IanG

Thete are people like Frank who will twist anything so its in their favour.

If this is autobiographical, remember we are all a mix of strengths and weaknesses, faults and virtues. If things are hard now they may not always be. Other people may have issues they won't admit to. If their lives are perfect now they may have issues in the future. If you've made mistakes there's time to learn from them.

This is nostalgic, plausible and, I suspect, angry under the surface. Similar scenarios are playing out all over the world, including my native U.K. Well done.

No one I know is perfect we all have human flaws. If there's a God he must know that. No one has all the answers, so its no shame if you havn't.

The glass metephore is a good one.

You evoke the characters and the setting with great skill. The clash of values rings true.

This is a good summing up of true fridndship.

Overall this is an evocative piece and you're right about nature having two sides. Regarding the beetles I'd have written 'not imprezsed' rather than 'not intimidated.' If they're fleeing thete's no question of them trying to intimidatd. Othetwise its a fine piece of writing.