"Growing Pains" by Cole Parker

[Rutabaga]

The fertile (or was that febrile?) mind of Cole is back on the job with this new story, here:  http://www.awesomedude.com/cole-parker/growing-pains/index.htm

Of course like an idiot I went ahead and read the first chapter, despite my frequent vow to wait until a story is fully posted before starting it.  Too late now.

And now we all have to wait and see what the deal is with Tanner Booth.

R

[Camy]

2 hours ago, Rutabaga said:

Of course like an idiot I went ahead and read the first chapter, despite my frequent vow to wait until a story is fully posted before starting it.  Too late now.

Ditto... damn it!

Tanner Booth is a terrific name.

 

[Nigel Gordon]

20 hours ago, Rutabaga said:

Of course like an idiot I went ahead and read the first chapter, despite my frequent vow to wait until a story is fully posted before starting it.  Too late no

You will be glad to know Rutabaga that I managed to avoid falling into the same trap as you. Was too busy working on Being Johnny. By the way, I am now nearly at the end. Only have two, maybe three chapters to write before draft one is finished. Then I will start reading Cole's new story, which I am sure will be as good as ever.

[Rutabaga]

4 hours ago, Nigel Gordon said:

On 9/4/2021 at 7:10 AM, Rutabaga said:

Of course like an idiot I went ahead and read the first chapter, despite my frequent vow to wait until a story is fully posted before starting it.  Too late no

You will be glad to know Rutabaga that I managed to avoid falling into the same trap as you. Was too busy working on Being Johnny. By the way, I am now nearly at the end. Only have two, maybe three chapters to write before draft one is finished. Then I will start reading Cole's new story, which I am sure will be as good as ever.

Good news about Johnny and many plaudits to you for soldiering on.  You will deserve a medal or two just for wrangling that massive cast of characters.

Meanwhile, we foolish readers of Cole's story must also ponder what lies behind the comment that the police let Trip's dad go "because of whom my dad was."  Unless I seriously missed something, we don't know anything about Trip's dad's job or position.

R

[Nigel Gordon]

4 hours ago, Rutabaga said:

Good news about Johnny and many plaudits to you for soldiering on.  You will deserve a medal or two just for wrangling that massive cast of characters.

Meanwhile, we foolish readers of Cole's story must also ponder what lies behind the comment that the police let Trip's dad go "because of whom my dad was."  Unless I seriously missed something, we don't know anything about Trip's dad's job or position.

R

You've got a choice, Chief of Police or Senator. Take your pick. No matter which you pick I have no doubt that Cole will surprise us.

[Cole Parker]

You guys are too kind.

However, there are several times in this story when you're fed info that seems to lack provenance.  All will be explained, all questions answered, in their time.  Well, most of them.

[Rutabaga]

Well, that was a surprise. 

R

[Camy]

Huh...

Well, I did say:

On 9/4/2021 at 5:28 PM, Camy said:

Tanner Booth is a terrific name.

 

 

[Rutabaga]

37 minutes ago, Camy said:

Huh...

Well, I did say:

On 9/4/2021 at 9:28 AM, Camy said:

Tanner Booth is a terrific name.

Does that count as propinquity?

R

[Rutabaga]

While waiting for the next chapter to post, I could not resist looking for an image to represent Tanner Booth.

R

 

[Rutabaga]

I liked that anticipatory feeling that was still lurking in the background.

That anticipatory feeling is being felt by the readers too.

R

P.S.:  Anyone else notice that we never actually learn what name "Trip" is a nickname for?

[Rutabaga]

And this is my idea of Mr. Montgomery, based on the sparse description so far:

R

 

[Cole Parker]

You do like to get involved, don't you, R?  Welcome into my world!

C

[Rutabaga]

3 hours ago, Cole Parker said:

You do like to get involved, don't you, R?  Welcome into my world!

C

It does require looking through a large number of photos to try and find appropriate candidates.  Finding a teen boy with relatively short black hair and blue eyes was a particular challenge.  It's a tough job looking at all those teen boy pictures but I'm willing to sacrifice myself for the greater good.  Meanwhile, the picture of Trip ( I assume that's who it's meant to be) on the title page is striking.

R

[Cole Parker]

I love striking pictures of boy.  The one showing with My Incredible Summer I find astounding.

http://awesomedude.com/cole-parker/my-incredible-summer/my-incredible-summer.htm

[Rutabaga]

2 hours ago, Cole Parker said:

I love striking pictures of boy.  The one showing with My Incredible Summer I find astounding.

I agree.  

Having been referred to this story, I found a potential image of Jody's friend Li Cheng:

[Cole Parker]

Who's Jody?

[Rutabaga]

3 hours ago, Cole Parker said:

Who's Jody?

Jody's the cute boy in the title picture of "My Incredible Summer."  I had to go back and refresh my memory when you made mention of that story.  Li Cheng is the cute young Chinese lad Jody discovers living in the apparently empty house behind him.

 

R

[Cole Parker]

Aha!  You can tell, I don't remember the characters or even the stories well after finishing them.  Always moving on to the next.  That has an upside, however: if I ever go back and read one of my own, it often seems like something new!

[Camy]

1 hour ago, Cole Parker said:

Who's Jody?

Love it! 😂

I forget the names of characters I've written, too.

[Cole Parker]

 

3 hours ago, Camy said:

Love it! 😂

I forget the names of characters I've written, too.

You often have the same characters.  It should be easier for you!  😄

C

[Rutabaga]

Much is revealed in this new chapter.  What surprises me is that Tanner's back story would not be known already around the school.  

R

 

[Rutabaga]

Spoiler

If Tanner's dad is so famous and traveling around the country doing sports broadcasting or whatever, how come the whole school isn't actively aware of this?  Seems like instant grist for the gossip mill.

Also, it is curious that Trip has not asked anything about Tanner's experiences on the Africa mission.

R

[Camy]

Sadly, the UK is four countries. And, after Brexit (which our poxy, rotten, Prime Minister stuffed up), Scotland now wants complete independence... not that it's going to get it.

I don't mean to rain on the parade, but a 50 meter pool in the back garden... really? That's 160ish feet. HUGE! And 660.000 gallons of water. I wouldn't fancy paying to heat it.

Other than those wee niggles, I is lurvin' it.

 

[Cole Parker]

Not niggles, just misunderstandings.  You just missed the bit where I said his folks have lots of money, good jogs, and wanted a house in which to entertain and make an impression.  Sure, it's a huge pool.  But in the acreage they have, it fits.

C