ColumbusGuy

Come on Paul, you know people in fiction and movies never go to the bathroom!

A great first chapter, my friend! I feel sorry for Adam having so little in his life, especially love. Troy seems like he could be the answer to a lot of Adam's needs. Eager for more!

With a guardian angel, I'm sure Michael will come through fine! I like Alice, and the spider story was a hoot!

The most basic of human needs--touch. Before any other sensations can form, we are warm and protected in the womb, and the next we have is of a soothing heartbeat. There is something seriously wrong with a culture that discourages such things to any degree, but more so in those where artificial barriers are instilled...children need such reassurances from both parents, but that is often deemed 'unmanly' for a father and son. Beyond such disparagement, those wo do mange to show affection are in for accusations of being effeminate, or even harboring carnal desires where those aren't intended at all. It's a miracle that families can continue to exist in this era where any expression of caring is seen as potential sex crime. Thank you, society for seeing evil in any simple act of humanity. 'Love one another as you would yourself'--right, as long as they hold your views, the rest can be lost in the Outer Darkness. Merely policing speech of any hints of incorrectness doesn't make the world a better place...that can be done only by truly accepting everyone as your brother without reservation. I say, 'bully' for Gary, for reminding us of our most common link as a species.

I'm glad to hear that this is continuing, Mac! Oh how I know about being happy with a chapter; I spend a lot of time staring at the screen trying to get started, and almost always I'm a couple thousand words in and still not sure how I feel it's going. I have been writing about my boys for so long, and I have a feel for what they'll want, but am I doing it justice? It doesn't help much that one of them is essentially me as I was back then, so even though my story has a far different course, it still contains my doubts and reservations from those high school years. That's a lot of pressure on me to make sure I keep on the path I want the story to go. I really want Travis and Ben to find what they so badly want and need together...I'll just sit biting what's left of my nails until the next installment.

I read this on a recommendation from a friend here, and am enjoying it, though I truly hate Curtis and his cruelty. It's been four months since the last chapter--I've experienced delays in my own writing--so I'm just asking if the story is still going to be worked on? I've had several times reading online stories where I get to the end and find it's been months, sometimes years, without an ending or contact from the author. I did notice it says 'In Progress' at the cover page, so I'm hoping this isn't a permanent delay. Real life trumps fiction, no denying that. I hope to find out more about these guys! Thanks for giving us this tale.

Hmm, I caught all those except Westmore--never even occurred to me to look it up--but it's definitely something Geron would do to get our minds working. I far preferred the Addams Family to Munsters as a kid--still do--but it's sad that their address was so forgettable: 0001 Cemetery Ridge. I have to admit that it was their house that got me into Victorian houses and decorating...and when i had a moustache for a while, my friend Kat called me 'Bubele'. That's Yiddish or Bavarian for 'darling'...that worked because she could speak German along with Russian and Croatian.

I had the great good fortune of reading this during Halloween when it appeared elsewhere, and even now I am still bowled over by how well it captures the spirit of the holiday, and infuses it with a vision of eternal love and yearning finally fulfilled. I was on the verge of tears thinking that Billy and Will might never come together since the places they'd spent time together were all gone, and then we get a plan with some 'skwish' to help. The idea that hope can win out makes me feel warm inside, knowing that even in the afterlife love can find a way. I'm hoping these boys will become a treasured holiday tradition, my friend!

I'll take your word that I have some...now I'll try to see that my boys have some too!

Sigh...I want to live in the world Charlie and Kippy call home! Two boys can have such amazing adventures and help others at the same time. Where can I find my own supply of skwish? Maybe Kippy can loan me some, if Charlie agrees?

I'm glad you posted this one here, my friend! A lot more rivetting than meandering tales of high-school boys in farm country. The only complaint I have with it is that made me feel the cold outside even more with your descriptions--but that's 'cause I'm old and feel it more. I don't know what's up with the technical side, but your text runs outside the browser's view and my horizontal scrollbar popped up. Usually that doesn't happen unless there's a glitch somewhere. Love these boys, and wish them well!

I'm liking this so far, Alex. The sibling banter is just what I'd picture between them. So far, my only wonder is when Ellis will find out that Ben is not quite as he seems. You still have a few days to find that kiss.... Here's one just in case:

Not to worry--if I'd clicked on the link at the start rather than assuming it was for the game, I'd have read that one first. Put it down to my German stubbornness.

I enjoyed the development of Tligg's character under the unrelenting happiness of Craagen...I think they are a much better fit than he and Marvin, though we only know him from a few scant words. Laughed my butt off...and got the fuzzies inside despite that! Merry Christmas Sam!

Okay, now I wonder what else is out there that I don't know about...are anthology pieces listed on the front page where it says Author's Other Stories? Definitely needs to be a third story for these guys...maybe more!

