Uplifted Spirit

I'll have to admit Jaro that I loved this chapter too. I think I might have actually cried myself while writing it. The thing in life as you know, is that it's like a roller coaster ride with its ups and downs twists and turns. So these boys not only have the stresses of growing up, but all the stresses from their sex drives and being pulled in so many directions. Andy did get insight. He hooked up with Dillon when down deep he knew something was wrong. Be he needed love so badly, he ignored all the signs, including Dillon calling out Matt's name during sex. We all want to be loved. But each of us will do different things to have it. I like the idea that to be loved, you have to be lovable. But it seems like a lot of girls love the bad boys. It's probably true of gay guys too, but I'm really not sure about that. Thomas and Matt don't like the bad boys and I don't think Andy does either. Randy, Kyle and that bunch sure do.

Hey, some people just love sex. What can we say. We have teenagers with wild hormones in the prime of their lives and things happen. Knots get tied and they do things we wish they wouldn't. But you haven't seen nothing yet. Well, I guess you have because you are way ahead of me. It's hard keeping up with your reviews, but I'd rather play catch up than not have them to respond too.

Sorry about giving things away. But I'm hoping you still enjoyed the next chapter. I didn't give that much away did I?

I was moved to the Varsity when I was a sophomore (2nd year in high school) and started so it isn't unusual for Matt to have a chance to play. Of course it helped that Dillon was out of the way.

Junior varsity is usually made up of freshman and sophomores who are between 14 and 15. The Varsity are juniors and seniors who are between the ages of 16 and 18. Our high schools are four years. I loved The Picture of Dorian Gray and I liked the idea of having a story within a story so decided to take a stab at it. I rented The Importance of Being Ernest on Netflix and it is very funny.

Well, I like to throw in a quote that doesn't always go the way to expect. I guess you'd have to call it a negative quote. It's kind of like the ying and yang of life. Matt is caught in a hard spot and as you probably already know has begun to become more like Andy and Andy a little more like Matt. Not much but some. The Uplifted Spirit came out of me in this chapter because I thought it would be good for Andy's dad to realize he hadn't done a very good job and needed to work on his relationship with his son. You never know who will be reading these stories and it's nice to have something positive happen. It really pleases me to have say the story is thought provoking. That has been my purpose from the beginning so I guess I'm succeeding some. Thanks for the comment. I means a lot to me.

I believe that sex for boys who are 14 and 15 is still a bit early. I know a lot do have sex, but it can affect a kid because sex becomes their focus. It's hard for it not to because it's such a driving force in all of us. And once you taste the fruit of it, you always want more and at that age it's hard to focus on just one person. But everyone is different as we find out about these characters. But sometimes you have to go down a dark road before you come into the light.

I had mixed feeling when writing this sex scene. I wanted it to have sex but also be somewhat funny and a good time. Andy is always the one leading things and it seemed that he'd want to organize it without realizing that it loses some spontaneity. It may also have been me too because I was having trouble figuring out how I was going to get everyone into the different positions and this was my solution. I'm not sure it worked all that well, but it did get them in a foursome which goes come back to haunt them.

Glad to see you think Andy's showing a little more character. The idea that two will become one is somewhere in this story line. But probably not as you expected.

You're right, Matt and Thomas are very much alike, but sometimes life gets in the way as you probably already know from reading Knots 2. Knots 3 might really blow your mind.

Jaro, you are perceptive. You probably already know what happens because I see you've read quite a few chapters and may actually be done with book 2. Unfortunately, I'm so busy writing new chapters I haven't had time to go back and read the old ones. I'll eventually get around to it. I enjoy your comments and reviews. Thanks again.

Your comments really made me laugh out loud. Sometimes I surprise myself as I write. Andy is Andy. He can't really be Matt and you're right about Randy and Andy being too similar. I tried to change Randy's name in a chapter and let the reader know I'd done that but decided against it. Goes to show though, you hadn't noticed it until just now. Keep in mind that Matt is as human as Andy so who knows what may happen in future chapters.

