mayday

I see that my irony markers don't work in English... have to brush up on them... Your cliff hangers are legendary, my friend, but here the suspense goes far deeper - at least for me...

Jubal's forgetting about his horse says a lot. I get the feeling that Reid and the doc know more than they let on and they are ok with it. Now we will have to wait for Lucas to make it and for both men to acknowledge their feelings. Piece of cake...

You are making us wait for the encounter - great suspense.

Thank you for not making us wait one more week for the next chapter. It was good to read this again.

Lots of different atmosphere in this one. Beautiful again. And maybe we all wonder what we have not been told yet...

Great chapter. Nice to see that the three guys have some people in their corner. In the first chapters Brian seemed somewhat isolated. I hope the two men will find alone time with each other.

This story is getting better and better. Thanks for sharing it with us. I like Toby asking for what he wants and wishes for. He must have had not many chances at home to do that...

Brian can be grateful to Davey for pointing out that he is only marginally better than the wife he complains about... But I am glad that they are together now and that things are moving along nicely. Now I only hope that Toby won't be in for a terrible time...

I like how you develop the characters. Good reading. Great beginning to a promising story.

Lots to love about this chapter. Promising ending, too. I like how comfortable they have become with each other.

Tears can be good, Gary, as you know. I am struggling to write what I want to say. Blaming it on Covid is so easy.... I think that our two men were very brave to face that horrible past and the present at the same time. But at least, they knew - even be it on a very superficial level - what happened to their beloved, where and when. They even could find the place, go there and grieve. I am thinking of all those, whose loved ones are killed without any traces, names, recognition. On battlefields, in interrogation chambers, wherever...I cannot find a parallel in history that fits perfectly. But I do remember this poem, I guess the labels are interchangeable : First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me

Beautiful story, in spite of all those hankies I needed. Hopeful and sweet ending. What a difference to the sombre and desperate mood in the beginning. I like the two moments in which Woodrow shrinks back - bears and bikers. Then reality takes over. What a great way to remember - all the symbolism of what he brought and shared. I feel sure that without sharing the day might not have had that cleansing effect, even without their evolving mutual attraction.

Loved this chapter. Comments above are spot on, Eric communicates here, somehow less cautiously, less reluctantly. Is he more open or is that just my imagination?

about new stories... I remember that Morningstar might deserve a sequel... 😊

Beautiful ending to a great story. A lot of beautiful details, I do not know why the soap stands out for me or the holes in the walls years ago, the sandy beach ... The only reason for regret at a final chapter is that your story has come to its end. Thank you for sharing it with us.

of course you are!

I am not happy with you for stopping right in the middle of this conversation...

He has not learned to read and write??? And his brother was at uni?

I have enjoyed nearly all the chapters so far. What a journey for Karl! From a small farm into a city. From a sheltered existence into the unknown. When will he think about writing home to his parents or his siblings? He has been lucky to land in such a nice, humane and helpful family....

Great chapter, lovely read, and I love the name of the filly! Like a present for us...

It is not easy to read about Felicity's terror. Especially when I think about the hints and all that is not told.

I'm glad for them that they can now be so open with each other. It is not easy to trust, even if you want to, after misunderstandings and such a hurtful history between the two. Beautiful scene at the beginning, too. Thanks my friend!

I love how you have given us this revelation. I will admit that I actually suspected this diagnosis or something like it, but it is not easy to relate such conversations and the effect they have on the patients. Expecting the worst distorts our perceptions and reasoning but Mitch is lucky in his doctor, having found one he felt more and more confidence in, one he can and does trust. And he is strong enough to take such a punch and see it for what it is - an assurance that he has a future and the chance of a long one. Now of course we want to know what he is going to do with his new chance. Coy might have an idea or two for him... Thank you for this new chapter!

I don't think I have ever been so happy and relieved to read that somebody orders pizza... Incredible, how Eric has been evolving - not sure that's the right word... and he has something like a network now to help him. And although I am pleased that so many people care about others and help, I would expect the state itself to look after its people, especially the vulnerable ones. Hopelessly idealistic - I know. And the same goes for that boy, who definitely needs help as much as Eric has done, perhaps more so. Though in totally different ways.

Lots of different story lines now. More than one disaster to untangle. I also wonder about Tyler's sisters. Will they have a chance to get out of this hell of poverty, violence and hopelessness? How can kids like Tyler be saved from such a self-feeding cycle of neglect and abuse before they start themselves - like he has done - on taking out their powerlessness on things first and people later. A bully he is already. I am struck by how vivid you paint these scenes of vain hope for support from his father, the only anchor he seems to have and the one that is bound to disappoint him bitterly. And the terrible situation at home. Somehow Eric will be in the middle of the crisis of a completely different family - what role will he play? How will the destruction waged on his garden and house affect him? I am relieved that he has trustworthy neighbours now. Interestingly the supercurious lady with the lapdog has disappeared. Not that she would be much help anyway, I guess...