ColumbusGuy

Thanks Valkyrie! Where my first prompt was all true, this one is mostly fiction: there was a rural school, an art class, and an exchange of banter with a blond boy, but it never progressed beyond that much to my regret. In fiction, we have another chance to make events turn out as we would have liked.

“Why didn’t you just tell me that?” Though the words were nearly whisper-soft, I could tell that Jay was angry. I looked around to see if we were alone, and thankfully, we were. I’d seen him around a long time, but this junior year art class was the first we had shared--and the first where I had dared speak to the blond boy. I was nearly eight inches taller than him, and a good twenty pounds heavier, but he was the more outgoing and popular one with many friends and a confidence I could only

Another cliff-hanger, really? I'm glad to see Alex out of the picture, permanently I hope--but I'm wondering if the main reason isn't that Matt was out of the picture by being in Chicago? I don't think the ring was a huge factor, if he even knew, because despite what he said, he could not marry Wade and keep his family happy. Without Matt, Wade would quickly become too bland, so Alex didn't want to settle for that...not that Wade would have wanted Alex to sleep with anyone else but Matt. I'm beginning to think that Will is finally getting to a point where Zach is too high-maintenance for the long term...just waiting to see what next hare-brained idea he comes up with to hide behind must be stressing Will to the point of no return, and we all know that Will needs stability in his life to keep himself together. I am not surprised at Matt wanting to go to Boston now, but I hate to think what will happen to him there; I can see Wade resenting his wanting to be there now when he didn't for Riley, and the comment about playing hockey just shows how much work Wade needs to do on his own psyche! I can't see Matt and Wade being permanent until Wade also matures--feeling responsibility for his son isn't proof of emotional maturity--just an indicator that Wade knows what his duty is...a big difference in my opinion.

Just finished the were-wolf stories by wolfwriter, and was happy to discover yours! I can't wait for the next installment! Woof!

Good work! I hope Ezer Malk gets what's coming to him!

Interesting turn of events, Mark. Will and Matt both have done some maturing, but seeing how their romantic lives are going, I'm wondering if the effort they are putting in is worth the reward. Zach has yet to show any real backbone, and Wade is too 'flighty', though he has the most potential that I can see so far. Zach's problems are all his own choosing--with his 'supposed' brain, he should be able to get a degree which will earn him money, and yet play amateur football to his heart's content--it is still the same thrill, just not the glamour, which isn't his reason for doing it, or so he says. Brad needs to get Barry on that plane to Afghanistan pretty quick!

Philandros admired his reflection in the bronze mirror a last time before leaving his sleeping chamber: brownish hair with red highlights contained in a silver fillet, green eyes sparkling with amusement. His face was unmarked by any blemish, and had just a few freckles to accent its charms. Many days at the palaestra's ball courts and wrestling field had left his torso strong and nicely muscled...but not to the point of excess like some common gladiator. His skin was also slightly tanned...a fe

Sex and Scandal and a potential volcano--what more could you ask for?

Many thanks--when I saw this prompt, I knew just what I had to write. Now I just have to figure out a way to write more gay-themed tasteful entries without blushing.

Thanks joann--I plan on doing more writing here--I've been doing 'role-play' writing at another site for years, but this is my first effort at GA. Even though this entry made me sad also, the warm memories of fun times with Duchess outweighed that.

I'm glad you liked it--I will write more here, but for this, I had to limit myself to one memory, and Duchess was the strongest from my youth. Other losses hurt just as much, but she was my first...and I hope for many more years yet with my dear Siamese Bortai, who is 13. My pic is of her brother Genghis, who was stolen almost seven years ago now, but still sorely missed.

Thank you so much, Cole. It's been nearly 40 years, but I was very close to crying myself when I was writing it--reliving my time with her.It always strikes me hard when I lose a pet--but she was my first. I have been cursed/blessed to have very long lives with mine, which makes it less frequent, but much harder on me.

A nice job, Dolores! I can't wait to find out what Ezer Malk's plans are, and how our heroes will foil them!

