AFriendlyFace

Well, it seems relevant to me that Richie left Sandra while wearing a tux. Perhaps that is symbolic of the way a boy leaves his mother when he gets married?

You know, I never even try to flirt my way out of tickets, but I think I'm going to have to start, lol!

What a delightful story! I used to sit near lots of cute boys in my classes, yet somehow I missed out on doing the rest of the tings in the story with them. I really enjoyed it; great job -Kevin

Not a subscriber to the whole notion of "if you love something let it go," huh?

Aww ya bit softy! Just to reiterate, I really did thoroughly enjoy this story. I actually wasn't really expecting to either. It's not that I dislike period pieces (really I'm quite neutral about them), but it seemed like the beginning of the story had a great deal of description, particularly of nature, and that's the sort of thing that usually puts me off. In this case though it didn't and once I was into the actual story I found it completely engaging and intriguing. Well done! Yes, from what I know of that period and class the characters were extremely well-depicted and accurate!

I was unaware of that! Thanks for the info. I would say that that is where John wasn't a good role model. I didn't have an issue with him naked down by the creek with a girl I presumed to be his girlfriend, but the cheating and sneaking around on his girlfriend was definitely not role model worthy. Not that the other part was either, but I could overlook that more easily.

I agree. They did seem to connect in an immediate, direct way which definitely puts me in mind of a sort of "kindred spirits" bond.

Vivid and imaginative indeed! I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to hear more from these two -Kevin

I love cherries

Hi Old Bob Over the years I have started several discussions of one kind or another about bisexuals.

LOL, well I'd rather not be either one of them. But I think Avril is much hotter and cooler so I'll go with her. Would you rather receive a gift or give a gift?

Almost cracked up? LOL, I was rolling on the floor! (well bed, but same difference ) What a thoroughly amusing and delightful story! I laughed my head off, and there were definitely quite a few "awwww " moments as well. I'm so happy for Andy and his adorable boyfriend/best friend, and crazy supportive family Great story, Linxe! -Kevin

Awwww What a sweet, romantic story! I just love the:

Yes, I really like that song

Excellent story! Terry was such a deplorable little SOB. I really don't feel much if any sadness for him. He willfully endangered countless sex partners and knowingly hurt Lawrence. My only sympathy and sadness is for Lawrence who probably will blame himself and feel sad. If anything I'd say the only unbelievable part of the story was that Terry wasn't positive. His selfish reaction to the news was certainly in character and Lawrence scare attempt was foreshadowed nicely in his interaction with Jake. What an important story to be told! I only hope it makes others reconsider their foolish actions before it's too late. For Terry, he seemed hellbent on killing himself one way or another anyway. Awesome job, Tiff! -Kevin

I completely agree with Graeme. Excellent story, Frosty! I thoroughly enjoyed it

Oh poor Uncle George and Aunt Mabel! LOL, John bore a lot of the brunt too though But hey, at least no one was hurt Fun story, Graeme! -Kevin

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed your story, JFalkon! It was beautiful written, and so sweet and moving! It was also all around delightful and fun to read. I laughed out loud in several places and smiled throughout most of it. Thanks so much for sharing it with us -Kevin P.S. Hot Redheads

Sounds like a soap opera sure enough.

It very much depends on the people involved. You can definitely date and not have sex right away (or at all). As I said, I think the important thing is just going at a rate both people are comfortable with. It's fine to have sex right away if that's what both people want, and it's fine to wait and go very slow if that's what both people are comfortable with. I think the problem arises when people have sex before they're both ready or keep waiting after they're both ready.

That was an excellent story I'm so glad that everything worked out so well for everyone involved and I do hope that Eric and Jeremy enjoy their night at the theatre -Kevin

LOL! Well, given the name I did suspect the eventual outcome. It was certainly amusing though and one can't help but to feel sorry for the narrator. It just goes to prove that as I always say, when it comes to sex it's best to be able to see what you're doing. Good story, Mark -Kevin

