Boy Mercury X

Thanks @VBlew. This was first written probably six or so years before "Jake's Story," so my own thinking changed a lot. That's reflected by the similar span in the story between this and when Junior finds Jake.

Thank you so much. Just as an FYI, despite some misgivings, I did publish the first story "Go Home" which was the basis for this one.

Well you convinced me. I published it.

Chapter 1: The Drive "It’s not just stubbornness, Boon. It’s the delusion." I picked at the edge of my thumbnail, watching the blur of turning leaves banking the two-lane highway. The car heater hummed, fighting the creeping autumn chill as we left the progressive sprawl of Seattle and moved deeper into the flat, rural eastern half of the state. "He was in basic training for six weeks in the nineties," I continued, feeling my voice go tight. "He twisted his ankle on an obstacle co

Returning home, an artist and his fiancé are drawn into his father's dangerous orbit. Before it ends, the three will collide in ways that leave no one leaves unchanged. (This story predates "Jake's Story" and involves some of the same characters.)

To be honest, it's partially out of respect to the readers and wanting them to have a story that doesn't linger forever... but also until I finish a story I don't always know what it is. I typically go back and add and adjust, to get the early parts to lead up to the end.

Thanks so much for reading, and for your kind words. I think Boon gets MVP for every story he's in. I ought to do a follow up where they visit Boon's family and he becomes an agitated wreck.

Your warning is one reason I may not post Go Home, but it is easily available at other sites.

Thanks, @CCinPS. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

As a rule, I don't publish anything until the story is complete in my hands, and I can tell readers what to expect. I personally like to know what I'm getting into - five chapters or seventy-five, for example. Again, I really appreciate you sticking with it. ♥️

Thank you for sticking with it @Flip-Flop. To be honest, I thought most readers would give up early, because it was a tough read. I'm glad you got to the payoff. ♥️ Joe

Thanks so much @dboggs9700. I truly look forward to your thoughts. At this point unsure about the other two stories. Not sure they'd land right at GA. and also a little in the wrong order. I'll DM you though.

@Cane23, thanks for always being thoughtful about your reading. I like to think it's as much opening as closure - and that if there's a visit to Seattle there will be a follow up that Boon will not sit out.

Thanks @akascrubber, I'm so glad to know the story worked for you. There truly are many cases of people having rough starts, but through resilience and some kindness and a little luck, building engaged and fulfilling lives. I think there's something in there too about Junior's journey, even though being raised by a narcissistic asshole somehow maintaining his emotional openness to love and be vulnerable.

Chapter 15: The Arrival Jake parked his chair on the salted concrete walkway outside the Sourdough Diner, the biting Alaskan wind whipping around the corners of his heavy canvas jacket. His calloused hands gripped the rubber rims of his wheels, bracing himself. He’d spent the weeks since that phone call waiting for Junior to step out of a car, look him in the eye, and demand to know how Jake could have so casually betrayed the boy who had worshipped him. A dark rental SUV pulled i