it. She could recruit her entourage with a snap of her fingers if they want to stay part of the "in" crowd. As far as Ms. Cartwright goes, anyone who approached her and suggested that she start turning tricks would quickly feel a sharp pain in their groin right before spitting out half a dozen teeth. I can easily see Ms. Locke having a nervous breakdown with the new play. No way can she run the ring, though. She is too in love with her current job (and herself).

Don't think that's possible. Joe is going to be a junior and (as far as we know) has no experience in organized football. If he did indeed miss the tryout date then the coaches would assume that he has no real interest and wouldn't give him a look. The only exception I can imagine would be if they desperately needed players at special teams positions-- like a kicker, punter or kick-return specialist.

Regarding theory No. 1, I hope you're wrong as I'm starting to like Rhona more and more. I've got to wonder, though, why she was so insistent on meeting Kayla and getting her phone number. As far as theory No. 2, I hope you're right! I'm dying to find out what's going on with Mr & Mrs Hannigan. Recall that "political workshop" that Mary dragged Kayla to one weekend? Bet there were a lot of young ladies present so the political honchos could size up potential talent.

You mean Ted. You're right, he would be a perfect stooge for the ring. And remember, Jessica tried to frame Jack to save Ted's ass after Brad beat the shit out of him.

Does anyone think Craig has a shot if he runs for class president? I'm of the opinion that whatever he tries will fall short. Back in Chapter 1, Jack related the fact that Craig had boffed half a dozen girls (including Jessica) during his freshman year without so much as a "thank you." That's a good way to lose the female vote and also something that no one will forget. I know that he's in good with the group but that's only 7 or 8 people. The rest of his classmates only know two things about Craig-- 1) that he's a douche who treats women like dirt and 2) that he got into a fight with Jack Harrison. So in any kind of popularity contest, he's toast. Jessica alone will use her considerable influence to make sure that Craig crashes and burns. Okay, that said, here's my brilliant theory-- the only way that Craig can erase his negatives in a short time frame would be by a single stupendous act that makes him the Big Man On Campus. I'm thinking that maybe he saves someone's life or takes action that averts a disaster-- the pipe bomb, maybe? I just don't see any other way he'll be Prez.

You make a good point. I am one of those readers who got into the habit of skimming over the sex scenes because the story itself was so good that they seemed less than necessary. I've now promised myself to read every word.

I like it, especially when you think about Mary Hannigan working in her flower beds or painting in the house! It would be a big twist, but it would pale by comparison to our actual political scene ever since Bill Clintons' days in office. Truth IS stranger than fiction-- and that's because fiction has to make sense.

I like Jessica and Nick as the two pawns fronting the prostitution ring. Remember that Jessica is the Queen Bee with an entourage of popular girls at her beck and call-- there's your stable of harlots right there. So who's running this show? How about Brad and some of his juvie buddies? Maybe a long shot, but Brad is the most ruthless character in the story-- kind of like Zod returning from the Phantom Zone, if you'll forgive the analogy. If so, this will be interesting. I think we may at last see that pipe bomb detonated.

Thanks, Joe! I'll look forward to reading it when I get home from work.

Respectfully disagree. The fact that Rhona has six brothers will have matured her and made her wise beyond her years. She will become Jacks' friend and mentor, not competition for Kayla.

And you too, Jashley 13! Have a great 25th birthday today!

No, it's not the same school. When I was that age, I lived 15-20 minutes away from my cousins and it was a different city and school system from mine. I didn't know their friends and they didn't know mine. We got together on birthdays, holidays and a few times over the summer but that was all we had in common growing up. Tara will settle in and find her own life. Jack and Kayla will be part of it, but not a big part. Oh, wait... UNLESS she turns out to be Jacks' half-sister.

And over 200K views!

Joe WAS basing it off real events. Namely, the most common of real-life events-- shit happens. I think the accidental collision served a purpose by driving Tara into a screaming rage after seeing Jack slapped around. The incident helped get her out of the miserable funk she'd been in for days.