I can't stand certainty. The arrogance of thinking you know something really annoys me. Especially as it relates to people, other people, but also yourself. I've been studying sexuality and gender issues for a long time now, however, they've been particularly on my mind for the past couple of months. The way I see it, the GLBT community is designed for gays and lesbians, but the bisexuals and transgenders are still pretty much marginalized and discriminated against. It's frustrating enough when that discrimination comes from outside of the community, but I find it especially distasteful when other gays and lesbians are quick to criticise bisexuals or trans people or to throw them under the bus for their own gain. Maybe I'm expecting too much. I'm beginning to think that perhaps I am. People, it seems, are naturally closed-minded. A lot of heterosexuals (not all of course) cannot conceive of anything but MAN and WOMAN and their attraction only to the opposite sex. Then gay and lesbian people come along and they say "hey wait a minute, I am attracted to the same sex." Now it seems to me that that "unique" perspective would give them pause. It seems like it would make them say to themselves (or even better to others), "see, now clearly sexuality isn't this black or white thing. Clearly gender and gender roles are also more fluid." Yeah not so much. Unfortunately, it seems gays and lesbians are just as capable as anyone else of being repulsed, distrustful, or generally perplexed as hell when it comes to bisexuals or trans people. It seems that a great many gays and lesbians still need their certainty. They need to know "I am a man, end of story." Or "I am a woman, end of story" or "I only date other men" or "I only date other women." It seems that ideally what they want is to believe that people either fall in love with a man OR a woman, but not either. They want to be certain that the people they know as straight will continue to date the opposite sex and that the people they know as gay or lesbian will continue to date the same sex. They want to know what's in between someone's legs, because clearly that will be a reliable indication of how that person is going to act, think, and feel. Surely bisexuals must be "confused" or "in denial". A transgender person who doesn't feel comfortable in their birth roles must similarly be "confused" or else just "really sick". In both cases the last thing the gay or lesbian person wants to do is be associated with such an individual. They don't want to take the time or effort to understand them. Worse, they certainly don't want to question their own feelings about their sexuality and gender. I'm just so damn sick of it! I'm so sick of the f**king notion that "boys act one way and girls act another." I just don't think that life should be this black and white. I don't think sexuality and gender should be so rigid. I am a gay male, that is my "identification". It also works pretty well for me most of the time. I have absolutely no desire to have "girl parts" for myself. In general I'm very comfortable in the "role" of a gay male. It fits. However, that doesn't mean that I don't think the whole notion of "roles" is ridiculous, limiting, and narrow-minded. I'm a very sexual person. I could certainly enjoy sexual things with a female. They're not my primary attraction by any means, but even if I'm not attracted that doesn't mean that I couldn't happily share my sexuality with them. I've shared my sexuality with guys I wasn't attracted to. It seems to me it would be the same thing with women. Apart from which I am attracted to some women sometimes. I do think of my sexuality as "gay". That is what identifies me the best but it certainly doesn't encompass all of my sexual feelings. I'm certainly not threatened by having sexual feelings toward women sometimes and I'm sure as hell not threatened by other guys who sleep with guys having sexual feelings toward women. It doesn't repulse me, it doesn't scare me, it doesn't make me jealous, and it doesn't make me suspicious. When it comes to gender I'm even more open-minded and fluid. I'm a "guy" but I have my own unique, fluid definition for what that means anyway. I love my physical body and am very satisfied with it, but when it comes to emotional, intellectual, and behavioural aspects of my personality I consider myself essentially androgynous. There's no telling what role, emotion, behaviour, or line of thinking I'll take. I can't predict, and I certainly don't want anyone else to try, especially not because of my "gender". I do love gay and lesbian people, probably more - as a whole - than any other type of people, but I am deeply disappointed by how certain the majority of them like to try to be.

That's a beautiful dream, Eric, and I personally think that to some extent you've already actualized it My own dream? Hmm. At least part of it is similar to yours, but it's probably something I need to think on more.

Oh my God, dude! This is amazing! Pardon me for gushing, but I found that to be so incredibly moving! So powerful! So beautifully written! I love the unity and strength the piece possesses! It's also all around an extremely insightful and accurate analysis of Dignity. It really was made all the better by your opening questions and your closing thought completely threw me for a loop. I confess that even after such an awesome piece when I started to read about "yin and yang" I couldn't help but to roll my eyes and brace myself for something I was sure to consider hackneyed...well you completely knocked me on my ass with your fighting/loving question! That part is also extremely thought-provoking, all the more so because it did throw me off kilter. Just all around fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing this with us! -Kevin