sojourn

That is true. I noticed you have been quiet for some time. Perhaps that will change when Jeff and Paul are again in the spotlight. I know that the "Gay US Carnival in Texas" is to be held in April (I just checked the calendar and decided it would be held the weekend of the 13,14 and 15th of April.) That's Jeff's baby and I can assure you he and Paul will be front and center for that. I can feel a lot of angst building around that. The story possibilities are almost limitless. The good news is, I have decided that the storyline will advance at a faster rate than the glacier pace that proceeding chapters reflected. I write only one chapter at a time. There is no storyboard nor plot line. I have made a list of characters and their descriptions for this story. That was a first for me. I am taunted by the idea of taking the Adams family back to their Texas roots, once this story has reached a satisfactory stopping point. Believe me, it could be a nightmare for someone like me who relies so much on memory. Before that happens there are still in my mind babies and drug lords and treachery. All my stories end in a "happily for now". My other stories were and occasionally still are fairly well received and they were written the same way. I can say that first Raymond and now Daniel has provided significant opportunities to develop their stories with some, I want to say, "drama"? Keep in mind, that this, almost a quarter or a million words started out as a single chapter 5,487 word story. Chapter one is still a stand-alone story and not a bad one, IMHO. My original plan for Jeff was Paul. No burning house, no kidnapping, no killing, no Chicago, and no wedding for anyone. But, I started on chapter two and well... Perhaps I should have separated the two couples into two different stories. But, I only write how I write. I have no training, I had never written more than a book report in the sixth grade before I started posting "Gordy comes Home". Of the four levels of English classes available at my high school for the four years I attended, I was consistently in the lower two levels. In my senior year, my English class was focused on living alone as adults, paying rent, cooking meals, laundry, etc. In retrospect, it was more like the old "Home Economics" classes. Today, Nathan literally taught me "two spaces follow the end of a sentence." I still don't know, for sure, the correct relative position of punctuation and quotation marks. I understand your disappointment. Actually, I accept your comment as a challenge to move Jeff and Paul back into the spotlight. While I recognize the complaint as such, your comment, at the same time, made me feel a little bit flattered. I mean, someone is complaining about some decision I made on a story that I actually wrote. I'm sure you think that was sarcasm. But, trust me, it wasn't. I enjoy writing this story and will continue to do so as long as people comment or email me and encourage me to do so. Thank you for posting again after so long. Jim

I am not sure of your age. But, James Garner comes to mind. "Support your Local Sheriff"? Good to hear from you. Thanks.

ATTENTION READERS: The last chapter and this one were originally one. I cut them down due to length. In doing so, I left out of the previous chapter what I consider an informative passage. I have already edited the previous chapter to reflect the updated content. For the convenience of those who have already read the last chapter, I have decided to include the previously excluded passage at the beginning of this chapter. You will note that I’ve included pertinent passages before and after the n

Sorry about that. Like I said the final version of the next chapter is already in the hands of Nathan, my editor. I am really pleased with how it turned out, even with the butchering of dividing the chapter. The original had over 12,000 words. I never intended to post this chapter as it was. But, apparently, if you save a chapter, even with deselecting "Post immediately, " it still posts immediately. I had 10 viewers before I could turn around. It was too late then. I hope the next chapter makes up for it. Thanks for your comments. Jim

I will accept "ruthless and distant, but he was always one of the smartest minds in the room" as a very accurate summation of Gram. The Adams family is smart enough to realize Gram's true loyalties, at every level, are only to Gram. I wonder if such a character can attach himself to anyone or anything for other than self-serving motivations? Thanks for posting an excellent summation of Gram. Jim

Like some of your previous comments, you've hit the nail on the head. Gram can accomplish things that the Adams family might actually refuse to do or "allow" him to do out of a sense of decency. While Ilya is dedicated and capable of using deadly force in defense of and maybe even in preemptive defense of the family, Gram is just as subtle and whose involvement is just as difficult to detect, but with less physical violence. The "good" Adams family needs a sophisticated, election-savvy, unscrupulous "bad" guy that compliments but not conflicts with the not so, "ugly" Ilya. Adding Gram gives us our own version of a spaghetti western. Thanks for posting your comments. Jim Jim

By George! I think you've got it! Thanks for posting a most insightful comment. Jim PS, I have already sent the edit link to Nathan.

