ColumbusGuy

This is my first reading of your work, and I like the story so far...except for the father. I hope, though, that this isn't going to turn into a BDSM story--Russell is just discovering himself and getting his confidence back--I'd hate to see him become merely a means for Jacob to achieve orgasm. I have never gotten into the gay scene's addiction to role-playing and clones--I am myself, and if that isn't enough for a partner, then we aren't right together. I find the entire idea of roles and labels to be too limiting, and often a convenient way to mask or substitute for real feelings. Both our protagonists are shown as caring and sensitive people, let's not devolve into standard BDSM fiction. If that is the track of a story, it would be nice to note it in tags so readers can skip it if they don't like that stuff. That said, I do like this story a lot, and want to continue finding out the futures of our characters!

Still ambivalent about Zach; his attitude toward others was annoying me, but it is partly balanced by the fact that he isn't deluding himself about his own character--except for one thing: he is hiding from the fact that he is still letting other people control his personal life--he will not become a real man untul he sees that and rectifies it. As for his coming out, he doesn't have the courage to do it despite his feelings of rebellion. He needs to realize that he is running a risk of being alone if some injury should abort his football career--Will might not stop being a friend, but he very well may stop being a mate if Zach vacillates too often. I also understand his isolation--I have always had just a few very good friends, rather than a lot of lesser friendships, and those few have lasted through the years where others have fallen by the wayside. Brad and Cam are ready for each other--they seem to mesh very well, and I hope Matt doesn't have a bad reaction. I think it will be okay because Matt has long realized that he isn't in love with Cam, and should be glad he has found someone who values him for himself. The real problem I can see in Boston, is what Brad will do should JJ and Alex get together....

Nice characterization as usual Mark! In just a few words you bring to life the entire image of a person such as JJ--only two complaints, but I'd say the shelving being too high is justified as he's not a tall person...but the shower handle is hilarious. Will's conversation with Zach is not mean-spirited in my opinion...he is being open and honest as they agreed; Will still loves him, but he is also being practical about it--he knows Zach can't/won't be true to himself in public, so he is maintaining that distance until they are together, and perhaps getting it through to Zach that his decisions regarding Will need to be mutual rather than one-sided as he has been making them lately. For Zach to maintain his 'straight' image, he must realize that it will come with a price in the public arena. It is up to him if he is willing to continue to pay it in the long term. I hope for the best for Zach, but he really is bringing this onto himself--at least he has told Brent--that was something I didn't think he'd do. Brad and Cam? I can see it--and the age difference isn't so great--my own parents were fourteen years apart, and we know Brad has no problems since he has slept with Matt and Wade already. I can see both of them finding what they need in the other, but I wonder what Matt will think of it?

Some interesting developments from the start--and they are ones which cause me many misgivings; I can see trouble ahead for Wade and Matt already--and this time I think it will be Wade who could potentially damage things with his control issues. I understand his need for organization thanks to OCD, but if he can't get in touch with his emotional situation in a more normal manner, he could cause Matt a great deal of hurt. It is nice to see JJ coming into himself as a person, but Alex?! Our skater has had enough damage done to his psyche without getting involved with Alex' attitudes. However Alex treats JJ, either princess or whore, it is going to be nothing but disastrous in the end. I understand the rationale you have for Alex being the way he is...but that doesn't excuse the fact that he's still a user and a generally bad person to entrust with your innermost feelings. Let's get him packed for a trip to Afghanistan as quickly as possible! Yes, I know, bitching about characters already--but as you said, I am already invested in them, so you asked for it.

Great to see the new story begin! I am not yet ready to move Zach out of my virtual dumpster, but the lid is open and there is a step-ladder for him to use to climb out.

A wonderful chapter, Sasha! I love your were stories a lot, only wish there were sequels to some of them!

Just found your stories a couple days ago after reading wolfwriter's stories. I loved this one, and only wish it would have a sequel! The same goes for Summer Camp--please do some more featuring these great characters!

Thanks, comicfan...that means a lot coming from the creator of the prompt! It's bad enough growing up gay in any town, but in a rural one back in the 70s--dang that was hard. I've enjoyed writing since 7th grade, and tried to get published with some sci-fi/fantasy but with no luck. Why did it take thirty more years for the world to invent internet sites like G.A.? My nephew had no such problems growing up in the 80s...lucky bastard.

Mark, Mark, Mark...I check several times a day just on the off chance that you've posted early...and while I'm gone to a doctor's appointment, you do! Just what I needed to cheer myself up! If several of my favorite authors post on the same day, your entries are the first I read, and I have never yet regretted that decision. Words fail me; I have bitched about Matt, Wade, Zach, probably even Brad and Robbie in the past, and yet, you still make me want to read on and really worry about what is going to happen to them. I have been picking on Wade most often lately, but you pull him out of my 'Recycle Bin' at the last moment and re-instate him in my good graces...the only ones left in there now are Barry, and to an extent, Zach. Streak, huh? Many possible interpretations of that and who it might refer to come to mind, and I'm glad I only have to wait four days to see the start! I would like to see it involve Will/Zach and Matt/Wade, but you never leave out any of the major characters, and often bring in more--and since there are no qualifiers, it could be either a winning- or losing-streak. You realize, I'm gong to be completely bonkers by Friday? In the past week or so, I've finally started writing here...two prompts and an excerpt from some off-site historical role-play I have done for ten years...your work has inspired me to try longer things, but the standard for such works you set is just too high--I may as well toss out my keyboard! I anxiously await your next book and will not even attempt to second-guess you on who or what it will concern...it will be a cracking good read regardless!

That's exactly right, Ron--and the main reason I didn't have my first experience until I was in college...back then, small towns were no place to try to be different.

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!

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

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

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 efforts at Prompt writing....

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