As I lay face down on the treatment table, I was humming to myself softly, listening to some music on my iPod while the ultra-sound probe was being worked over the back of my injured thigh; the music helped take my mind off the pain a bit. By Susan Brown Copyright © 2010 Susan Brown
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Previously...
By now I was feeling a bit uncomfortable because the jab that the doctor had given me was beginning to wear off. After saying goodbye to a few people we made our way out of the club room. As I passed Lance he looked at me and leered. I felt like going over and smacking his smug ugly face, but it wasn’t me who was going to miss the next three matches for being sent off more than once and having a persistent bad record. Anyway, I had an image to try to keep and hitting Lance would only give me more unwanted publicity.
Sometimes I loathe being in the limelight.
And now the story continues…
As I lay face down on the treatment table, I was humming to myself softly, listening to some music on my iPod while the ultra-sound probe was being worked over the back of my injured thigh; the music helped take my mind off the pain a bit. It was the following morning after the match and I was quite stiff. It was considered that the injury was somewhat worse than first thought and it was only fifty-fifty that I would be able to play in the next match.
After about fifteen minutes of the ultra-sound and some other treatments to my leg, I was allowed to go and get changed. I said thank you to the physiotherapist and got a nice smile in return.
I was at the training ground and the place was fairly empty as no training was taking place that day. I said hello to a few of the staff who were there as I made my way back to the office. I had to meet Daddy there–he was the designated “taxi driver” for today. As I entered the office I saw he was not alone: Bill Rogers, one of the coaches was there and a man whom I didn’t know. They were all talking about something but stopped when I came within earshot.
‘Hi, Susan, treatment go okay?’ Daddy asked.
‘Yes, not bad; they’re still not sure if I’ll be fit for the game next week, and want me to come in every day for more treatment.’
‘Fair enough.’
‘Sue,’ said Bill, ‘As you know, the FA conduct random drugs tests now and you have been selected for one. This gentleman is here to conduct your test.’
I looked at the man with distaste. He looked a bit embarrassed.
‘Has this anything to do with that picture in The Globe?’ I asked him.
‘No, it’s just that you happen to be on my list.’
I turned to Bill Rogers. ‘I thought that tests were only done after matches?’
‘Yes but the FA has a right to test anyone at random now and you have been picked.’
‘How did you know I would be here?’ I asked the man.
‘I checked with the club and they said you’d be here this morning. I’m sorry about this, but I’m only doing my job.’
‘Okay, Mr–?’
‘It’s Doctor, actually–Doctor Amos.’
‘Well, Doctor, what do I have to do?’
‘All I require is a sample–a urine sample.’ He produced two small specimen jars and handed them to me.
‘If you would pop into the toilet, please, and fill both of them; one is for you and the other for me.’
I looked at the bottles with a degree of distaste and left the room and to go to the Ladies’ loo. He made as if to follow me in, so I turned to him, ‘Do you mind? This is the Ladies’, not the Gents’.’
‘Sorry, I have to make sure that there’s no one else in there.’
‘So, I am going to ask someone to wee in these little bottles for me? Get real, Doctor.’
‘As I said before, I am only doing my job.’
‘Well next time I suggest that they at least use a female doctor. Come on then, if you have to have a look-see, but don’t blame me if you shock any women in there.’
He quickly popped his head around the door. I could have offered to see if the coast was clear, but I wasn’t going to assist him. I had distinct feeling that I was being picked on so why should I help?
‘Okay, Ms Hurst, you can go in.’
I entered and shut the door firmly behind me. Once inside a cubicle, pulled my trackie bums and panties down and did the necessary. It wasn’t easy, and without going into details, I had to wash my hands very thoroughly afterwards, thinking how much easier it would have been if I had still had a penis.
I was in no hurry and wanted to the let him stew a bit, so I re-applied my lippy and brushed my hair before going out and handing one of the, still warm, plastic vials to him.
‘Thank you,’ he said.
‘Don’t mention it,’ I replied as I headed back to the office with him trailing me. I handed the vial of wee that I had kept hold of to Daddy. It had a date and time on it together with a squiggle that I took to be the doctor’s signature.
‘All done, love?’
‘Yes, but I’m not happy.’
‘I know, we’ll look into this when we get home.’
Not long afterwards, we left. I said goodbye to Bill and completely ignored the doctor as I was in petulant mode and couldn’t give a damn about niceties. I continued the conversation about the drugs test with Daddy when we got in the car.
