ColumbusGuy

I was constrained by the first line, but I can speculate that my idea was something like this: he couldn't really face Jay, and said he was 'busy'...fill in your own line. He had to walk off because his confidence and self-esteem was so low that he couldn't imagine Jay wanting to still be friends. I had a lot of problems with that for years.

I'm so touched that the creator of the prompt likes my first effort! Even after 35 years, I had tears in my eyes as I relived my time with Duchess. At least now, they are tears of happiness for the fond memories.

Duchess was my first loss of a pet, and it was especially hard since she was the first thing I remember that could be called 'mine'. I still cry when i have to say goodbye to a pet, and I too am not ashamed to say it--a person who can't express emotion isn't much of a man in my book.

Another lovingly-crafted installment, Tim! I love Jacob's parents, and I hope Russ can recall more of his previous trip--I think it will make the two of them even closer, if that's possible. The idea that Peter and Paul might be gay is intriguing, but makes me wonder if they are actually partners as well as brothers.... I can't wait to find out what rings they buy, and for Evan and Chris to meet his 'new and improved' brother for the first time--that will be something!

What a great little story! I am so glad that Sam and Matt worked things out..it makes me wonder if a three-person relationship can work, or are we wired to be only couples? Wonderful job, now I have to read Ariel's saga while waiting for more of Randy and Ryan at the carnival!

Would I tease my readers? Heck yeah, others have done it often enough to me. So I guess I did good? It's funny the things that come to me as I write--I tend to do it on the fly, only having a basic idea--but I HAD to put in the phone call--even though Miles is shy, he can be a bit bolder anonymously, as I was when I got my obscene phone call back then! The pill bottle's fate is unknown right now, I only had very fleeting ideas like that as a kid--I think most teens do, particularly gay ones--my exterior almost always was a smiling face, no matter what was going on inside. The pizza date is definitely coming up...I had thought not to continue the call, but perhaps I can stop blushing enough to write it.

Thanks Carlos--I try to make it seem real, especially since so much of it is based on my own childhood. The places are real, as are most of the events.

bottle of pills, birth announcement, balloon, scuffed sneaker, new car When I walked up the long driveway after getting the mail from the box, I couldn’t suppress the smile which came to my lips; Jay is taking me out for pizza Friday! Since it had rained the previous night, I walked on the grass strip down the center to avoid the muddy gravel. I approached the long single-story ranch with it’s tan narrow-bricked façade by way of the garage, patting the bi-colored side of my ‘new’ car as I pa

TELLUS NARRATES: When Tellus awoke, he tried to remember the events of the morning, without much success. He had been sent home by his master Philandros because he tore up a message from that whore of a roman Sextus Manlius; Tellus didn't quite understand why--he had only been looking after the boy's welfare. That scum was not good enough for my master...he would hurt him, and then discard him once he had taken Philandros' innocence! Why didn't the boy see it? Why didn't they all see the evil p

It is so sad that Oli had to settle for a more practical applicatoin of his skills...but couldn't he have done a fine arts degree at Brighton? He was too young then to challenge his father meaningfully--but it has now become a matter of habit. I think Boris can help him fight that trend. Unless there is some miracle cure, the situation with Boris is beyond anyone's contro--yet his happiness is right there, if he will only take it. Eager for more Sasha!

As the day faded into night, Sextus still slept--the poppy mixture was doing a good job of keeping the injured man quiet! Yet, had he muttered the name of 'Arrius' or not? Philandros could not be sure...though he remained by his love's side all that day, no more sounds recognizable as words came from the roman's lips. Arcos returned to change the bandages, and check for infection, and pronounced that things seemed to be fine so far...another two days would tell him if infection had set in

I loved this--fills in the gaps about Wil and Tommy. Read Ryan's Heart, now just have to do the Ariel bit, then I'm waiting on more chapters for New Kid.... Great stories!

Another great chapter James! I've done marathon sessions of tv series, some more interesting than others--the anime was torture, but it was set up by a good friend. Seeing what Gunni thinks will be good, though I can't figure out how you will tie your stories togethere logically. Waiting for a new chapter in your other ones also.

Well, I see JJ is definitely the princess--but I don't think he'll be able to handle it when Alex finds his 'whore' accomplice. JJ is going to fall hard when this all crashes in on him. I could have sworn that Will might be clever enough to buy velcro handcuffs rather than metal, for the very reason which happened. It was all fairly cool until the bit with feeding Zach the semen from his own ass...I just find that whole area a turn off, sorry. I hope Zach hasn't made his ankle worse, thereby losing more game time...and unfortunately, I can see him totally overreacting to that final comment. Most people would see it as the taunt it was, but Zach will see it as his being practically outed, and that isn't good. Poor Will. Keep the wonderful words coming, Mark!

