Kev

Ok, you have me... I like historical tales.

Loved the story and it is a shame everything has to come to an end... Can we have a spin off??? May Pat Williams and the life that he makes for himself. It would be, so good to see him succeed in life and find love with Bubba or Curly.

what can I add... Great chapter, next time can you remind me in advance because I missed the ship this time. These kids finally belong so they will always come home to Sanctuary and to Brad their loving Dad. The others are around, but it Brad that's the catalyst to getting these kid safe and they all know it.

I could kiss Brad ! ! ! ! ! That bitch at the prison (is that what we can call it???) was a bitch from hell. I just hope the ladies in prison when she gets there treat her real nice and make her their bitch (even that is too good for someone like her!) Good to hear that the gang of four has grown, I think they will be the ones that take over Brad's work when he is no longer able. Maybe Bubba could be the next judge, married to Pat and looking after all of their hundreds of kids. The future looks good for them and for the new kids now that they are out of that awful hell hole. Absolutely agree with the above... Totally addicted and loving your stories... Thank you

You actually got me thinking in that one (I know it was painful - not done very often). Seriously, I had never considered there could he kids that had never seen fireworks before. We just took it for granted; on bonfire night you either went to a community display or you parents had their own bonfire in the back garden with fireworks. Those were the times I remember most; wrapping potatoes in foil and putting them on the fire... London Light matches ... toffee apples ... sparklers ... jumping jacks thrown at your aunties feet to make her jump when they started cracking away ... Hot tomato soup ... Treacle toffee. Why is it food is always associated with something like that? In England when we were kids fireworks were only allowed November 5th, Guy Fawkes night. We never had them at new years, or any other celebration as far as I remember they were illegal on any other night. Loved the chapter as usual. Worried about the impact that the other site is going to have on Brad. If the kids are in a bad way over there he is bound to take things into his own hands to help them!

None of the below was written by me, but a little research and you have the following info on Santa... Santa Claus / Father Christmas roots drawn from the real-life 4th century Saint Nicholas of Myra ... Father Christmas first appeared during the ancient British mid-winter festivals though not called Father Christmas he was the pagan bringer of spring... Saxon rule = He became King Frost who visited people’s homes during the holidays and with presents for the good ... Vikings rule = He became and older man with a white beard / long blue hooded cloak and an eight-legged horse who travelled all over the world from the 20th to 31st of December giving presents to good but now punishments to the bad ... Normans combined Saint Nicholas into their Christmas traditions and Father Christmas or Father Noel was born... Victorians revived his character when it was believed he delivered the Christmas Spirit and encouraged those around him to eat, drink and be merry at Christmas. Americans have own version of Father Christmas called Santa Claus or Kris Kringle... Dutch and Germans and Brits all of the settlers brought their traditions to the new land and St. Nicholas was over there but it was the 19th century works of Clement Clarke Moor that saw the creation of 'Santa Claus' - described as a big-bellied, jolly old man that dons a white beard and a red and white coat - Traveling from the North Pole in his sleigh powered by 8 reindeer - Carrying gifts for all the good boys and girls of the world (all made by Santa’s helpers). I always thought his clothes had originally been green and white in the tales passed down, but early 20th century they changed when a certain drinks company introduced advertising using the red and white colours of the product. Thus the man we know today was born. Couldn't resist that ... Love present opening and the fact that even the dog got one. Beginning to think that the captain is a real addition to the teams... Great chapter 🎅🤶🦌

I noticed the repeat as well, figured the chapter was so good that they wanted us to read it twice so that we knew what to get the kids for Christmas. Us brits have had some weird gifts in the past. My Christmas as a kid included a stocking at the end of my bed that was usually a pillow case full of stuff for school... Exciting things like a new bag, books, pencils, pens and a new uniform (usually because I had outgrown the one that made me wear for the last two years). When mum died it changed and my brothers got nice presents, mine sank lower than ever and were usually the stuff my brothers didn't need anymore. Christmas to me was singing in the choir on midnight mass, opening one present when we got home and then being back at the choir for the morning services at 8:30... Attended church all my life but nothing is like singing carols at Christmas.