‘Daddy, what’s going on?’
‘I don’t know, honey; I think we should contact the FA about it. I think they might have been swayed by the adverse publicity that you received over that bloody piece in The Globe. It’s not unheard of, having random drug tests, but as Bill said, they are usually done after matches and not at other times. However there are a few players who get special treatment and it looks as if you have been added to the list.’
I spent the remainder of the journey home contemplating the fact that I was–it appeared–a marked girl, not to be trusted and a possible drug addict–all over a flaming peanut!
As soon as we arrived home, I went up to my room and Daddy went to his office. The house was empty apart from us as the others had gone their separate ways. Andrew and Claire had gone off to visit an aunt with Monica, and Mummy had taken the twins to a parent toddler group that she belonged to. Mr Moon was in the garden–I noticed him doing something with a rake when Daddy drove in–and Mrs Moon was doing her weekly shop at the super-duper supermarket on the edge of town. The minders, in the form of Danni and Charlotte, were about, but they tended to stay in the background doing whatever they do and not being in my face all the time.
As soon as I got to my room, I changed my sports stuff for a far more girly black skirt and pink sweater top. After donning my fluffy pink slippers and brushing my hair, I felt somewhat better. I then sat at my computer and fired her up. In a matter of seconds I was surfing the net, trying to avoid anything about me. I was a bit fed up with Susan Hurst super footballer and wanted to get back to reality.
I logged on to ITunes and downloaded some music for my iPod and then looked at a few clothes sites such as Next and Miss Selfridge. I suppose that it was retail therapy, but I didn’t fancy going to real shops at the moment. Getting noticed and stared at wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
After that, I just left the computer and went to lie on my bed, hugging my rabbit and staring at the ceiling. My leg was hurting again as the treatment's effects had begun to wear off a bit.
There was a knock at the door and it woke me up–I didn’t realise that I had dropped off. ‘Yes?’ I said, yawning nearly wide enough to dislocate my jaw.
The door opened and Andrea came in. I sat up and looked at her, she looked very pretty, in a smock top and girlie jeans.
‘Hi, honey,’ she said coming over, sitting on the bed and kissing me on the lips. The mingling of our lipsticks was a big turn on for me and it was all I could do to stop myself dragging her on the bed to have my evil way with her. Instead, I sat up and we sat side-by-side on the bed holding hands.
‘You look pretty,’ I said.
‘You too.’
‘I didn’t know you went visiting dressed like that.’
‘Mum said that if I was going to be more of a girl, we should at least go and see her sister and maybe the rest of the family. I must admit I was a bit scared.’
‘How was your aunt then?’
‘She was cool about it. Mum had told her beforehand. Evidently Auntie was only worried that I might look like a boy in a dress. She said I was pretty.’
‘Oh, Andrea, you are pretty!’
‘D’you really think so,’ she said looking into my eyes.
‘Yes, I do.’
She was quiet for a moment.
‘What?’ I asked.
She looked at me. ‘Susan.’
‘Yes, love?’
‘Can I tell you something?’
‘’Course.’ I held her hand as this sounded like it was going to be a bit heavy.
‘You know when I first told you that I liked wearing girls’ clothes sometimes.’
‘Yes–I’ll never forget that.’
‘Well, I was always frightened that people would laugh at me and that I would never pass for anything remotely like a real girl.’
‘Well you do, the only problem is that you are likely to begin getting a bit hairy soon and your voice will get deeper and you might go full tilt into puberty. It’s funny it hasn’t happened yet, you are only a few months younger than I am.’
She started crying and I thought I had upset her by saying those things. I hugged her tightly as she sobbed on my shoulder. I could smell her perfume and her hair smelt sweet and lovely too, but I only noticed that in passing, as I was very concerned about what could possibly be making her this upset.
‘Sorry, Andrea, I've upset you–’
‘–no it’s not you; it’s me,’ she sniffed and pulled away from me slightly. She had streaky eyeliner and mascara now and looked like she required some emergency repairs.
‘I—I want to stop the possibility of me developing more–as a boy I mean.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked.
‘I’m the only boy in my year at school whose voice hasn’t broken; I get laughed at–you know what they’re like, you went there. In a way it’s nasty and embarrassing, but if I do hit male puberty, I won’t be happy.’
‘So, what do you want?’
