On this sad anniversary, you give us a heartbreaking picture of a terrible reality: it's usually boys, drunk and bored, wanting to prove their manhood and feel powerful, who take the opportunity to attack a vulnerable gay man. It's even more shameful when the adult men around them share their feelings and applaud their actions.

Mike has a girlfriend and he's good at football, so he doesn't have to prove much. The opportunity he sees is to bring his Vicky to the empty house while his dad is out, queer-hunting. He has an excuse to leave what horrifies him, even more than watching a dog-fight. He doesn't want his drunken father's approval, either. Tom isn't able to do that, as Riley is his brother. I think he would have backed out, otherwise.

Mike isn't strong enough or altruistic enough to try to find some way to save Jack or derail his attackers, though he's able to reject the shared lust for violence. I have the feeling he would have taken part, however unwillingly, if Riley hadn't brought him back to his house and proposed to get his dad involved. It could have gone either way for those two boys.

I'm so glad to see some BBM fiction from you, Jess.:-) It gives me some hope. I've been longing to see more of your wonderful stories, but afraid you'd never take them up again. You might be surprised at how many people on slash discussion, asked what story they would finish if they could wave a wand to make it so, mentioned LOTTD. I miss Higher Education, too. And I miss the chance to talk with you about BBM and your writing. I hope this foray will lead you back to us, at least part-time.