Okay, you snuck another story in on me...I'll check out the link at the start; I thought it referred to the GA game, so didn't look first...and there needs to be more of this! Glaedelig jul min ven! 🎄

The world cries out for more sentiments like these, my dear friend...keep inspiring us with your clear wisdom. And, y'all can jump down my throat for being non-pc, but Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night. For my other friends, Happy Hannukah, and God Jul! 🎄

Well, Alex, you sure got my attention! I don't know where this trail will lead, but I'm hoping that Ellis' will bring him something good for a change. A rough spot or two, but with longer chapters, your players will let us know what we're guessing at now. More please!

Oh, never fear--I've been hooked from the start. I'm going to hate when the story is done because I'd love to see Robbie have some good times for a while to compensate for the problems he's had. My one question is about the old man he met who said he could help him deal with his family...I hope he meant that, because it loooks like Don will give him yet more grief.

Been a while since I commented, but I've been fuming and fussing along since the beginning. I understand Robbie's viewpoint, but he's created most of his own problems by trying to hide himself--even the Alex episode wouldn't have happened if he'd been a little more open with his foster family. And as for them--let's just say that my opinion of them all has done a 180 since Robbie's 'outing'--except for Amy who has been his constant fan. Nicola is no longer the problem one among nice people, but rather the ally he needs among enemies potential and actual. I'll skip Don and move on to Sue's hypocrisy--Robbie needs to get out of there and tell them to stuff their adoption. Daniel is in limbo at the moment for me--he still gets another chance for now. Nathan, please stand by Robbie when he finally tells you about Alex and their mistake...you are his anchor and only ray of sunshine.

Like I said, not a criticism at all! I'm just glad to see your chapters come up. With all you mention, I'm surprised you can do it at all--and I do the same cycling between chapters if I get stuck in one for a bit. I write on the fly rather than do outlines with every detail and event predetermined, so I can get stuck on one until a new inspiration hits. For me that's usually in a scene I have while sleeping. I have an alternate history thing going in Word that was supposed to be a slightly longer prompt...but it's at nearly 7k words and wants to keep going, so it's no longer suitable for that...but it will be finished some time soon. Oh, and I'm retired with no social life, and yet my writing is often slowed by me getting involved in reading online both here and other gay fiction sites.

I like this story so far, I just wish it had more priority in your updating. Not pointing fingers because I have several active stories going on too...but when I like something, I want more. There are more than a couple stories I enjoy which seem to get new chapters only when nothing else is going on, which is now making me hesitant about starting new ones. Will they stall mid-plot, or just stop being written? I am slower at posting than I used to be with my vision problems now, but I won't ever abandon one of my 'babies'. Working on chapters for both of mine now, and a new short. More please, KD!

I was so close to tears, northie. At least Saul and Max can spend what time they have left together. Some fifteen years before she died my mom married again to a man who was active, funny and full of life. They'd go to Canada twice a year to fish for a few weeks, and he'd been doing that for decades...then on their last trip, he got confused driving there, and my mom had to call my sister to come get them outside Detroit. Just a few years ago, the man died, not recognizing his children or grandchildren, and just existing. My mom took care of him until she died of kidney failure due to diabetes in 2007. At her funeral he was almost unrecognizable in a wheelchair and on oxygen...but about the only signs he gave of being aware was when he saw my mom in her coffin. He began to cry. So far as I know, Alzheimers isn't in any of my family lines, both my mom and dad were clear as a bell mentally when she died at 76, and so far s I heard, my dad was the same when he died at 84. Same for my grandparents. I've told my friend who has medical attorney that if I get to the point where my mind is going, that I be allowed to leave then rather than linger...palliative care only. I'm hoping to continue my writing until the end, if I can think up things....

Already did--trying to figure out how to do a 'star' rating.

Ah, more boys finding themselves in a hay mow... I'm so glad that Dalton grew up, and Caleb was still willing to give him a second chance despite the rocky start to the day. My only regret here is that this is a single chapter of their story. You have yet to craft something I don't long to go on forever. Dalton's reticence is understandable, but I'm glad he got over it. The old saying is that mom's always know, and mine suspected and said she'd be fine with it, but my reticence held me back since I was single. When I was 'ready', she'd met the guy I was hoping ot be partners with and didn't like him...just on principle, so her mind wouldn't have changed to find his new status so I stayed quiet. Several years later, when she was in hospice care, my sisters said I should tell her--but that wasn't the right thing to do--and she'd given her acceptance anyway that first time. We both knew and were content to live with it unsaid. It would help to understand my reticence was entirely due to my father rejecting me when he found out; we'd been close, but a month before we moved into separate houses in town, he'd found out and that was the last I heard from him until his death thirteen years later. So, rather than risk losing my mom despite her words, I kept quiet. I don't doubt she knew because she'd asked a young guy who lived on the farm down the road to visit me and be friends since mine had all moved away. And at the same time, she never tried to set me up with any girls, though there were ones she knew. Yes, mom's know, at least in my experience, so Dalton's must have been blinded by her bigotry. Wish there were more to hear from these guys...maybe when you let a few more people out of your head, they'll find room to come back?