mayday

Thank you and kudos, I will...

I never know when the itch to write will strike next. Sometimes that moment is lost, sometimes I open my book, only to be confronted with the empty page like a wall against which my thoughts turn to dust. Again you have captured moments so poignantly. Thank you! And Micheal's suggestion sounds like a good idea for me, too. Gardening is definitely a great way for me to ground myself...

The cruelty in those three is hard to stand even from the outside. James says it, he has never learned to stand up for himself at home. Dysfunctional family. Thank god he has Evan and he recognises what it means at last. Tough to stomach, but thank you for sharing.

In a way James' mother is much worse than I thought. Prejudice and narrow-mindedness I had expected, but not in such a self-righteous way. The matter-of-fact treatment of her own son as a convenience, a person only when he is useful it is glaring in my face! How can James stand it? Still excuse it? Especially when contrasted with her attitude towards her other son. Evan is right. James should not accept being treated like that. He should stand up for himself. But the time to do so has long passed and though she deserves to be left in the mess she created herself it would be cruel. And we have seen how much James craves to be loved and seen as the man he is. Does she realise that she has never seen what her son has accomplished and how hard he has worked for it? I guess she cannot, otherwise her eyes would see Sam as he is.

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I love tha way they open up to each other in that conversation. Both have come so far. Evan admitting how hard it is for him to manage his life makes his change easier to understand. What a contrast between the two sets of parents! And James' brother, such a person will cause trouble. He has driven James out of the family and he will do anything to keep his inheritance from him. Then Evan will shine. Makes it just harder to wait for the next chapter. Thank you for sharing!

Beautiful descriptions of the landscape and the hidden well. Magic at its best: healing. Beautiful. I am not looking forward to Cianán's farewell.

Without a doubt, somebody loves the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...😄

Which I take to mean that we can look forward to many more chapters... 😊

Great story! Can't wait for your next chapter. Thank you for sharing.

Of course, she can still stir up trouble, especially as she is prone to playing foul, lying and very good at ignoring inconvenient facts. I guess we all see that happening on every level every day. 'Turmoil' suggests more than just getting used to feeling love towards another man. Should Natascha ever find out about Martin's new position and his wealth, she is guaranteed to resort to any means in order to get her hands on as much of it as possible.

Benjamin's mother is the consummate hypocrite. Obviously, she is only interested in receiving the money the father sends regurlarly. Martin acts perfectly relaxed and very circumspectly in her house, managing her with his eyes on his goal: getting Ben's belonging into the car. She does not appear to be really very intelligent or she wouldn't have given her former husband so much ammunition.

After a hopeful beginning unbearable pain. It reads like a breaking point. And I am not fond of cliffhangers.

They are getting closer. And Evan's consistant behaviour is doing James a world of good. He needs that sort of support for his new task. I wonder how he managed to turn around and change so much. What caused it? How could he follow through? People do not like to accept that they have failed...

I guess Kent needs to experience helplessness outside military service to accept help. Help offered in such a selfless way. The brothers give him what he needs. I am glad he is able to allow them in.

The ending is promising. I am relieved for Kent and glad for his new friends. Great story!

A moving and very well-written story about two boys, one shy and one self-confident, great friends. It is about being there for each other, caring for each other, especially when help is needed. And it is about learning about oneself, one's strengths and interest - even when that leads to opposing people we love. Well worth reading and absolutely edifying.

Light and dark are both present in this chapter. Cliffhangers - not my favourite... I love the beautiful scenes between the boys.

Great story to read! Thanks for sharing. I guess that this is the first time Kent really opened up to anyone. A sliver of light coming in through the crack...

I can't remember ever reading scenes which depict PTSD so vividly and close to me... I hope Kent will find a reality worth living for soon. Maybe the relatives will make him face a different sort of battle. But we know one of his strengths is reading a room. He will shine in the end. Not only for his beloved brother.

Thank you, Tony S., for this great story. Not an easy one to read, that's true, but well worth it. What would interest me is how somebody like Stephen was raised. I could not imagine him ever to change in his righteousness. Until Susan stood up to him at the hospital. That he could become humble and change has moved me deeply. That he had no idea what he was doing to Kitt long before he threw him out was obvious. I was also deeply impressed with Kitt, what this sheltered and suppressed teenager managed to survive and with his courage. A great story!

Stephen has come a long way. Matt's elation was a joy to feel. How lucky he is to have parents like his...

What a great chapter! The eye opener at the park, Mateo, the best friend to have, and finally the lake. Their own place. Thank you for sharing!

Mateo is a friend. The best, reliable. Matt is more. There is no competition. It is up to Kitt. And we know who he loves.

True example of mercy, to write a postcard in order to ease the parents' minds. How generous and loving of Kitt. Interestingly, he sends it to his parents, who get that their son's love does not come with conditions. Matt Kitt is sure of. Mateo is a hoot. Gets me back down to earth when tragic memories strike. Has Stephen ever laughed at himself? A B+? What an aberration from the straight and the narrow... Kitt has outgrown his parents. When he returns he will do so out of his free will, not to fulfill an obligation. He will be his own agent. Independent. Free of his parents' stifling expectations. If he hadn't run - would he ever have learned to break free? But what a price to pay? His generosity has rightly shamed Stephen to the core...