I can see a lot of grief until I post next chapter which is already written and was all one 12000 word chapter that I butchered. I get it posted soon. Jim

I apologize. It was this or a single chapter with more than 12000 words. This one is significantly shorter than the next, but I had to chop it somewhere. I hope posting it within 48 hours will make up for it. Jim

He's slimy. But, you gotta give him credit, he knows it and doesn't care if you know it too. Thanks for commenting. Jim

It was now a couple of weeks into the new year. The investigation instigated by the video of the now dead sheriff, planting evidence, had led to a massive investigation to determine the extent of his unethical and illegal activities. That investigation had pretty much wrapped up. Most of the senior investigative staff had cleared out. The Attorney General’s office had released a statement that there was a team, now headquartered in Austin, focused solely on the “still, ongoing investigation”

I was kind of surprised myself that he chose to run as an openly gay man. Still, Dallas has had a lesbian Sheriff that is, hopefully, about to be governor. Like Daniel said, "Things change." Thank you for posting your comments. Jim

As you may well imagine, I looked forward to reading another comment on this particular chapter with some trepidation. It was a real pleasure to read such a well thought out, articulate, and intelligent comment. Especially since it was so supportive. Not blatantly supportive of my views but more of my right to freely express those views. Consider how friendly and receptive this group of readers normally are. They are more restrained in their expressions than emailing readers from my same postings on Nifty. I can't imagine the reactions this chapter would get from a group of straight, right-wing, born-again, moral-majority, and dare I say, homophobic trumpeters. (Warning: the remainder may prove, long, pointless and boring.) My first story was inspired by the pain of personal loss. As I was recently reading it again, it moved me. When I finished it, I was truly proud that I had created that story. I know my work is not really noteworthy when compared to mainstream fiction. Hell, I rank myself barely above average on the "Nifty'll post anything" scale of erotic gay fiction. The conviction that I could turn out better stories than most of those found on Nifty is what inspired me to post in the first place. Now, for this story: The story was fairly well received and had a decent following. I had written a well thought out explanation for Paul to explain to his five-year-old child why people believe and teach their children to believe in the myth that is Santa Claus. Personally, I believe it is wrong for so many reasons. Back to my point, someone whose opinion I respected insisted that I not "rob a five-year-old". I capitulated, and rewrote the entire scene and even provided a "Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus" moment. Readers loved it. But, I was bothered. Bothered that it was incongruent with my real feelings and more importantly incongruent with what I thought my characters feeling were regarding this particular subject. I had supported a belief in fiction, through the eyes of my principal characters, to which I had long been opposed. The praise and positive comments seemed hollow. Eventually, I would decide to write what "I" felt my characters might actually feel regarding any subject or action that came up. Hence, this chapter. While I may never write a story I feel is as good about as my first, I want at least not to be embarrassed by what I post. Thanks for commenting. Jim

Wow! Thanks. I am back and looking forward to making real progress on the story. Thanks for posting your thoughts. Jim

Thanks,I knew about the name change ever since I learned about the name change when I wanted Uncle Joe to be super pissed at the "finger snap". Even now, I wonder if Daniel has a chance? I am sure that subconcioulsly, I knew Daniel would insist on coming out. But, I didn't know for sure until he said he told us he had something talk to the familly about. I envy those who have story boards and plan months ahead with plots, subplots, and new characttes. To me, it's almost as knew as is with my readers. Now, I just have to figure out how to get an openly gay man elected County Sheriff in Texas. Yesterday, someone in the pit used Texas as an example of large scale anti-gay sentiment. It just now occured to me that Daniel's Election will be just as advertizement for "Gay Us Carnival in Texas" will peak. I have set myself up to face the perfect storm in a dingy. Oh, Crap! Thanks, Jim

Thank you. That made me smile, big time. I always look for ward to your comments. Jim

