Dodger

To hell with my reputation, whatever you're feeding that cat, I need to get myself some!

No colds for me this winter either. I'm so crammed full of vitamin D, C, B, and omega 3 common cold germs don't stand a chance. I'm flatlining on immune-boosting health supplements!

Oops! I fear I've foozled a few things in the past.

This was an outstanding chapter and superbly written. It captures the mood perfectly. I was there with Randy sharing his anxiety, fears, and self-doubt. Worrying over how she was going to react, but at the same time encouraging him to take the next step. At the end, I was crying with him, relieved that this enormous moment in his life had worked out so well and proud of his courage. I'm sure Ryan will be too. It must be difficult for anyone who hasn't been in that position to understand how scary it is to come out to your parent/s. Randy is fortunate to have a mom who loves him and understands that this isn't a reason to be ashamed. I was impressed by her response; it's not an easy moment for parents either, but when it really mattered, she did everything right. She truly nailed it. A lesson in good parenting.

Interesting. This one caught me out too.

I've also been accused of being finicky. It causes problems because I expect people around me to be the same way. This is why I have to live alone.

I spent much of my childhood living in Bermondsey; an area of London featured in Charles Dickens' novel “Oliver Twist.” We lived at Dockhead, next to Jacob's Street (Jacob's Island in the book). In Chapter 50, Dickens wrote, "To reach this place, the visitor has to penetrate through a maze of close, narrow, and muddy streets, thronged by the roughest and poorest of waterside people.' Thankfully, it wasn't that bad when I lived there, but many of the narrow cobbled streets were preserved and the area still had a very Dickensian feel to it. I saw myself as more of an Artful Dodger than an Oliver Twist, so my username was never in doubt.

Thanks, @Comicality for another great article. I can relate to so much of this, and my mom really does have a picture of me as a kid holding a frog.

If it's anything like Canada Post then you may be waiting quite a while for a reply. However, I'm sure Elon Musk has better things to do with his money than fund my screwing around, not that I do much of that kind of thing. My adventures are mostly consigned to my laptop. Thank you, @mg777, as always, for your kind comments.

Thank you, @James B.. This is a worthy point. The ending may not be to everyone's satisfaction.

Thank you, @Old possum, for taking an interest in the story (binging is allowed and encouraged} and for commenting. However, you are wrong to say your opinion isn't worth much. Your comment is worth a great deal to me and you should not underestimate it's importance. Reader's comments, good or bad, have been the driving force behind this story. They have provided me with the motivation I needed to continue as well as a voice of reason whenever Robbie has threatened to veer too far from reality. I hope you continue to enjoy the story.

In that case @Myr you have enough words for the next 60+ years at one a day.

This is a great feature @Myr. It's often the first thing I look for when I log on, but finding a new and interesting word every day is not a task I envy. Perhaps twice a week would be better.

Water with a little help from gravity, will find its way through almost anything. That drip was driving me crazy. I did more damage than good and my wrench was the wrong size. The plumber had a much bigger one and he knew how to use it!

I've done a few jobs around the house and plumbing is definitely the most frustrating. I had similar problems with a leaky pipe. In the end I decided to call out a local plumber and I never looked back. It's all about having the right tools for the job.

Hi Gary and all my friends on COTT. Just stopped by to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays and a healthy New Year. It's been a white Christmas here in Southern Ontario, which contrary to popular belief isn't always the case. It makes this town look pretty but not when it's still here in March! Like everyone else, I'm hoping and praying for a better year ahead. I can't see it yet, but I'm told there's a light at the end of this very long tunnel that's worth reaching.

I love this article. Dialogue is hugely important to me when reading or writing fiction. When it's poor it's like watching bad actors stumbling their way through an otherwise plausible script. It becomes unbelievable and the connection to the viewer or reader is lost. This is usually the point where I stop reading or switch channels, no matter how decent the story line. A writer needs to take on the character of the person who's talking, almost in the same way as an actor, and unless you're writing about yourself, it's not easy. This is where a good beta reader can be a useful addition to your team. I'm enjoying reading these articles again. It was a good idea to re-post them.

I thought Nadir was a tennis player.

Thanks, Tony. I would have been so upset if I hadn't been able to post something for Christmas. I liked that line too. One of Robbie's more bizarre quotes. Let's hope that next year is a lot better than this one. You're right there will be a few loose ends, which will leave things open for a possible sequel.

Yeah, it has been a fun ride. I've enjoyed it too, even if it has been a little stressful at times. I've learned a lot from writing this story.

Than you, @BoyLove for reading the story and for your enthusiasm. This story isn't finished yet though. A lot can happen in six chapters.

Thank you, @Shaggy_93. Happy Christmas to you.

Thanks, @chris191070. It could be someone from the church but how would they know Robbie was there? The Church and The Tradesman is being re-vamped posted from the beginning in the spring. Happy Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Steve. You're quite close. I will try to answer some of your questions. As the narrator, Robbie says "I told Nathan about the man in the car and about Mr Symmonds." He was also talking to Nathan;s parents at the time, and although we don't know for sure what he told him, it's likely he would have mentioned about the photographs. There was no reason for him not to, unless he forgot. Robbie also mentions that he thought Nathan's parents were deliberately playing down the incident to protect their son, and this is a big clue. The guy in the car wasn't targeting Robbie because no one knew he was there, and it's unlikely that he was just a random weirdo who just happened to park opposite their house. The chances are he was there to spy on Nathan or to intimidate him or the family in some way. Liz and Morgan know this and were probably trying to dismiss it so as not to scare their son. Liz showed her concern at the end when she refused to allow Robbie to go home. There's a lot going on and poor Robbie is oblivious to most of it. He's got his own problems to keep busy, like Don and Mr Symmonds and all he wants to do is look after his sweetheart. Oh, yeah, the police. Well, you answered your own question there. Robbie doesn't trust the local police any more than he trusts Mr Symmonds. He knows they will report everything back to Don. I think he probably felt safer with the stalker. You certainly keep me on my toes, Steve, but I love your interest. Have a good Christmas.

Thanks, @Butcher56. Robbie enjoys caring for Nathan and isn't put off by some of the more unpleasant tasks. It's not something you would expect from a teenager and this won't be lost on Nathan. I'm glad your son is home and I hope you both have an enjoyable Christmas.