‘I—I want to be able to have breasts and shape of a girl and I want to live as one, but I don’t want the operation, not yet, anyway. I want to keep my penis because I want to…to be able to…to make love to you–when the time’s right. What I’m trying to say is that if we stay together, I want us to make babies.’
She had her head down, looking at the floor. With a finger under her chin, I lifted her face up, so she was looking at me.
‘So you want to go part of the way, but not all the way and you love me enough to have a family. Do you…you want to be a real girl?’
’I think I do, but I’m not sure. I want to give myself time…If we do stay together though, I will want kids, if we can. Once we have done that, I think I would want to have the operation.’
I realised that we were still very young, but I knew in my heart that I loved her and she loved me. Unless something terrible happened, we would marry and hopefully have kids–if we could manage it. We hugged for a minute and I could sense her heart pounding. We were so much in love, it almost hurt. We were young, but not as young as Romeo and Juliet. I just hoped that our relationship would have a more positive outcome!
But there was another way: ‘We could adopt––?’
‘Maybe, but there’s no guarantee that we would be suitable. It’s very hard to adopt in this country; the authorities make you jump through hoops to even be considered.’
‘Does your mum know?’
‘Not yet. I don’t know how she would react and, of course, she hasn’t been well. H––how do you feel about it?’
‘About your wanting to be a girl? I love you for being you, not what sex you are. Yes, I love Andrew, but I also love Andrea; I just want you to be happy, but you must make sure you know what you are getting into. If you go for surgery, you will never be able to revert back.’
‘I know, I don’t want to make any mistakes but I’m pretty sure it’s what I’ll want eventually but I’m not going to be silly about it. Well what do you think, am I being silly?’
I kissed her gently on the lips.
‘No, you aren’t being silly, if that is what you really want. I’ll be with you all the way, but you must tell your mum–’
‘–But I don’t want to worry her.’
‘I know love–look, why don’t you speak with Mummy, she used to be a Samaritan before the twins were born, she would advise you and then you might get to see a doctor. You can take pills to stop you from developing, but I don’t know how that would affect you down below–sex-wise.’
‘I don’t either. Do you think she’d listen?’
‘Of course, silly–’
She looked much happier now that she had told me everything and we found ourselves in an embrace that took my breath away, only to be interrupted by the door opening suddenly.
‘Like–you should come and see this!’
We disengaged, looking daggers at Claire.
‘Claire, could you please knock when you come in?’
‘Sorry, look can you two stop clinging to each other like that and come to my room, there’s like something on the net that you just have to see. We followed her out and soon found ourselves in her rather untidy room. There were clothes on the floor and her bed and the place looked like a bomb had hit it. I didn’t think that knickers and tights draped over lampshades are necessarily a good thing–or even the ultimate in modern decor––
‘Don’t you believe in tidying up?’ a pained-sounding Andrea asked as she stepped around the mess.
‘Never mind that, come and see–’
We went to the computer and stared at the screen.
‘I was like, looking on the fan site and doing a bit of cleaning up in there and I saw a comment on the forum about this site that was like, dissing you.’
I sat down on the chair and looked at the site.
This site is dedicated to all those many thousands of people who think that Susan Hurst is a bad role model and should be kept off our screens and the football pitch.
Media hype would have it that she is God’s gift to football, and all the media attention that she is getting seems to be going to her head.
When a reporter quite correctly and respectfully challenged her on a few points at that infamous press conference, she stood up, started shouting at him and proudly displayed her blood-splattered dress. She must have known that she was having her period, what girl doesn’t and why wear a white dress, was that for dramatic effect?
Things then got worse as she went around having interviews telling everyone who would listen, that she had a right to play in a man’s game and anyone who didn’t like it was sexist or against the transgendered community.
Then we all saw that photo of her popping a pill in a nightclub. She said it was a peanut and that that the camera caught her at a bad moment. The truth has yet to be revealed on that little drama.
Finally, we have learned that the Football Association have just given her a random drug test. Why is that? Do they think, like we do that little Miss Perfect is not such an angel after all?
Join our crusade against Susan Hurst and all that she stands for. Click on the link below and email us today!
Further bulletins will be posted shortly and we will be setting up a forum for all those who want to show their anger and displeasure at what Ms Hurst is trying to do.
I sat back, saying nothing. At the bottom of the page was a photo of me in ‘that dress’ and another one with the so-called pill popping incident.
Andrea and Claire were talking–well shouting really–but I didn’t take any of it in.
