Andrew Q Gordon

Slightly belated, but welcome Terry ! Hope you enjoy your time.

Thanks Myr and Mari, thus far things are going better than we expected, but I'm waiting for the next shoe to drop.

yeah them hooking up would be feel trite to me. The whole - 'the guy I was into in High School was actually gay and totally into me' type thing is in my opinion rare - so I wouldn't want to take away from the message I was going for in this. Thanks for all the reviews you've left, you should know it is really appreciated. Andy

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Your comment about editing is valid, I know I don't do it well. All I can say is I do try even if it doesn't seem like it. I agree, editing mistakes do take away so I'll keep out it. That said, I'm glad you still enjoyed it. Thanks for the note, and the valid criticism. Andy

Hey, thanks for the comments. Yeah there are a few defense lawyers I would love to lock up. At the end of the this story, it is the end of this segment of the story. If there is more to Jason and Peter's lives, it won't be at this time in their lives. As for Monetary status - Jordan - as more than 18 would be the only person Peter could sue. So unless he had his own money - doubtful as his family is not as affluent nor as 'old money' as Jason's - Peter would have very little recourse if Jordan is guilty. If he's not guilty, Peter could still sue in civil court and there the standard of proof is lower and he would almost certainly win - sort of like the OJ fiasco - he was not guilty but was guilty in the civil phase. Thanks for reading and for the reviews.

I don't think you can sue for Libel for spinning the facts the way you like, but I'm not sure. Suggesting that his motive was this or that, is opinion. It's not like he said, Bennett slept with little boys or was having an affair with Pratner's wife and was doing this to make things right - he was out of area, so his argument was not false. His opinion of why is not fact it's opinion. I agree that it is amazing at times it works. But thus far it's working - I think. Thanks for reading Dave.

Here's the funny thing, I have NO idea how to write a jury deliberating, I've never been allowed on a jury, ever. So I don't think I could write one chapter much less three on them deliberating. No fear the end is in sight. Then I'm on to the next project - time permitting. Thanks for the comments and all the support along the way.

Wayne, you didn't expect him to go to trial only to profess that he did what they accused him of, did you? My hope with this closing was to show how a good lawyer can twist the facts in a way that while maybe they aren't quite believable, they raise a doubt for the jurors. Remember, not guilty doesn't mean the jury thinks he was innocent, often they are pretty sure the person is guilty, but they have a reasonable doubt that maybe he didn't. It is a high standard for the prosecution to over come.

Haha, are you sure you don't want to be a lawyer, Trevor? The only thing I would point out in response is Bennett being out of his zone could get him in trouble and thus he needed a good reason to be where he was - flimsy but if the other evidence, i.e. Jordan and Berimen, is believed, that Bennett is lying and Rankin has given the jurors a reason why he would lie. Doesn't make it true, just something to raise the reasonable doubt in one Juror. It's why I never think I've won until I hear the word, 'guilty.'

Kevin, that is so true, arguments are not evidence, BUT I tried to argue this as I would argue it as a defense attorney. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but for those reading along, this sort of put everything Rankin did in perspective. How many of the readers when - oh yeah, never thought of that? That's the goal with the Jurors. As you can see, the defense isn't as non existent as it seemed during the trial. And no, JC never entered into my thoughts, I'm something of an agnostic after all

Sorry I'm late to the party, but Happy B-day Cammy. Hope it was great and you had fun. Andy

"How'd it go?" Mary asked as he returned to his office. "Little prick all but gave me the finger." Martin let out a snort. "Told me another year wouldn't make a difference to him." "And he'll get it, too." Mary returned to organizing the files they would need. "Probably, but we'll deal with that another day." Seeing a green, egg shaped object on his chair he picked it up. Squishy, but firm. "What's this?" She glanced up quickly. "Stress relief. Dan dropped it off for you. He sw

Habit, you're my new best friend Welcome and enjoy. Andy

Well, I suppose that might work, but then of course he'd be outing jason which I'm not sure would do wonders for their relationship - but yeah, I think that is one way thing could have shook out