My fondest, or perhaps first, memory is of my German Shepherd Duchess; it was 1961, and we had moved into the country from the state capital that summer when I was three years old. We could now have a dog, since our new ranch house sat on a full acre, and so my sisters scoured ads, and we found a puppy for sale, all we had to do was give them twelve books of Green Stamps! Does anyone even remember collecting stamps from stores anymore? Duchess wasn’t a typical Shepherd--at least not the polic

My efforts at Prompt writing....

Long time no see, Mark! Been following the story line but haven't been able to post without my password since mid-May...went in hospital in early May for something, and they found I was severely anemic. Turns out, I had polyps in my colon, and I had to have an operation on 18 June to remove the largest ones, then spent eleven days in a rehab facility on top of the ten in the hospital. Blood iron levels are again in double digits, but not normal yet...but fingers are crossed. So much has gone on, I feel like a yo-yo with the Matt/Wade thing...and now Alex is a two-faced elitist jackass. Nice to see JJ has a nice side to him somewhere...and hope he is going to grow up a bit. Tiffany expecting--wasn't 'expecting' that! Boy or girl, I hope it is Matt's as well, it will give him more stabilization in his life whether he and Wade succeed or not. Four chapters left?! Hope plans are underway for the next book! I started trying to read Bridgemont in the rehab facility, but haven't gotten very far--much as I love historical fiction both real and alternate, the 1700s just aren't on my radar much--but since it's you I'm going to give it a shot. Anxiously awaiting the next dose!

Hm, British and Virginian aristocracy meeting in Boston...could be a recipe for an explosion or a new relationship! I've read that the Southern upper-class accent is very close to that which was in use by the English nobility around 1700 or so...too bad we can't listen in to their meeting. JP Baiting--what a great morning sport. It's nice to see he can loosen up enough to enjoy it--my own father was of that generation and was pretty reserved when it came to showing feelings or even laughing, and I thought he didn't really have a sense of humor until some friends were visiting and my dad said something which made them all crack up--seems, being young, I missed a lot of his very dry humor until I was in college. I find it interesting that of all the younger generation, the one to actually be in a relationship is the one you'd least expect--Will--that he should be the one who most knowss what he wants despite his age. It saddens me to think that should Zach somehow fail him, he will be so badly hurt, again; he professes that he will cope if that happens, but we are getting signs that he is really falling harder and deeper for Zach as time goes on. I hope his trust and loyalty will be rewarded in the end. Thanks for another great installment, Mark!

Nice explanation, Dolores! I hope Dr. Midad gives Earth some credit since they have only had 8,000 years of civilization! Have a nice vacation!

What's wrong Mark? An event at Escorial with no drama?! Lost your touch? I'm glad Sean and Brad are thinking along similar lines...Ben was just not a good fit for either of them. Tony and Mason--that was a surprise, but I can see it keeping the space clear for Will and Zach. The coast seems to be clear for a smooth departure for Europe, unless something happens at the last minute...and I'm dying to see Will and Marie at the Junior League ball--that should be a riot! Keep up the good work!

It's nice to see Sean back, and I think he and Brad might work very well--but then, I've always been partial to 'gingers' as our British cousins call them. I loved the scene where they dissected Ben's technique! Zach teasing like Matt did, I think is great--he's feeling a bit more comfortable with some of the family--and none of the people who could have heard are a risk. A trip to Europe is just what Zach needs to see not everyone is like the rednecks of Claremont. I think if Zach's growth continues, he might find himself more at ease with himself, which will make his job easier to remain closeted--less chance of a severe over-reaction to give the game away. Keep 'em coming Mark!

It has to be nearly ten years since I read your stuff on Nifty--but I had not seen this one until I came to G.A., I have been reading science-fiction for around 40 years now, and I have to say that this is the first story with an integral gay theme which I have no problem classing with the greats like Heinlein and Asimov. Just enough science to hold it together and a well thought out society which makes me a believer! I could picture every scene with such clarity that it was almost like I was there...rootingfor the heroes and hissing at the bad guys throughout! I have enjoyed all your work, but this is in a class unto itself, and I hope a sequel is forthcoming...perhaps of the journey to Alpha Centauri, or of more adventures at the Titania Cluster? I anxiously await more exploits of our favorite pod!