After a minute, I got up and just said that I had a headache and returned to my bedroom, quietly locking the door because I wanted no interruptions for the time being. Sitting on the bed, I stared at the mirror on the dressing table. I looked pale and I had rings under my eyes.
On the dresser was a photo of my poor dead mum, smiling at the camera and waving. It had been taken on the last holiday that I ever had with her. I took the photo; it was on the beach at Penmarris Cove, the summer before last. My stepfather hadn’t come with us and we were both more relaxed and happy for it. We stayed at a bed and breakfast, just off the quayside and it was magical.
I wondered how my mum would feel about all the attention I was getting now. Maybe I was big mouthed, opinionated and shouldn’t be playing with men. Look at how Lance nearly broke my leg in the last game I played? Then there were the vicious attacks by Bob Ferris and The Globe. Will it ever end and would I be allowed to play without all this crap going on behind the scenes? Even the FA seemed to think that there was no smoke without fire as I was now getting random drugs tests. Finally, there was now a website that was actively campaigning and trying drum up support against me. It seemed to me that there were a number of people and organisations that wanted to stop me playing and get rid of me.
My parents and other people were trying to plug the holes and sort things out, but I didn’t know if I could take any more. Tears dripped off my cheeks and onto my skirt. I seemed to go from highs to lows at the moment. A little while ago, Andrea had told me her big secret and that had given me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. I knew that she and I would have problems but, between us, I was sure that we would sort them out in time. I had this dream about us walking down the aisle in matching white wedding dresses and that thought was so good, as was the vision of having children together.
On the reverse side, there was all this hate against me. What had I done to them? Had I hurt them? I wasn’t a murderer or anyone nasty; I was just being me. Why couldn’t people accept me as I am?
I stayed in my room as I didn’t want to face anyone at the moment. There were various knocks on my door but I asked them to leave me alone. Eventually it stopped as they realised I wanted some space.
I didn’t go down for anything to eat, I wasn’t hungry. Eventually, it was about nine in the evening and I just cleaned all the smeary makeup off and got into my nightie, unlocked the door and then went to bed. I turned off the bedside light and clutching my rabbit, I tried to get some well-needed sleep…
My thanks go to the brilliant and lovely Gabi for editing, making suggestions that I hadn't even thought of and pulling the story into shape.
Comments
Torment
No one deserves the torment she has been forced to endure. She has held up remarkably well, but it has to take its toll. This can't go on this way. I know there are no rules about life having to be fair, but is there any reason for her to take on the role of Job in the football world? Things have to get better, and permanantly.
Portia
Portia
The drug test can be explained....
...a press release or even a press conference to explain that fallacious charges have been made against Susan, and this is the league's method of exonerating her regarding the lies and putting all the gossip to rest. The league needs to take a very vocal stand for her sake. One the other hand, I knew there was something about Andrea that I liked, but I couldn't identify it until today...Great story, dear heart, as always!
She was born for all the wrong reasons but grew up for all the right ones.
Possa Dio riccamente vi benedica, tutto il mio amore, Andrea
Love, Andrea Lena
Well, this is a bit of a
Samirah M. Johnstone
Bob Ferris Strikes Again
I have an idea that the nasty website is the work of Bob Ferris yet again. His lies have led to her also being drug tested. I hope that some incompetent or vengeful person doesn't try to tamper with the results. Andrea wanting to transition is very understandable. They were concerned about the ability to have kids if she went on HRT. There is another way besides adoption. She could bank her sperm before she started and have kids naturally later on. Another great chapter!
But a Penis…
…is so much more pleasurable, and romantic, than a TURKEY BASTER! :)
That's why...
Susan had to do TWO vials of urine... Both initialed by the doctor. If the first comes up Positive - the second, in her posession, can be tested by an independant laboratory to show whether the original was tampered with.
Above all this - the "vials" are usually "sealed" so that they can't normally be opened, without breaking the seal... So, as long as Susan's vial is shown to not be tampered with, it can be used to counter any tampering that is done.
Doesn't remove the "stigma" or embarrassment of being "singled out" for screening, but it provides her with some level of protection.
Annette
Football Girl~29
So, another attack by that cad, and a link to Changes. Something tells me that Sue will be visiting Penmarris and find herself being helped by dear old Dotty who as a controlling interest in the press. ;)
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
It's time a Mr. Ferris disappears - permanently!
But what good is wealth if you cant live happily? Put it to use and end the misery.