Dann, if I told you before, it is confirmed, I am not announcing it on line - I don't want an online record of her name - for privacy reasons, so in public it's Baby Q, in private I'll tell folks. As for Steph, the surrogate - she is an amazingly lady - I post a bit on the day on a blog entry - but I'll post a bit here since you asked nicely. We were told we'd be in the hospital two days, So with Baby Q born at 8:40 pm Wednesday night, we were told Thursday morning we'd be discharged on Saturday - tomorrow. About 1 pm yesterday they said do you want to go home today - Hell yeah - I wanted to get home as soon as we could. So we spent most of the afternoon with Steph, - we would have done it anyway if she wasn't with her family, but we made sure she got as much time as she could/wanted with Baby Q. We fully intend - both sides - to keep in contact so that she and Baby Q have a relationship of some kind so when Baby Q wants to know who her mom is she will already know her. Thanks Uncle Sam Thanks Joey

WOW! Y'all blow me away sometimes. Thank you all - Am happy to report Baby Q is doing extremely well, they discharged us in less than a day when the standard is 48 hours. She is eating well, sleeping well and sadly for us, pooping and peeing very well. I won't say we're sleeping through the night, but she is not being overly fussy so we are able to nap here and there. The family is here so there are plenty of hands to let Mike and I get a break and some sleep. She has these amazing blue/grey/ steel eyes and every time I hold her she looks up and stares are me. I don't have a heart left, it's melted away already. I'm trying to post a picture, but the site won't let me upload it. I'll try again after I go get food with my mom. Thanks again for all the well wishes here and on my profile. Andy

well you live up to your screen name with all the unanswered questions you have Thanks for the review, I appreciate hearing from people. As you probably know, I'm going to be a bit slow for a bit going forward. because of the impending arrival of our daughter - that said, I do hope to get back to this, with this short story being something of a prologue to the main story. I'll just have to see what story inspires me next. Thanks again. Andy

Wayne, Okay, so yeah I agree your boss/company is a prick. But I think you did the right thing, ask for different leave. IF they deny it, take your couple days here and there, then request off the first week after the blackout and keep doing it until you get it. Then use the money for your travel and invite your friend to come up to see you. Just because you can't go to the mountain, why not bring the mountain to you? Just a thought Sorry for your crazy crap, but this too shall pass.

HAHA, I don't know that I can yell that loud, but I can email I'll leave the yelling for everyone else. Andy

I don't know about best ever, I just want to be a good one and for her to be happy, nothing else really matters to me at this point. Don't be surprised if you get an email asking for advice from the best dad ever. Whoever that might be Thanks for the note, and thanks for following us on this journey- Thanks Bleu - and Jian

Happy Birthday Steve!!!! Glad Paya alerted us to this momentous day - Would be sad if I missed it.

Thanks, Trebs, I'm hoping to prove you right Since I'm not so much into praying, good energy is just my style Thanks Nephy. No, thank you Bob, you and all the other folks here have always given me words of encouragement so I thank you and everyone else. I keep saying she won't wrap ME around her finger, thinkng if I say it enough it will come true, but in the end I know I'm doomed, she will no doubt rule the roost for many years to come Haha, I wish Vic, mom's health is not what it could be, so I'll be the one to get up, BUT them getting the place and from what I hear it is very nice - is a huge help to Mike and I. Thanks for the well wishes Thanks JC - now you know what it's gonna be like - sorta - when you do this EWWWW - I think I'm gonna pace the waiting room and stay out of the way - yup that's what I'm gonna do. Bet on it . Pictures? Oh my dear friends, you SO have the wrong person for that. I am the WORST at taking pictures and even worser if that could be possible at up loading and posting them. But I'm going to try and be better - promise.

Happy Birthday Audi!!!! Hope it's a great day. Sorry I don't have any great cat pictures to add, so how about this???

Welcome Fontaine - shameless Domaholic eh? Well at least we know you have good taste. Enjoy yourself. - Andy Nephy - you know what they say about saving the best for last. personally I think that's rubbish but I'm too afraid of you to say it to your face.

Louis, I think you do a service to all aspiring authors with this topic. Show don't tell is one of the biggest criticisms editors/teachers/even readers have with most writing. Describing body language as a means of conveying emotions and situations and character is much better than telling us what you want us to think about your characters. It also helps keep them in character so to speak. Using your example, if you tell us the man commands authority, but he's slouchy, round shouldered and concave in the middle as you put it - the image doesn't match the telling and we lose the ability to picture the character as cleanly as if we keep him and his actions consistent. So if you post it, we will read it - or at least I will when time permits