Uplifted Spirit

Jaro What a nice comment. It is very thoughtful and full of meaning to me as a writer. I'm glad that my writing affects you in a positive way. I also appreciate that you take the time to write me a personal note on each chapter. Glad to see you're back.

Jaro I don't seem to get very many comments here at the site for some reason, but I did get a number of emails from those who liked the chapter and reacted the way you did. I have found most readers like these chapters over the ones with sex in them. But sometimes you have to provide a little gratuitous sex to keep some readers interested.

Jaro Your bring up a good point about the other characters because I think most everyone is concerned about Matt and Andy, but I like to use them to contrast the different behavior styles of the various characters to show how some people can head in the right direction, some in the wrong, and some bounce back from the brink. Thanks for writing.

Jaro YOu ask a good question. I wonder myself if they will ever get to that place. I think they might, but in the next chapter Andy decides that he can only hope to find someone like Matt, even if it's not Matt.

Jaro Thanks for your nice comments. I did yous second one first so am answering this second. Glad you like the insights Dr. Walker is guiding the boys through. The next chapter is a change a pace for a bit.

Jaro Thanks for your nice comments. I did yous second one first so am answering this second. Glad you like the insights Dr. Walker is guiding the boys through. The next chapter is a change a pace for a bit.

Jaro You're back. Glad to see it. You are right about Walker. I guess he's me. Glad you like him.

Written in Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, Vietnam, March 2015 Knots 4 Chapter 20 Andy I didn't know what Dr. Walker had to say to Matt, but I couldn't wait to corner him to find out. My anger got the best of me because I thought Doc Walker was favoring Matt. But the more I thought about it the more I realized Matt has had the same idea about commitment for a long time and I'm not sure there was much I could expect Dr. Walker to do about it. The other thing that Wal

Written in Hong Kong 2-28-15 If you like this story, please write a review, click like, and follow me. Contact me at eliassctt@gmail.com I answer all emails. Knots 4 Chapter 19 Matt Andy came out of Dr. Walker's office pissed off­ at me for some reason. Said that Walker favored me. That was the first I heard of it or even thought it. Dr. Walker heard him and pulled him back into his office. Andy came out and didn't even look at me. Just walked off. As usua

Sammiam Thanks for your note. Sometimes I have no idea where the next chapter will take Matt and Andy, but I'm in my 70's and maybe I bring a different perspective to things after living so many years. I suppose in a way I just often think people take their commitments too lightly. You'll see in the next chapter that Dr. Walker challenges Andy's thinking. I often wonder if my readers will think I might be full of it, but it's something that has to be discussed. The reader can always make up their own mind. I guess I have just seen too many hearts broken because one or both partners don't keep their commitments which would require some work. I once asked someone how many times I would have to forgive someone for hurting me and the response was you try your best, but you don't want to become a doormat. I think he quoted Jesus' words on turning the other chieek. Then he added, you only have four cheeks (face and ass) I liked that. Glad you liked the chapter. Elias

Welcome from Manila, Philippines. Still managing to write. Thanks for all your support. If you like this story, please write a review, click like, and follow me. Contact me at eliassctt@gmail.com I answer all emails. Knots 4 Chapter 18 Matt The rest of the week after our talk was kinda weird. We hung together as usual, but there wasn’t any of the natural spontaneity we always had. Everyone else at our lunch table noticed it too. Gina didn’t, because she was off

I will be traveling in Asia for the next few weeks so the chapters will be shorter. But I’m committed to writing a chapter a week rather than stopping all together like I did in December and January. So be patient. I’ll be back April 1, 2015 and should then be on a regular schedule for a considerable amount of time. After all, we still have to get Matt and Andy through their junior and senior year in high school. I didn’t have any idea that it was going to take so many chapter or books to d

If you like this story, please write a review, click like, and follow me. Contact me at eliassctt@gmail.com I answer all emails. Knots 4 Chapter 16 Andy I dreaded having to clear things up with Matt mostly because I didn’t want to hear what he had to say. Jason wasn’t a problem, so of course I talked to him as soon as I could on Monday. I waited for him at his locker and a surprised look crossed his face before he gave me a dirty look. “I’m a horse, huh?”

Yeah, pitching a tent in the cold isn't a great idea, but I guess they figure they'll be pretty hot anyway. Glad you liked the chapter. Andy always surprises me with his humor. Glad you like the banter.

Paul, I think you're being funny because it was last year since the last chapter was posted. I'm glad to be back and am more highly motivated now that I'm back.

If you like this story, please write a review, click like, and follow me. Contact me at eliassctt@gmail.com I answer all emails. Knots 4 Chapter 15 Matt Andy and I kind of lost our memories for a bit. Andy did come over my house that night, but it wasn’t until after the football game. We had a football game that night, and he spent the evening hobbling along the sidelines during the game. My loss wasn’t lost (pardon the pun) on Frank Kutcher that afternoon

If you like this story, please write a review, click like, and follow me. Contact me at eliassctt@gmail.com I answer all emails. Knots 4 Chapter 14 Matt I was relieved when the election was over. Yeah, I’d lost, but I was still alive. Congratulating Billy Martin wasn’t nearly as hard as I’d expected. He was a pretty good guy and I thought he’d do a good job. Plus, it was a relief that I didn’t have an extra burden to deal with. Of course, I say that now, but it hu

Paul, thanks for your nice words. It's about time Lisa and I get started again. The break was good for me and I hope it allows me to come back with some creative ideas for Knots. Hope you had a great holiday too. Happy New Year.

I just needed a break after posting for 98 straight weeks. Well, almost that. It's about time to start again. I have to tell you it's hard writing a chapter a week that is worthy of our two characters and our readers. That's why I thought a break would be a good idea.

Jaro, it really makes me feel good that you found this to be a thought provoking chapter. You got the idea about contrasting the boys. I was afraid for a time that I'd backed them into a corner and wasn't going to be able to get them out. But Dr. Walker just happened along in my mind and you're right about what a great job he does in handling the boys' problems.

Jaro, as you probably know by now, I took a few weeks off. This is my first time checking into the site for awhile. I came to check to see when my last post was to determine if a month had gone by yet. Glad you liked the chapter.

Knots 4 Chapter 13 Andy Jason was standing in the hall waiting for me when I rolled into school. He stepped in front of my chair. “Can we talk?” “Depends. Are you going to see Mr. Lynch?” “I don’t think so. I want to keep it between us.” I tried to move my chair around him. “Hey, it’s up to you. You can bring a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” He became a moving target by stepping in front of me whereve

Thank you Scary. That's means a lot. I used to be a coach and that's the kind of speech I hoped I'd have given under the circumstances. A lot of who I am is in this story.

I like Matt's change of attitude too. He has a long way to go to return to where he was. But of course he can never do that no matter what he does. Like he said a few times, "You can't unring a bell." Randy is on dangerous ground, but there are kids like Randy in the world and there are kids that sell themselves when they're in high school. There was a big scandal in the town I used to live in where teenagers were all going to these wild parties that this pedohpile was giving at his house. All kinds of things were going on. The adult was arrested, posted bail, and then flew to another country. He had a lot of money like Noland.

Knots 4 Chapter 12 Andy I met Matt as he came out of Dr. Walker’s office. “How’d it go?” “Great. Seems like we’re making progress." “Good to see you got in the game Friday. Kutcher’s ass is going to be grass.” Matt smiled. “Yeah, crabgrass.” We high-fived. “By the way, thanks for telling me what Dr. Walker told you about doing your best for the week. He apologized for not telling me. I actually think I did my best for