Lisa

I agree with everyone else; I didn't want to hit the 'like' button, and I only did it for you and your rep votes, not because I liked the chapter. It was an extremely well-written chapter, but the content was not good at all. You are an inspiration to everyone out there, Tim. You were able to get out from that horror. Not all do. I would think most of them don't. Jeff was a disgusting person, but not as despicable as your sperm donor (I would never call him a 'father'), and his awful sisters. I am so sorry you didn't have your mom around to protect you. I totally agree with Lit; as a mother, I find it incomprehensible that parents, or a parent, can just kick their child to the curb without a second thought. That is not the definition off a parent. That is not what a true parent would do. I am so sorry you had to live through all that horror, and I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you to write this chapter, reliving that particular part. I'm so happy that your life has completely turned around. You probably wouldn't be able to write this if it wasn't. One thing I've been wondering though: I have noticed that you always write your name 'tim' instead of 'Tim'. You do address other people using the capital of the first letter of their name, I'm just wondering if there's something in your subconscious that is behind you using the lowercase 't'. Or maybe I'm just trying to psychoanalyze something that's not there!

I loved the ending with both boys snuggling together. I couldn't agree more with Parker about Sam being such a great friend to James and Casey. And now that I've reread the chapters, I understand how James' grandfather got the wrong impression of Casey, thinking he's a bad influence on his grandson and forbidding him from seeing Casey. Glad that's all taken care of! lol Keep writing Rusty! I'm looking forward to more.

Ok, I just read the new and improved two chapters where Casey goes to live with the Jim and Carol, thanks to James. I love the way they're all bonding already. My only question is: why is he not visiting James and vice-versa? Obviously James knows the fire caused by the camping stove he lent Casey was an accident, and he did get his bow back that he also lent him. James has been helping Casey since the fire, so why aren't they hanging out together at all?

Renee (or Cia!), this is so funny because just this morning I read a post from The Write Practice stating it was all right to end sentences with prepositions. They did say if the sentence makes perfect sense without the preposition, to leave it out, but otherwise it's fine to use them at the end of sentences. Excellent post Renee and Cia! These Grammar Rodeo posts are my favorite types of posts on here!

I'm so confused! Didn't I read this chapter already? Quite awhile ago? lol Ok, I see you posted another chapter - a new one perhaps?

I was kinda thinking the same thing as CG; why did Kathy take off and start dancing with other people (at least Martin, and who knows who else? She was gone for quite some time)? I would have thought she'd stick by David's side the whole time. At least it gave him a chance to dance with his friends, and with Lanni. She seems so sweet. She's going to be really disappointed when she finds out Twoey bats for the other team. And eventually David too. When David was doing his internal ramblings about his hair being a mess because of the mist and how it's going to look like crap for the dance, I was cracking up! He's so funny! I think it's great that David's stopping by to see Twoey's mom a lot. I'm sure she could use the company also. I wonder when David mentioned Tommy's mother not letting him see Dr. Keating, if he actually said 'Tommy's mother' or 'my mother'. lol You would think being a therapist, she would have picked up on that. I can't believe Twoey has to wait at least another WEEK to even speak! I'm sure his not remembering what happened has to do with his head injury, but I also wonder if his brain is protecting him by using his sort of amnesia about it (for lack of a better word), as a defense mechanism because his brain knows that if remembered everything that happened, it would probably delay his recovery quite a bit. Or bring it to a stop completely. The brain is a very powerful organ, as we all know. Excellent chapter, Skinny! On to the next one!

I love anything by the Glee cast!

Oh, C, I'm so sad I'm gonna cry. I thought the same thing as Val; the narrator says Braden gave him (or left him) a goodbye letter which gave me the impression he broke up with him, but the last sentence suggests that he's no longer living. Either way, it breaks my heart. I would absolutely love to read more about the narrator and Braden and find out what happened to him. Excellent writing, C! You're a natural!