I was having a crappy day until I got on and saw you posted a new chapter--all I can say is 'Thank You!' I have been sick lately, and reading a lot has helped distract me--you, C James, Iarwain and Quokka have been my mainstays these lastfew months, but I am nearly caught up with all their works, and that leaves you as my mental support. Shame on you for leaving me dreading the break-up of Will and Zach! As others have said, this was jam-packed with 'Sturm and Drang'...and I can now see a firmer future for our troubled high-schoolers. Kudos to Matt for helping Zach figure out a way to work on his decision making, and for plotting his own course to adulthood. I only have one concern now, since Barry has a one-way ticket to Afganistan--we have seen the growth of maturity in most of our angst-ridden boys, but what of Wade? It does not seem that he is making any advancement in that regard--I think he has issues to deal with himself regarding adulthood, but have I missed him making any progress, or has it all been ascribed to Matt as the big problem Wade had? I understand Wade did not have as many problems as the others, but he seems to be blithely sailing through things as if he is his own Titanic--unsinkable. Is he too good to need to see a counselor? Glad you pointed out Flag Day is Sunday for you--I had to look it up to see when it was, and I didn't want to wait until the 15th for another fix! Not that I will fly mine under the current regime--I might fly my ancestral flag instead, if I can assure no one steals it. Few of the holidays are as they should be anymore--they get combined, moved, or even downgraded, while less-worthy replacements are set up. 'President's Day'--what a sham! Lumping two important dates into one for business purposes! I would say, let's have a 'Greed Day' for business, but they already have a whole season for that: Christmas! I'll stick with my Solstices and Equinoxes, thanks.

Dang, another great chapter! Gotta wonder what Maarten is smoking to be so rabidly anti-Will that he gives him no credit at all. I think Will handled Josh just right--let him face Brad next time he fucks with the family. On a related note, will Zach's move be the last straw which unleashed the wrath of Brad or JP? Much as I would like to see the two of them together, Will is exactly right in everything he said--he has sacrificed a lot to make him and Zach work, but it can't be done alone--Zach must also do his part, which he consistently fails to do. Will, if Zach sticks with his choice, cut him loose and force him to grow up or be a patsy for his parents' egos. A relationship is doomed without input from both partners, and obviously Zach isn't ready...maybe in the future, but not now. Can we get Brad to drop Wally and Clara into Afghanistan or perhaps the Ukraine?

It's a good day when chapters come up in three stories I'm reading--thanks! I enjoyed the conversation between Cam and Matt, and it brought back some feelings from my past, as it probably did for most readers: being cheated on. I can entirely relate to Cam's side of it, except for one thing--I wouldn't go back to someone who cheated on me just to be in a relationship. It is a mixture of trust and self-respect which would doom any attempt to reunite unless the circmstances were extraordinary. My feelings for Matt and Will are shaken a bit right now, but I won't jump to conclusions--I see that Matt is trying to change from the 'player' type which I detest, and that Will is being true to the rules he and Zach have set up--I see hope for him because he is bothered by what he did with Devon. I could digress into an analysis of the club scene and the community at large, but it would be biased as I never fit into that crowd. Besides being from a small town and shy, I was also not one of the 'hot' or even 'cute' crowd which so attracts people. I was cursed with vision problems contacts can't alleviate, so was automatically discounted by most urban gays, and I was also too honest to play the games to catch someone for a quick lay. I wasn't into fashion, gossip or drama, so I didn't fit in with most of the city scene--although I was well-read, talented and a good conversationalist I couldn't find the right crowd. Average guys who aren't into 'the scene' tend to disappear, and wind up alone, so I can relate to Cam's predicament. That said, I'd like to see Matt continue his transformation and find what he wants to be...and I want Will to find a good spot with Zach. Hopelessly romantic, that's me!

I assume the other 15% of Jeff's DNA is Neanderthal or Cr0-Magnon? It would be great if it were the former, since it seems our ancestors actually did interbreed.