Good to see Mario getting married, but I think the best part was the joy the kids must have felt being able to be part of a thanksgiving probably for the first time. I would love to be able to be on that ship, it sounds so cool. Made me think about the kids that are still on the street that Brad hasn't reached though... not for long because then the food entered my head and I had to get a snack. This world is going to hell at the moment... we need more like Brad and his staff, maybe then the world will become a better place and we will start to overcome this plague we're living through. Instead we get covidiots saying they don't believe and making it worse for everyone.

Must admit that I felt like clouting the clown for hurting the kid, until he got a larger portion of course. Only ever been to one circus and that was at the Blackpool Tower when we were kids; done plenty of acting and fooling around in am-dram but sitting a watching is different. Mario is a lucky guy... I'd get married just to get the free honeymoon, so that the better half would think that I'd spent a fortune on her 😇

“I thought it was a great time, and the ship was the cherry on top of the ice cream.” What a transformation, It’s a cruise liner now. I heard the kids talking about it, saying that they have gone through hell, but they were in heaven now.” Couldn't help but copy and paste those two quotes here as it says it far than I ever could... Cherry on top of the ice cream... in heaven now... Never been through what these boys have been through but it must seem like that to them most of the time, especially with Dad Brad there with them all the way. Even I enjoyed that holiday. Never been fishing, so I was up there and the boys were showing me what to do... My fish was the biggest of course 🤪🥰🤣

Loving the ship and loving the captain and crew... Thought he was taking Pat on the voyage to collect it though? Take it since the weeks have hurried on and the Brit wasn't mentioned again that he settled in, so please because us brits are good guys really 😁

Love this chapter as usual, but for some reason all the way through it I felt that this BRIT was some sort of plant. There to spy on the place, when he left it was as if he left to meet a contact and report in. I hope I'm wrong because I resemble a BRIT and I would hate him to be a nasty🤬

I see what you mean about it being a totally different ship now... Just the thought of what it was like down there had tears rolling down my face. Brad / Dad is one hell of a special guy, I hope it works out for the BRIT that's coming over... Who knows we may be related. One thing is for sure the problem of homeless kids exists everywhere; it breaks my heart when you see the streets of the city, like London, and there are kids sleeping in doorways. This world needs more Brads. Loving this story, thank you for sharing.

Hey, I have my case packed and ready move in right next to the captain. Just sort out the contract and let me sign it and I'm on the staff... Love the idea of involving other children as well.

Okay, I now want to work on the ship permanently once its all complete. Dad seems to have a real vision and it will be totally awesome when the kids finally get to it. Oops the kids are getting to me, I mean Brad... So glad that Tony is fulltime now with Brad as they make a good couple, even if they aren't officially... On / off I wonder which one would win now he knows the kids love Tony just as much.

I think that I'd love to have a dad like Brad's, he always seems to have his back and sorts things out before they become a problem. mind you them two hunky policemen would be nice if they swung both ways and wanted to play with a Brit. No no no! do not tell be they are fat and ugly, I just will not let you spoil my vision of two muscly guys standing there in the food queue in nice tight fitting uniforms. Pat seems to be coping and the fact that he knows Brad loves him and would adopt him had there only been the two of them seems to have been enough for now to build his self esteem and make him a different person. He'll always be there for Brad, just as it seems will Bubba and Curly. Loving it !!!! Ps:- Sleep well America tonight, even this Brit sat and watched the inauguration of President Biden this afternoon ... since my family hail from Ireland, who knows I may even be a relative. Just think Kev in the White House.

I hate it when I have tears rolling down my face... It felt like I was Pat at the end of the chapter. I could really feel how he felt. I agree with the comment about, sell the boat and use the funds to buy a new one. That boat will always remind them of what it did. No matter how you scrub a turd it will always be a turd and nothing can change that. Let the kids have something that really makes them feel special, especially Pat (I think I falling for that one and I'll adopt him myself).

