What follows is a little curated sample of everything that went out, and I’ve also included two bonus sections, a song list I listen to while running (which is when the pictures for the books come to me the loudest), and a short-answer bullet quiz about the Brotherhood. You know, just for shits and giggles.
I really wish there were more hours in a day and I could restart this effort. V’s Agony Aunt(s) column and Lassiter’s horoscopes still crack me the hell up!
Ask a Brother
Over the years, I’ve received hundreds (thousands?) of questions that have been sent in on Facebook, in DMs and on email to the Brothers. There were a lot more of these that I did as part of the newsletters, but unfortunately, they were super dated in terms of the series, so I’ve included two here that were an amalgam of what was asked, but still relevant!
Question:
Butch, given how you came into the Brotherhood, with your past experiences with “family” how does it feel to know people are always there for you? How do you feel still about de la Cruz? Do you ever want to have contact with him to let him know you are safe?
Take it away, Butch O’Neal,hellrenof Marissa!
Butch:
Oh, come on. Why’d it have to be a serious one? I was hoping I could answer “the most embarrassing moment” (when I sharted in my leathers after I got into an eating contest with Rhage over seven plates of burritos. Note to self: no eating contests with Hollywood EVER, and especially not if they involve refried beans—which are delicious going down, but which act like a monorail for biological waste on the exit) or“what are your hobbies” (potato guns, golf carts, bad puns and good Scotch).
Fine. Gimme a minute to think. Okay, so here’s what I’ve come to believe. There are different eras in everyone’s life. Some of them are better than others, but all of them have beginnings, middles, and ends. By far, this now is the very best time in my life, and I pray to God the Almighty every night that it lasts forever. Most of what came before now was sh*t. José de la Cruz was the exception to that rule. I miss him a lot. I have been tempted to reach out to him a number of times, particularly around Christmas because he’s Catholic, too. I hate the way things were left hanging. Back when I was his partner, the fact that he cared about me was a burden. Now that I’m gone from him, it’s a ghostly regret that haunts me. I don’t know. Maybe someday I’ll reach out. But unlike with my mom, he’s complicated because he lives in Caldie and he’s in his right mind.
I don’t think you can move to the next phase if you’re hanging on to the last one. I’ve had a fresh start, one, incidentally, that I did not deserve. And you’re right. Having this kind of family protection and support is everything, and José is probably the only thing that I regret giving up from the way things were. I guess the problem is, I don’t just want him to know I’m safe. I’d like to hang with him again.
But you know what? If God put me here? Who’s to say He can’t cause José and I to cross paths again…stranger things have happened.
Question:
What are the fathers’ thoughts on dating their daughters…Z, Rhage, Qhuinn and Blay gotta have had some advice, right?
In response to this question, I’ve asked those gentlemales to gather here in the second-story sitting room (this is Beth moderating, btw). I’ve also added Xcor in on this one as stepfathers count. Take it away, boys!
(Editing Jess add-on: bear in mind this was before Lassiter’s book and what happened at the end of it! lolol)
Rhage:I’m going to start this off by saying there will be no dating, so this will NOT be a problem for us with Bitty.
Qhuinn:*high-fives Rhage* Roger, that.
Xcor:Agreed.
Z:Yes.
Rhage:Great! We’re done and I’m hungry. Who’s in for some tacos. *gets up*
Blay:You guys, seriously.
Rhage:You want enchiladas? We got those, too—
Blay:You’re supposed to answer this question for real.
*everyone stares at the redhead*
Rhage:We did answer it. *glances around* Didn’t we?
*chorus of yeses*
Blay:No, you didn’t. You mean to tell me that when Bitty comes to you and says, “Dad, I really like this guy and I’d like youto meet him,” that you’re going to tell her she not only can’t bring him into this house, but she can’t go out to dinner with him?
Rhage:*sits down slowly* Well, when you put it like that…yup, that’s exactly what I’m going to say. And then I’m going to put a cap in one of his knees. Maybe both. Probably depends on how peckish I’m feeling. I get trigger-happy when I’m hypoglycemic.
Qhuinn:*nodding* Males are totally overrated. I mean, look at us lot. And males only want one thing.
