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.”
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.
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.
"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.
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?
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 :)
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.”
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. 💜⚡️
There's only one more?? Please don't leave us hanging. What happened to Lamb? ❤️ Hoping against hope for a happy ending.
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.
Your writing continues to be brilliant, my friend. And fuck these bullies. Grrrrrr.
"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.
👁
You continue to impress, my friend. Wonderful chapter.
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.
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?
This made my stomach lurch thinking of my own experience with HS bullies....butterflies until the very end.
Such a relatable story!
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 :)