Jaro, I get the impression you're really looking forward to the foursome. I spent a lot of time trying to make it work and be funny at the same time. Let me know if I succeeded.

Knots 4 Chapter 5 Andy Gina and Emily came for a visit early Sunday morning to fill me in on the details of what went on at the pond. I was still lying in bed in the dining room with a cast on my arm and leg. My body was naked except for my running shorts and the cast on my arm and leg. My parents wanted me to look decent when I had visitors so if I got too warm and wanted to take the covers off I wouldn’t be naked or in my boxer briefs. Gina and Emily’s tale p

Jaro, you are right on about the trial affecting all of them. I loved writing the trial scenes. It was fun. I'm not sure if you noticed, but I try to be on the positive side when I can. Yes, the boys do stupid things and others do too, but I like to bring them back from the brink as soon as possible. I like conflict, but I have trouble when it goes on too long. Dillon is a victim and it's sad in our society that we don't get help to people like Dillon when it first happens because victims too often become predators.

Things do change with Matt a lot. All of this is going to get them into some deep shit. But that's all I'm going to tell you for now.

Jaro, I put water out for my birds and for some reason all the bees and yellow jackets go to the deep bowl and quite a few of them die there. It's odd. The birds never go to that bowl. I don't think it has anything to do with the bees and yellojackets because when I didn't have the deep bowl they all shared the others. Strange. Your poem reminded me of that.

I feel this as the winter sets in. I'm confused as to whether to turn the pilot lights on on my furnace and use propane or just wait. Right now, I'm waiting until your poem made me think about it. Thanks

And to think you were expecting all hell to break out. My only concern about these chapters here is that some of the characters in these few chapters disappear. No one has ever mentioned it, but I've thought about it.

Glad you like the quotes. I love finding them. Someone wrote me the other day and had a couple quotes in each of his emails. I told him how much I liked them and he informed me that he'd gotten them from me. What a surprise.

That's one thing about reading a story that's been written because you don't have to wait for the next chapter. I think I saw you start reading sometime yesterday morning around 5:00 AM and ending around 9:00 AM. Are these times correct? If so, you are staying with the story for quite a good time. Glad you liked the chapter.

Ah, Monday. I'm realizing that these kinds of conflicts and reflections are the most important part of the story. We do good things. We do bad things. And we always reflect. Some of us better than others. I love it when you say you are not anxious about Monday. You obviously are really into this story.

You couldn't have made me happier. Like you said, "It's challenging in its concepts." That has been my goal. I want the story to make people think and examine their own lives as they read about what's going on in Andy and Matt's life. I used to have a tendency to be preachy, but you've never accused me of that, so I'm pleased. I had a 17 year old write me and tell me that he was moved by Knots, not because of the sex, but because of the reflections Matt and Andy have about their lives. You're kind of saying the same thing. Maybe we all need to be more reflective about our lives. Writing this story sure has made me more reflective.

Jaro, again, thanks for your wonderful comments. The whole story is really about friendship first. We know from the beginning that Andy and Matt are friends at the writing of Knots. That's all we know for now. Of course their friendship is tested. Andy has matured. Matt is possibly being corrupted. Thanks for recommending Knots. I'm not sure if I've gotten better at writing either, but like you said, it comes down to characters and the story. You've read from the beginning so know how they have changed over time from innocent teenagers to not so innocent teeenagers. I've had a few people write me emails who have said they started reading Knots and couldn't stop. They often read the first three books in a few days. Something holds them. But you're right about the early chapters of Knots because I lose readers there, but the one thing I've learned is that different readers are looking for different things. And you can't please all the people all of the time. Maybe it's that the early chapters we're just getting to know Matt and Andy and feel their confusion. I remember you making comments about you could identify with what they were going through. Anyway, you're wonderful for taking the time to review every chapter. Elias

Jaro, your comments, as usual, are always appreciated it. I sometimes have trouble working the parents in because there is so much going on with the kids. I just wrote chapter 5 of Knots 4 and the whole chapter was with the parents. I dont' want to give anything away so won't tell you more than that.