***Sextus and Philon ride back to Pompeii; they discuss the idea that Tellus will inform Solon that Philon is seeing an older man. Philon states he doesn’t care--his grandfather can accept him or not, his mother will love him no matter what.*** Despite the urgency of his business, Philandros couldn't help letting himself succumb to the kiss Sextus gave him. He momentarily molded his body to the slightly taller Sextus, then broke off with great reluctance. "Do you wish to join me in the ta

I came to this story from reading Button, just to see who the new characters in that series would be...and I got so much more out of it than that. Now I have to read the chapter where Craig finds his son on the doorstep--after that, I'm going to red the rest of this story--it's far too good to pass up. Reading the description didn't really lure me in, but I'm here now! Thanks so much, Cole!

A great story--nice to see the meeting from Ryan's viewpoint! Can't wait to read more chapters of New Kid!

I can't wait for the next chapter--this story is so suspenseful and action-packed! I haven't reviewed the chapters, but I've 'liked' all of them...the tale was just so good that I didn't want to pause to do it, sorry for that. I am so glad to see Tyler and Ariel working out...and that Ariel isn't going to put up with Sean's crap. Ariel's growth, though slow, is amazing. As for Randy, I fully understand his issue with self-esteem after the years of paternal abuse he endured--the fact that he has trouble believing in Ryan's love is quite clear also: his self-worth is so low that he can't honestly believe that someone can love him for himslf, and that parallells his hesitation to tell his mother the truth--he can't risk losing the love of the one person who he can trust. I am liking Cody more and more as time goes on, and despite what he says, he is not over the loss of his parents, nor is Ronnie. I can't wait to see him spoil Sean's plans at the carnival. Awaiting the next chapter keenly!

Hate Alexander even more--let's have him neutered! Anastasia, in both the figurative and literal sense, is a bitch! Boris grows on me even more as time goes on, while Oli needs to resolve his issues and get over his anxieties. The idea of bestiality is abhorrent to me, being a bit old-fashioned--while I don't fancy picturing the physical dynamics of Boris and Oli's relationship, I don't see it in that sense: were their cycles lined up properly, it would not be a problem, since they both love one another in all their forms; there is no 'taking advantage of the dumb animal' here--just love between two partners. If the two of them can make it work, then I'm happy for them. More please, Sasha!

Another great piece, Valkyrie--I especially like the scene at the end with her announcement!

Mark, you just keep rolling out great chapters! Will and Zach, always a bonus--I hope they get to spend a little time together in Will's 'secret' hotel room. One can only hope that his dad goes surfing or swimming and gets eaten by a shark! How Frank got to be the only good adult of the Hayes family, I'll never know--the others are all white trash. I can spot them because I came from a small town in Ohio, as I mentioned before! Sorry, Maarten, but the whole scene with Will was great--I'm sure he loved knowing things about JJ which Wade didn't. As for the whole Boston scene, the only sad moment was when they decided to let Hammer go to Sydney--that is going to be a mistake both for the team, and I think for Matt. He is just slimey and joins Alex on the dick-o-meter in top spot. Pleae, oh please, let word leak out to Brad what Alex is doing!!

This is the first thing I've read by you...what an introduction! It brings back the vigil at my mother's bedside in '07...she wanted no machines or extreme measures, just pain killers...but it took six days for the end, with her in a coma the last two or three. She went in the day before my birthday, and since then, I don't really celebrate them anymore. Thank you for the story, and reminding me that the body was only the outer shell of the person we love.

Another good one, Valkyrie! I loved your ditching the assumption that the acccident killed Evan. Jody's pain is captured very well--and it's nice to see he finally realizes he needs help. I think of my s.o. almost daily after seven years--but no accident claimed him, it was on purpose when things got to be too much....The part that bothers me most, and possibly Jody, was that prehaps he could have done more to keep them together--but that effort needs two to make it work.

***Sextus and Philon talk about various topics, Sextus admits that he has learned that perceptions are misleading, and that people are often deeper than their surface appearances; Sextus again reassures Philon that Arrius has no interest in men.*** With that reassurance still ringing in his ears, another knock came at the door, and several servants carried in large platters filled with dishes: chicken in honey, vegetables carved into fanciful shapes of roses and small fish, several pastry

“I can’t believe you asked him that!” Linda’s voice went up an octave as she looked at her younger brother standing by his ancient blue Ford pickup. Jay looked around the school’s parking lot, but it was nearly empty this late in the afternoon; while taking Miles home, he remembered that he had to pick up his sister after cheerleading practice, so it meant another trip to the highschool--two in one day was one too many! The high school lot was at the north end, mostly gravel, extending b