Yay! Ian's blossoming into his old self!! I want to meet his old self! lol I ditto what AC said about the Cosmos; that line had me lol'ing. I think with the 'new old' Ian, Miles will feel so much better not having to reassure him all the time. I'll miss these two, Skinny!

Like your other readers, this story brought me to tears. The title alone says it all. Isabella was a wonderful, insightful person who saw past your appearance. She saw a young man who enjoyed reading, a young man who was much more than a street kid. I think she's smiling down at you, proud of the man you've become. I wish I could have met her and thanked her for being there for you, and encouraging you to write. I think she would be ecstatic knowing what a wonderful writer you've become. You Tim, are an inspiration to us all. =)

Rusty! You're back! I had to reread the last chapter to re-familiarize myself with the story. Jessie is a wonderful mom. She totally made James' sexuality a non--issue, as did his grandfather. Great chapter, Rusty! Looking forward to more!

What a snake that Jackie is!!! Selling the rights to her son for money! Brent is NOTHING like her; he doesn't see himself as having any choice. I don't know, I think taking her to court is a good idea. What jury in the world would give her custody of Matthew? What a bitch!

Ah, that was good! The boy was sorta cocky, but the narrator put him in his place. lol

That poem is so beautiful, Caz, and so appropriate right now. So sad...

Oh, Sacred! Thank you so much for the beautiful dedication. It really made me tear up. You are so sweet to think of Jessie and to dedicate the chapter in her memory. Thank you. Zune is so jealous! He really likes Ed, but he won't admit it, or he doesn't even realize it. Ed has no idea why he's so upset. I'm sure he doesn't even LIKE Alisha that way! lol They really bicker like an old married couple. Interesting about Carol and Michelle -- at least they're getting along now. haha I like Jeremy, but I think he needs to lay off Jake for a while. Jake's still mourning Ron, and all Jeremy's going to do is piss Jake off more. Great chapter, Sacred! I'm looking forward to reading the next one! lol

I know the holidays are the worst time of the year when you're missing a loved one. And this will be your first holiday w/o her. I'm so sorry. I promise you will get through it, and it does get better in time. The first year is always the hardest.

Hey, isn't this the first chapter where David didn't deny having a girlfriend in his head when Gary mentioned he'd be seeing Twoey more than he'd be seeing his girlfriend? He finally didn't think, "She's NOT my girlfriend!" lol I feel for Twoey because he's going to be in a world of hurt (emotionally) when he realizes he's he has nothing concrete to prove David loves him. David needs to try and control his meditation adventures before he has Twoey and he married and living in a house with a white picket fence.

Oh Edward, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Great poem, Skinny! Loved the words, so simple yet so meaningful.

Hmmm, is this Viktor guy Shane's pimp or something? He seems dangerous. I think Jason would be smart to not mess with him. lol I do hope that Shane didn't suffer any brain damage. Now you have to hurry up and write chapter four, Mitchelll!!! I'm on pins and needles here!

I read this one a few times, thinking of different meanings each time. The first time I read it I was thinking of one person seeing the storm brewing in the other person's eyes, but the second time I read it, I thought of the storm and the planets colliding being one thing, and how the planets colliding could mean a kiss. I'll have to read it again. I love poems like this that really make me think because they could be taken so many different ways.

Great poem, Addy! There's no way I could analyze it like AC, so I'm not even going to attempt to. lol I really enjoyed reading it though!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEPHY!!!!!! I hope you had a great day!

What a BITCH! Good riddance to bad rubbish, but then there's Brad Jason will have to deal with. Great chapter, Mitchelll (sorry I forgot the 3rd 'l' in my last review! Or is it Mitche the 3rd?) Looking forward to chapter three!

Awesome start to the story, Mitchell! I really like Jason's inner thoughts; he's a very interesting guy. =) I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes. Ok, on to chapter two. For some reason, the title of the story is running a loop in my mind...Hey Mr. Brightside...