Baptise the ferret with steel and make him holey, I say ^^
=^.^=
BigCloset TopShelf
TGLibrary.com
I will always be here for you... my heart, my being, can never accept any other.
Only... you.
The last thing I want to see is this in the next chapter:
"The results of the test have come back Susan."
I turned quizzically, wondering at why this couldn't have been told to me over the phone.
"You tested positive for [Place a drug name here]."
I was floored. There was absolutely no way I had taken any drugs!
"I did not take anything!" I shouted, tears forming at the edge of my eyes.
"Susan," Dad said, "Why did you lie?"
*shiver*
Second Sample
Let's not forget that there are two samples.
Daddy should be getting the second one independently and privately analysed as a safeguard.
Come to think of it, Susan's camp could even release the results...
Preemptive Strike
Bike Resources
If Susan isn't careful and
If Susan isn't careful and remains by herself each time something bad happens to her, she is going to suffer a breakdown. The ex-reporter Ferris is most likely behind this latest attack on her and he needs to be removed from the scene physically and financially. Being on the internet is the same as being in public, so LIABLE is an avenue to persue. I agree that the Football Association should be backing Susan completely, as they are the ones who deemed her eligible to play. I am wondering just how did the person who placed this information on the web, know about her having a drug test? That is supposed to be confidential and privileged information, INCLUDING who you are. Most UA's I have dealt with don't show a persons name, they are just listed as a number. So who else is a "spy" for Ferris? Jan
A lot depends...
on where the website is hosted...
Not only that...
British laws on libel are very different than the ones we have here in the US. It's very hard to have a case reach the trial stage, let alone get to trial.
One of the best ways to attack is for the word get out to the Hurst nation and bury this hate site in pro-Susan posts!
Great Chapter!
Had to chuckle at the Penmarris Cove tie-in!
The hate-campaign website is very revealing. Obviously, there's a serious leak (no pun intended) if this website knows that the FA is running the drug test. I expect those are usually confidential, at least as to who is about to be tested. Plus, it should be possible to find out who (through litigation, if necessary) is running the campaign, now that they've booked the domain and ISP for the website. I must say, though, it sure seems like the website is written in the voice of our dear friend, Bob Ferris, although it's also possible he's been working with the funding of one of the "anti" organizations.
I would also think that publicly releasing the name of the person/organization directing that website would result in some nice backlash against him/them, and no little outrage amongst Ms. Hurst's fans! I also presume that during Susan's pity session in her room, her support team has already put the wheels of inquiry/justice/revenge in motion.
One question...
I'm enjoying the "show", but I have one question that I'd like to have someone clear up.
I've had ultrasound before, but it wasn't a treatment, it was an investigation... My wife had ultra sounds of her uterus for all of her pregnancies. They were tools for the doctors to look inside the body in a way analogous to X-Rays, CT Scans/MRIs, etc.
You use the term to indicate some sort of therapy. Are they using sound vibrations to relax muscles? I'm just curious, as I've not heard it used that way, and was hoping that someone could explain it...
I suspect Andrea'll have a harder time of it than she(he?) thinks... Unless I'm mistaken, he needs to go through at least SOME of male puberty to be able to produce any sperm. As it's a non-issue for me (I've got two wonderful daughters!), I never did any research to see what the options were. That said, I know it's possible for males to get BA (there's one in Las Vegas that had C cup impants put in, and had to live with them for a year - to win a bet... Story is he kept them afterwords, "cause some of the girls he dates are excited by them".) That doesn't solve the puberty issue, but would give the breast... Though, I think it'd be rare for a surgeon to want to do that to a juvenile.
Now, if Andrea's also 16, and hasn't gone through puberty at all yet... We have another medical issue that may be worth a few trips to a specialist or three.
It certainly didn't take long for those that were out to get Susan to jump on the "Hate Website" bandwagon. It doesn't even have to be someone that has any personal angst against Susan. There are some people in the world that see an opportunity to "poke" at a celebrity and draw attention to their work and are detractors, because that's the easiest way. I suspect we're expected to believe the web site, like the Globe article/pill photo & the talk show attempted smear & the drug screening are part of a single larger conspiracy to bring down this aberrant person. *sighs*
Looking forward to see how you reslove all of these things.
Thanks,
Annette
Ultrasound Therapy
Has been used for some time by physio-therapists for treating soft-tissue injuries. A quick look at google will turn up pages such as this one. It's not universally accepted as useful. Many rehabilitative specialists prefer using heat application and TENS machines for similar purposes, but ultrasound seems to be in favor in sports-injury settings.