Love these guys... but did anyone notice that Bubba left with Sandy and a warning to stay on the grounds. Worried that something is going to happen to him would have been happier if we'd known he got back safely. Pat still has my heart and now Curly is stepping into it as well. Really glad that Brad has his dad in his corner, that preacher man could have caused trouble. That will teach him to put himself in the ring against Brad's dad. Breaking news - Preacher = Big fat ZERO... Brad's Dad = Ten million. Oh yes, now those are results I love.

I want a dad like Brad... I remember the year my mum passed away... I was 12, one evening as I opened the door to welcome a visitor I collapsed screaming in agony. Dad was just going to leave me, telling the neighbour that since mum died I just liked attention. She called an ambulance and stayed with me all evening. I was in there for 4 days with suspected appendicitis and dad never once visited me. The neighbour visited everyday and a little nurse from China was still calling me on the phone to chat years later when I lived in Scotland. All dad said was, "Never needed an operation, so couldn't have been that bad."... The nurse showed me the result on my chart before I went home... basically every gland in my body had been swollen and they still did not know why the doctors put it down to stress. All I can remember is that it was ruddy well painful. I had often wondered what it would have been like to have a dad there with me when they were prodding me with needles and doing all of the tests, reading the above chapter made me, in some measure know. Years later I still hate needles and remember the vision of all of the machines and needles as the different doctor prodded here, pounded there, tapped this muscle or squeezed that gland and then if in doubt jabbed me with another needle. So glad Pat is getting better... Wondered I think it was in the last chapter if all was well as you made a comment then about his not seeming right.

What can I say that has not already been said? So, so proud of Brad..... The Guv'nor needs to be a nice guy as it'll give Brad the friend that he needs to get this up and running in all of the other states. The Guv'nor sounds like the type of go to man... You know you go to him when you need something done. With Tony and now the Guv'nor Brad has all of the go to men that he needs to succeesd.... Loving it mate Loving it 🥰

Why? Why? Why? Let me at 'em! I want to be there to stand with Brad and the boys against these bastards! Oops, sorry mother told me to stop swearing and I never did... Too late now Get the island sorted and get the kids over there to protect them from these bastards. It would break Brad if they managed to get someone like Pat out of the place and he disappeared.

These guys must really be desperate falling into the sting like they did. Mind you if I lost that much money I think I'd be pretty pissed as well. Please sir can I have a daddy like that? As I said only thing mine ever gave me was a set of towels... Either Brad or his dad, honest I'm not fussed they both would be better than I ever had. I may be gay but at one time I was married and have a kid... first thing that ever went through my mind when I held him was that there was no way I was going to be like my own father. Yet again loving the story, and please sir ... I want more

Good to know that Jeff is moving on and getting his life on track. If Brad has a spare car, I could do with one at the moment but hey what's new? glad the boy that had lost the will has found his purpose again as I was really upset that he was like that. Strange, as you read you writing you can see these kids... You can see the warehouse and how Brad shaped and developed it. Its like it has taken on a life of its own... So pleased... Many times you find somewhere in life where you feel you belong, don't think that I ever did which is why I turned into a bit of a gypsy... Brad has found his reason for being and has the ability to pull people along for the journey.... Loving it.

I was grew up in Yorkshire... Then I became a bit of a gypsy and lived pretty much all over the country working. Favourite place has to be Cambridge as I swear I met a ghost there in one of the churches. Loved Nottingham as I used to ice skate there every weekend.

You are welcome to pop over anytime for a cuppa... bit cold up here in the north at the moment and we are in lockdown... Get Brad to offer that job soon as I am going off my head here in lockdown and living on what the furlough pays... Can't complain others have it far worse and so far both me and my man have avoided anything but a cold. 🤓😷 Just wish everyone took it seriously, maybe then the future could start looking up.