Ron

Hey, Mark008. I saw that post about your story yesterday. It's good to have another author. Welcome aboard!

I've been quietly reading in the background and enjoying this story. Your writing continues to impress, Thorn. Allowing characters to run a full range of emotions and not let it be 'over the top' is a skill that you display very well in this story.

We have a pair of lesbian swans in Boston's Public Garden lagoon. They build a nest and presumably one of them lays eggs. The officials had them sexed and they are both definitely female.

Sounds like fun. I've only seen two plays ever. One, many years ago in a small black-box theater here in Boston, of which I remember little and a performance of 'Into the Woods' with some friends a few years past. It was located outdoors in a park just outside London and accessible by tube. I really enjoyed that, even with the typical damp and misty weather that day, and I am glad that you are enjoying the performances you are seeing. They can be quite special as I have learned and you clearly know.

You folks are all crazy! You know that, right?

Happy B-Day! Many happy returns.

I know you meant this tongue in cheek but we are better off distributed around the world. It makes it difficult to wipe us all out with one stroke. I hate to be negative, but it is something I think that many wouldn't mind doing. The easier the better and not soon enough for them. Despite any headway, their rancor at our existence and the hate that that brings with it will sadly be around for a long, long time. The fight for equality is not over yet and we should be mindful of it, always.

That was real nice, Graeme. I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter. Your characters are as real and true to themselves as in any story I have ever read. It was a pleasure getting to know them.

The oldest thing in my fridge is a container of rendered duck fat. It will be good for months to come.

I love a guy with a sense of humor. If I were twenty-five... Thirty years younger, I'd be tempted to snatch you up myself!

Happy New Year Everyone! Just remember, if you do this Then this may happen Be safe!

Ha ha. Your readers seem to know you pretty well, Mr. Todd. Or perhaps we are just guessing correctly. Another fine chapter in any event.

Thank you. That is why I used the term, people rather than creature when posing the question. I too saw them as a people, albeit a people who lean toward the more aggressive side of emotional as you noted in your story's synopsis. Further reading of the Cathara series is on my list, just so you know.

There is so much going on in the chapter. Clearly there are some few, very perceptive folks in town and that includes the younger crowd as well. It also includes a great enthusiasm for action, and on various fronts. It is rather curious how some are anti-gay, some accepting and still others who are willing to... if not exactly accept, willing to overlook in their efforts to rally around The Tree. That's quite a see-saw of emotions and factions you have going on, Graeme. I continue to look forward to seeing how it all turns out.

Ha ha, love it! Ask and you shall receive. And... No, I am not asking. I have already recently been there, done that and the next time, I am choosing the story. The problem being, of course, time and the lack of it and doubts about my ability to do the story justice. Just sayin', but I'll think about it.

Anyone who has enjoyed monster movies growing up understands about the significance of change. Dracula became a bat, Lon Chaney became a wolf, and The Mummy and Frankenstein's monster all began as humans who were changed into something other. In fact, there are some few 'were' stories on GA that have garnered some interest from me lately. But your characters are more 'hybrid', as Mann mentions, than changer. So, if I may, I have a question for you, Cia. "Was writing a story about a people that by nature were neither totally human, nor totally beast easier or more difficult, do you think, than writing about those that are one thing and become something altogether different?"

I am of the opinion that when it looks good, it really looks good. It's not for everyone but some guys can definitely pull it off.

All in, it was an amusing romp, Andr0gene. Could use more work, as you admitted, and something to keep in mind: I and probably others read on an iPad in the Safari browser which, on websites that allow dynamic content, let's me read as if on a Kindle. I can adjust text size for poor, tired eyes but It negates use of colored text such as that used in the story to differentiate the back and forth between the two main characters. Anyway, it is something to think about if you decide to work on this again or use the affect in another story. After the above remarks, make no mistake, I did enjoy reading your story. Cheers!

Daithi says, ewwwww but udder suckers cracked me up, man! You have some pretty good humorisms in this story, Andr0gene.

This chapter was cute. Much cuter than it had a right to be. Just saying. So you know. Alright then.

You seem to be on a roll, Joann. I am pondering #289, I think I have an idea. We'll see!

You have my sympathy for what you have had to experience this year, Renee. My goodness, sometimes it really does feel like too much but here you are looking forward to a new year, albeit a much improved version of this one, and that displays to me a worthy fortitude. I send you my best wishes for a healthy and happy 2014.

As I was growing up, we would always have ham, sweet potatoes, baked beans and whatever green my mother wanted to cook at Christmas. For New Years Day we would have sauerkraut and pork ribs with mashed potatoes and again whatever greens were available. Everything was delicious and hearty and oh so filling that we'd all end up practically comatose, sleeping the meal off between bouts of TV when we could stay awake. My partner doesn't like ham, so over the past eighteen plus years we have cooked various hoof and fowl. This year it was brisket smothered in tomatoes/onions - slow cooked for hours, and steamed potatoes - butter/chopped parsley, and carrots. We washed it down with a very nice Zinfandel. Yummy! Sauerkraut and pork ribs has still been on the menu for New Years continuously and that's fine with me. One new thing that I did this year was to decorate the tree without lights. The tree is in our windowed oriel and it's fine during the day but at night, not so much. If circumstances require a tree next year there will be lighting.

Oh my, if Josh's day is even remotely worse on a day to day basis than the one that Jacob is experiencing it is too much. One good thing about this chapter is that Jacob may become a better student through this exchange, if only because he is applying himself to the task. It is not so easy being Josh it seems. I really like the full chapter point of views, Sammy.

That's weird and hilarious, Celethiel.