This one hit me in the feels. You painted the picture of just how hard school can be for an outsider and just how cruel bullies can be. Poor Lamb! I really hope he beats Thomas to a pulp but I don’t know if that’s his way.
Wonderfully written, Troy. There were so many good lines, but I especially liked this one:
“when it became obvious that if I wanted to go to college, the meager opportunities presented by the Antelope Valley School District weren’t going to cut it. But at least I was hardened by the reindeer games of a working class junior high and knew what was what.”
Kids can be so unbelievably cruel, in part because they just don't understand their impact - time and maturity tempers that cruelty (hopefully) as well as the wounds they inflict, but childhood ain't a cakewalk, and some kids bruise more easily than others. Thanks Michael! So glad to have you back. :)
Gut-wrenching. I so remember the kids from school who couldn’t make sense of the bizarre hierarchies and cliques that formed and so constantly broke their inane rules. I was the only girl in my year for a lot of school (it was a boys school that became co-ed with not many girl takers) and I think that’s the only reason I wasn’t one of them. I would’ve sat with Lamb.
THAT must have been interesting, the only girl, could have gone either way I imagine... We would have had quite the colorful lunch table, all of us sitting together... xo 🩷
Ugh, the lunchroom can be SO CRUEL. You just want to be able to whisper in his ear: "Head up, laugh at him, stay your ground!" But of course, it's not that easy when you're 15.
Great writing, Troy. Enjoying all the details going into characterization here.
There's a way in which I could wish the narrator gave him that kind of pep talk, but mixed with his love for Lamb there's also an element of frustration and exasperation coming through which I kinda like for narrative purposes... ;) Thanks Kate!
"A kid named Cunningham received the not unwelcome nickname of Lingus" 😄👏
Another stunner of a chapter, Troy. I didn't go to the school in the US, but you capture this sense of school hierarchy and war of words so well. Amazing stuff.
Lunch room social hierarchy is the worst! You captured it so well Troy, I could feel my own breath grow shallow as Lamb navigated through the jungle of hunters and prey. Such a strange dance with very little truth to the roles on display, just a jumbled mess of insecurity and power negotiations.
Thanks Kim - it is a shame to think that the "displays" - such a driving force in our society - are really based in insecurity and lack-mindset; where would we be if conversely we had as our deepest paradigm generosity and support? (In a different dimension probably ;)
This was visceral. Man, I hate Jeffrey Thomas. What a little fucker! You do a deft job of capturing this archetypal bully that all of us knew at a certain age. Also, Fitzpatrick - was that a little Easter Egg just for me?
Haha it kinda was! Actually, when I read Fitzpatrick on HH, I remembered a kid with that name in school so I added it in to my draft - we never actually called him Fitz though... ;) Thanks Ben!
You capture schoolboy cruelty so well, Troy, while making this chapter funny and even tender at the same time. Such compelling descriptions; lovely writing.
I know I should be reading these in order but having the new installment come in makes me lose all sense and I'm forced to devour it immediately. And this is why I can't stop: "..wore his madras shorts, neon tank top, and flip flops like some son of Apollo in human form" I'm fairly sure if you wrote a yearbook bio for every single student at Wolcott Academy I would read it :)
My heart is aching for him. This is so well written Troy.
This one hit me in the feels. You painted the picture of just how hard school can be for an outsider and just how cruel bullies can be. Poor Lamb! I really hope he beats Thomas to a pulp but I don’t know if that’s his way.
Wonderfully written, Troy. There were so many good lines, but I especially liked this one:
“when it became obvious that if I wanted to go to college, the meager opportunities presented by the Antelope Valley School District weren’t going to cut it. But at least I was hardened by the reindeer games of a working class junior high and knew what was what.”
Kids can be so unbelievably cruel, in part because they just don't understand their impact - time and maturity tempers that cruelty (hopefully) as well as the wounds they inflict, but childhood ain't a cakewalk, and some kids bruise more easily than others. Thanks Michael! So glad to have you back. :)
Well said, sir.
Glad to be back :)
Gut-wrenching. I so remember the kids from school who couldn’t make sense of the bizarre hierarchies and cliques that formed and so constantly broke their inane rules. I was the only girl in my year for a lot of school (it was a boys school that became co-ed with not many girl takers) and I think that’s the only reason I wasn’t one of them. I would’ve sat with Lamb.
Such a vivid chapter, my dear. 💜⚡️
THAT must have been interesting, the only girl, could have gone either way I imagine... We would have had quite the colorful lunch table, all of us sitting together... xo 🩷
The motleyest of crews 🤍x
There's only one more?? Please don't leave us hanging. What happened to Lamb? ❤️ Hoping against hope for a happy ending.
haha omg no, lots more shenanigans - we're set through novemberish i think... 🩷
Oh good!! I must have misread something, I swear it said 8/9.
Or possibly the children have just addled my brain this weekend. As you were.
Ugh, the lunchroom can be SO CRUEL. You just want to be able to whisper in his ear: "Head up, laugh at him, stay your ground!" But of course, it's not that easy when you're 15.
Great writing, Troy. Enjoying all the details going into characterization here.
There's a way in which I could wish the narrator gave him that kind of pep talk, but mixed with his love for Lamb there's also an element of frustration and exasperation coming through which I kinda like for narrative purposes... ;) Thanks Kate!
Your writing continues to be brilliant, my friend. And fuck these bullies. Grrrrrr.
Fuck those fucking bullies!! Thank you my dear 🩷
"A kid named Cunningham received the not unwelcome nickname of Lingus" 😄👏
Another stunner of a chapter, Troy. I didn't go to the school in the US, but you capture this sense of school hierarchy and war of words so well. Amazing stuff.
I'm sure it's not specific to America, children are savages... 🤣Thanks Nathan!
You continue to impress, my friend. Wonderful chapter.
Thanks A - appreciate it... 🫡
Lunch room social hierarchy is the worst! You captured it so well Troy, I could feel my own breath grow shallow as Lamb navigated through the jungle of hunters and prey. Such a strange dance with very little truth to the roles on display, just a jumbled mess of insecurity and power negotiations.
Thanks Kim - it is a shame to think that the "displays" - such a driving force in our society - are really based in insecurity and lack-mindset; where would we be if conversely we had as our deepest paradigm generosity and support? (In a different dimension probably ;)
This was visceral. Man, I hate Jeffrey Thomas. What a little fucker! You do a deft job of capturing this archetypal bully that all of us knew at a certain age. Also, Fitzpatrick - was that a little Easter Egg just for me?
Haha it kinda was! Actually, when I read Fitzpatrick on HH, I remembered a kid with that name in school so I added it in to my draft - we never actually called him Fitz though... ;) Thanks Ben!
This made my stomach lurch thinking of my own experience with HS bullies....butterflies until the very end.
Such a relatable story!
You had your fair share but I've always sort of admired the way you handled it, sporky! 🤣😘🥰
Sort of?
You capture schoolboy cruelty so well, Troy, while making this chapter funny and even tender at the same time. Such compelling descriptions; lovely writing.
Thanks Jeffrey! It is a strange phenomena - how common it is, how devastating it can be, how easily forgotten by the perpetrators...
I know I should be reading these in order but having the new installment come in makes me lose all sense and I'm forced to devour it immediately. And this is why I can't stop: "..wore his madras shorts, neon tank top, and flip flops like some son of Apollo in human form" I'm fairly sure if you wrote a yearbook bio for every single student at Wolcott Academy I would read it :)
haha I did actually think of making one episode just all the notes people might have written in Lamb's yearbook, but probably not... ;) Thanks Sky!