I'm not certain, but I think ultrasound therapy has been around longer than ultrasound imaging has.
Random drug testing ...
... is a part of modern sport. I'm not much interested in football but I know that elite athletes in other sports have to inform the drug testing authorities where they will be available for random testing at regular specific times. A failure to be available on (I think) 3 occasions counts as a drug positive and all that goes with it (ie a ban). I'm surprised Susan isn't on that scheme. Being tested is nothing to be ashamed of.
I was feeding a friend who was riding a 24 hours bike time trial a few years ago. His first act on finishing was to dive for the nearest hedge bottom for relief (it happens to me, too, and after far fewer than 24 hours in the saddle :) ) Unfortunately, he was randomly selected for a urine test. It delayed our journey home for over an hour before he was able to give one. The strange thing is he was given Coca Cola and coffee to drink in an effort to enable the test and excess caffeine is one of the banned substances. He tested negatively. Good job they didn't test for excess banana juice LOL.
However, obviously, in the story there's more to it than that because of the web site. In any case it wouldn't be unreasonable for the authorities to decide to follow up on the drug taking reports with a test. After all, a negative would be to Susan's advantage. I follow cycle sport a bit and everyone claims to be innocent and 'clean' until they're proved not to be. I don't suppose football is any different at the top level.
On the issue of Andrea's taking testosterone blockers wouldn't they prevent her from being able to father a child anyway? Or is it possible to avoid some of the physical effects of puberty (deeper voice, heavier build etc) whilst still allowing production of viable sperm? I don't know. I'm simply asking the question.
Thanks, Sue. Some interesting developments that raise issues in the real world - like the disadvantages of anonymity on the internet.
Robi
Was the supposed FA doctor really there from the FA AND at their
behest?
He could be a fake or a sympathizer of the Ferret. That the web site knew of the test tells me there is at least a leak or that this test is a set up. And the web site MUST be his site or one with his help, why else the attempt to paint HIM as the aggrieved party?
I was mildly surprised her team didn't test her BEFORE the match as a preemptive move to protect her. And --- jesse that's a lot of ands -- if the FA can prove the bastard player, the goalie, the fading TV interviewer and Ferris have e connections to each other, IE a conspiracy, can the players be permanently banned from the sport?
Can Ferris be arrested for libel/stalking/whatever? he clearly has gone from trash tabloidism to attacking her in every way short of physical and I wonder about that hit in the game. IE when is rough play rough play and when is it crimial assault?
Time for her team and her security people to get proactive -- yuk, I hate that word -- and perhaps set a trap for the hate monger and his cronies.
The plot thickens once more, top notch.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
It goes with the territory
Oh, we can sob and cry all we want but the facts are there are a fair number of basterds in the world. Thanfully, not so many. I imagine that every public figure has their own personal "Ferris". Actually, some celebs pay them for publicity. In one "Lady Gaga" song, Paparatzi, she remarks about chasing the Paparatzi "until they love us".
I am not saying that our hero is like that, but she will either have to quit ball, or learn to cope with dip shits.
Khadijah
Cranky
I'm quite upset over the constant attacks against Susan. It's nice that I care about the character. That's an important quality in a story. But the steady stream of attacks can add up to be too much. Dang. Give the girl a break. Please?
I hope this all resolves soon. There should be a backlash against the website at the very least. Susan has too many supporters to let something like that go.
Thanks for the chapter.
- Terry
Maybe I'm Just...
...in a lousy mood right now, but I'm getting very tired of everyone -- including some of the characters -- making the assumption that all kinds of things that inevitably happen to celebrities in all fields are in this case part of a conspiracy by the hated Ferris.
The drug test makes sense for everybody involved, and since it's being done right, with two samples, Susan's brain trust should welcome it, however inconvenient Susan herself may find it.
The only disturbing thing I see about the website is that news of the drug test has leaked out that quickly; it seems (as we saw with that promo tape at the mall) that there's someone in the team office -- probably in the publicity department -- who thinks that the more public things get, the better it'll be for the team. Other than the leak, an I-hate-Susan-Hurst website is so inevitable that I'm feeling irked at Claire for even bringing it to Susan's attention -- like whatever hate mail Susan's getting along with her fan letters, it's not something she needs to address personally and can't do anything but depress her.
Eric