Toast

Happy Birthday! !♥ Sky ♥! Best Wishes and New Snow Boards!

You are very kind, and I thank you.

Happy Birthday! Douw!

The eagerness and hope for love. The possibility of a new beginning. The wonder of the company of another. It is all so real it those first ticks of the clock. I like this, this first bloom of attraction. And I like that it leaves us to decide the fate of love's first joy.

Happy Birthday! Jay!

I don't like the word wimp, I don't see Charlie that way. But he is still letting life affect him to a greater degree, than his own will. So far these accidents (except his birth) seem to have been detrimental to Charlie's welfare. This last accident, will it continue this theme or is this encounter the lucky kind of accident.?

A friend, a poem and beauty. I don't need much more than that.

Forsworn By bugeye Falling back Turning round Shutting down Away from knowing Through with caring No more sharing Forever unknowing Forswearing Eyes revealing Lips thrilling Soul spilling Hunger bestowing Knee bending Crushing Has it been a few days Or a few symphonies Of existence des

Poem

Happy Birthday! Lugh! Wishing you the very best day ever!

This has a very strong sound to it. Like the beat in a song lyric. Or rap? The voice is strong and angry and defiant. You are very observant, I think, because this is about what you see as much as what you feel. The truly sad part is suicide never answers the question you ask. Is there something wrong with me? Much more likely to find answers living and writing poety like this one.

I like that it reads different. Maybe that is your voice as a storyteller and maybe the nature of the story. Charlie seems to feel inadequate or to blame about his life, which contrasts with what others believe to some degree. His roommate thought enough of him to encourage him, and Tina calls him handsome immediately after he dumps punch on her. She didn't hestitate to lay claim to him either. Big time apparently. Something about Charlie made her possessive and want him and maybe the quarrel was an attempt to keep him. Whatever is bothering Charlie is still a mystery. We don't know what he wants other than maybe the joy of his job teaching. Who is Charlie?

Okay, if you can take it, one thought... please don't call a truck a car. I would change that. LOL. Honestly, Tyler is creepy. I know, the whole bad boy, straight boy, forbidden danger, etc. thing is going on. And Travis is hooked on this kind of encounter isn't he, it makes sense with what we know of his history. I just hope it doesn't all spell disaster. Nice chapter.

I thought Wade was a great character, a rodeo clown. How clever and different. He would have to be a performer and at the same time very daring and brave and very sure and confident. And that is what he was in the bar. No wonder Travis was swept away by him. But it doesn't seem like he is going to be around again, shame. Now the ending was a nice little cliffhanger. What is Tyler going to say? This chapter was the best so far very tight and well thought out and written. The hard things in this story are subtle, the loneliness and the hiding and apprehension. Wade's change of mood after his encounter was very telling as was his departure. And Travis is a bundle of doubt and yearning.

I don't know, am I reading the same story. I thought the singing was realistic. I have known people who could sing and what they love to do is sing with someone else who can relate or harmonize. I thought the singing gave them the edge they needed to connect and rise above their circumstances... maybe more so than the beer. If only for a night's escape. They are finding things in common. As for the sex, Travis wanted it to happen and wants more to happen. And maybe Tyler is afraid of what he wants even if he asks for it. Everyone has sexual experiences but they are rarely felt as typical or that shallow, especially the first shared one between two people. At least I didn't read it that way. It certainly had a big affect on these two men. I think there is a lot going on in this story. It is being simply told just like a country song, but it sticks because a lot of it rings with living.

No where man makes me think of the beatles. Is this story the beginning of being somewhere?

Life is handing Blake changes to be happy over and over and Blake just bitch slaps life back. And Haze is ignoring life isn't he? It is that old saw about being blessed and cursed and living in interesting times. If you screamed at them to stop it, would they. BTW, I have sold your Xbox. Love. Sam

Thanks Maria, I have conflicting thoughts about what I wrote.

Finding out you are attracted and maybe in love with someone and not knowing what is going on or going to happen... can be disturbing. Maybe this was all fantasy. Thanks for taking the time to read something of mine and reviewing.

I loved how much of this chapter was dialogue, it brings the characters closer. Also so unexpected and original. Wonderful writing and story turns.These guys are so real and off the charts at the same time. Love it. Amazing. Thank you Drew.

Enjoyed your story, thanks.

The story starts out with Toby alone in a compartment. But the train is full or so says Kevin. Is it Toby's hard look that kept everyone away... all except for Kevin. Toby freely admts he is running away to the country. He is single. A broken relationship? And the open flirting with a stranger after the long introspection and reserve. And the dream. So Toby is hurting and hiding and maybe looking for diversion. And what of Kevin whose impulse is to lie and to be suspicion and yet accepts meeting this stranger again. All very juicy, I think. I enjoyed this first chapter.

Thanks for being so kind.

Tricky, again the sound I like. An inside joke. A private pet peeve. A small challenge to guess.

Spoken like someone young.