When I write a chapter like this, with lots of dialogue and interaction and in which there is no sex and no action I do it with a little trepidation on how it will be received. So thanks, I'll take that as encouragement. And thanks for your comments, you know they are always appreciated. Jim

So glad, I try to instill humor when I can. Thanks for commenting. Jim

Without appearing mentally unstable (more than I usually do.) Like Raymond, I wanted to talk Daniel out of coming out. He insisted. I had not planned on his coming out before the election. I thought he will do a great job for a few months and people will get used to it and he will be re-elected when this term is up. When I first said Daniel had something he wanted to talk to the family about, was the first I knew about his coming out. Even then, I thought cooler heads will prevail. You see how that went. Now, like Uncle Joe, I have to figure out how to get him elected or how to help him survive the defeat. In reality, I urge extreme caution if one considers coming out. Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting. Jim

By the time Raymond and Daniel arrived, Jeff and Paul already had drinks in hand and Maria was holding court in Jeff’s lap. She jumped down and immediately ran to Raymond. “Uncle Raymond!” Jeff laughed out loud when he saw Maria’s leap into Raymond’s arms. She unknowingly engaged unintended parts of Raymond’s anatomy. Jeff felt the sympathy pain any man feels when he sees another man take a hit to his balls. He also felt just a little guilty at his finding his brother’s pain a source of humor. I

I stopped reading after JJ finished relating his talk with Carullo. I stopped reading because fellow readers, I need help. I am worried because I am beginning to LIKE JJ! This world has gone crazy! I actually find myself rooting for JJ and anxiously awaiting further developments. Maybe the world isn't crazy... Maybe Mark has gone crazy? Maybe JJ is growing up? Now back for the rest of the chapter. Finished. I thought Ramon was a goner, as in terminated, when Brad noted his relaxed state and then the man went to face the enemy... I guess we'll see. Write faster. Post sooner.

I like the counter-protesters.I like the way the story is developing. In most cases, we learn about our significant others through the almost constant, casual observations made over time. It takes courage to divulge something that threatens to end your relationship. I have had that experience and as Mike felt, I too felt it was too important to hide any longer and consequences be damned. I had to get it off my chest. It was not an easy decision to make, but, like Mike, it was received with patience and understanding and resulted in, I think, a stronger bond. Thanks for the memory and thanks for sharing your talent. Write faster. Post sooner. Jim

Well, if you can't find redundancy, that means you are getting more comfortable with the characters and the plot direction so that you fill in some parts. Something I do a lot when reading a good story. So I choose to take that as a compliment. Next chapter coming late today or early tomorrow. Thanks again for posting your comments. Jim

With Eric being a pop music star, you'd think he'd have stalker issues like all the "straight""ones do. Instead he has physcho sicko in laws. Sometimes life just ain't fair. Looking forward to a couple of Jewish tough guys kickin some redneck ass when Manny calls them "kikes". Than ankly bracelet won't be the only thing keeping him inside the house. Will he go to jail if he leaves to go to the emergency room? One can only hope. Thanks for sharing. Write faster. Post sooner. Jim

Relax you are likely not precognizant or even experiencing dejavue. I have written 218,534 words to tell this story. I am sure I have revisited some settings and details. I have no problem with having done that. I assure you some of it is intentional and was researched for that purpose. Real people sometimes repeat things they have already told you. A very real concern I have is that I may write some glaring disparity in details or individual characteristics or incongruous actions that might make enjoying further reading of my tale impossible for someone. I can tolerate someone leaving because they were offended. And sometimes people just stop reading a story. I know I do. I just hate to think my ineptitude caused them to quit reading it. While on my hiatus, I again edited the 38 chapters and made a list of characters. I have never used a story board or any aid other than memory. I begin each chapter with some idea as to what some character wants to say or accomplish or action I wish to have occur. Sex is pretty much extemporaneous. For the next chapter I have a vague sense of the adults sitting around before dinner. My gut feeling is that the end result will be a commitment to each member of the family and a commitment to better serve and build the community in which they live. Be warned, there are drug lords and human traffickers in future chapters. But, first a wedding and a couple of elections. Thanks for keeping me honest and for commenting. Jim