ColumbusGuy

Pretty nerve-wracking first line, min ven! Thank goodness you let us relax until the making-out started. Much as it would be fun to see them go all the way, I'm glad they are waiting until a better time comes along--like after the Prom; this should be a very special occasion for them. Yeah, I know it will be no matter what, but I see these guys are awfully romantic about big events. I so want a 'Rob' tee-shirt!

I wish I had had the adventures at the drive-in that our heroes are, but I went either with one of my sisters or a friend. Vicarious living indeed, as well as re-writing my own past. My street had one of the make-out areas for kids where it was bordered by fields on one side and woods on the other--there was a turn where it went up to the road to Columbus, but that was a mile away, so it was pretty private. I'm sure my sisters spent some evenings there. Maybe Jay will discover it thanks to Mikey.... Bill and Kevin are here, how major their part will be is unknown--will Jay do his 'friend collecting' routine on Kevin?

I can't argue with this as it puts my own thoughts into better words than I can muster. While I hope we'd be better without the efforts of 'leaders' to dictate our actions, I can't help but think that they are there because we want to be led...and where there's a need, real or perceived, events will arrange to themselves to fulfill it. We can't know the psyches of our ancestral lineage, but I'm thinking that it's something deep in our genes that drives us to either lead or follow; we are a social animal, but not a communal one, like in the insect world, acting together to achieve goals for the good of all...their genes dictate their place in the community, while we must make our own--and that inevitably leads to competition--and then all is lost for a chance at Eden. If only it were otherwise, but there has never been a successful communal group that didn't bring up divisiveness and power-hungry folk wanting to tell others how things ought to be done. We desperately need more rigorous control of those who seek to lead--and my first proviso would be this: anyone who wants the power, should be the last to be given it. My daffodils are up, and doing nicely...maybe you can commune with the flowers and enjoy the birdsong to restore the balance in your world--let the rhythms of Nature bring you peace and solace. I know I need that from time to time, my dear friend.

I like Connor a lot...and I'm very glad his problem wasn't a thing like cancer which would have been more difficult to cure. As for Hugh, he's got it bad, and I wonder just how long that kiss will be delayed? I'm thinking that resolve won't last through the night. I can see Connor going through the joining, and even becoming a shifter himself pretty soon. I hope we (and Connor) have seen the last of Brian...but I'm sure he will be dealt with if he tries something. Another week...sigh. It's like waiting for another glimpse of my virtual mate.

I don't know, Tim...I like the black briefs a lot more than a jock! Those are probably the only types of undies that don't work for me, other than boxers. I've noticed in a lot of stories in the last few years that younger people are shown wearing boxers, which in my teen years were worn only by our dads! Too old-fashioned and not sexy at all. Thank god that colored briefs were rapidly gaining in popularity by the time I began buying my own! I'm not worried about the cliffie for the same reason Lit gave...and for the fact that Eric and Nelson's bond is so strong. Tusind tak, min kaereste ven!

I'm really torn here...Nathan would seem to be the perfect guy for Liam...but learning about Alek's true relationship with Nata(lia--sha?) changes things. And there is the fact that he finally came out to his parents and is financially free...all the impediments to their being together seem to be gone. Liam already knew how hard it was to stop caring for Alek, and now that things might be possible again--it comes down to trust. I've been there before...the guy wanted to come back, but I tried it for only one more date--it wasn't the same and I found that the bond had been broken which we'd shared. If the bond was strong enough, perhaps it could be re-forged...only Liam can know that. Eager for more!

Jay is full of surprises--he can seem gruff at times, but as we saw in the first chapter, he's also sensitive when the need arises. When he's in a one-on-one situation, he can express himself pretty well.

Thanks San! Everything in this chapter is real--except the pills, thank goodness. I thought about it once or twice, but I always had my books o escape into if I got too down, and saw more chances ahead in my future. I had a couple friends which meant I wasn't totally on the outside, but I never became part of the crowd or went to local parties...yep, wallflower, that was/is me.

So, K and T aren't the only surprise gay couple...cool beans! I too, found Tobyn's reaction to Hugh's words funny...isn't there something about a kettle here? From Hugh's initial words, I was thinking Connor might not share his feelings at all, but by the end I thought it fairly likely. Judging from the signs of prior abuse, he is overdue for a turn of good luck, and what better than to find a mate? I hope Connor's problem is one Kellar can fix--he seems to think so--just hope it's not too trying for all of them; it sounds like Kellar has noticed it in early stages of development, and that will help. The shifter wedding scenario sounds really awesome--I hope one of the boys decides to do it too--maybe at the same time as Warren and Adelin? I'm very eager to see what his wolf will be like--I know he's no blood relation to Kellar, so that makes it even more of an unknown.

Man Ja(i)zz shirtless...if only we had the video! I really think Mel has to be left to her own devices--she's chosen her path and has to live with it, and Carolyn knows her talking about religion won't help. As for the Prom, I'd rather see Rob stay home than even think about taking her. I still believe he ought to take Trevor--no one will really think he's gay, but it will reaffirm the support he has for his brother and the GSA.

I know this is far too late, but I didn't find this until palantir sent me the link...I first heard the news from an email sent by AC, and I signed onboard for a plan of his.... Is there any further news? I imagine skinny is gone now, with stage 4 cancer...and I'm on the verge of tears just thinking of him. I ran across the results of cancer at a young age--six years old--when my mom's father died of it. He had always been active and I remember fishing with him, and he gave me my first haircut--a buzz of course, since it was 1964. There was nothing to be done back then for lung cancer, so he spent his last year or so at home on oxygen and pain medications. His bed was set up in their living room so he wouldn't have to deal with stairs, and it was terrible to just see him waste away week by week. By the end, it was hard to believe he was the same man I loved so much. SD's reviews and chats were always the high-light of my day...and his stories kept me on the edge of my seat with almost every chapter. GA is a sadder place without his work, and the void he's left in my heart will never be healed. I better stop now...I'm starting to cry. Ave atque vale, my dear friend!

Tim, I just found this while searching for news about skinnydragon...please, please don't give up! When I lost a lot of my vision just before Christmas of 2015, I was wondering if I'd ever write again, let alone use the computer effectively. As you can see, I've made it back with a lot of help from my friends who got me set up with a new pc and Narration software, and a huge jolt of encouragement from GA friends. One in particular, Headstall, I will never be able to thank enough--he called me weekly for the time I was in a rehab facility with no contact other than a few friends...kept me abreast of things here, and talked about all sorts of things in life--he's an amazing guy who is closer to me than almost every other friend in my life, even though we've never met in person--and FAR closer than my remaining family, who dropped me right after I went in for surgery--over a year now, and none of them have called me or sent a card. To DynoReads: to emphasize your examples...I've got you beat. I was born in 1958, two months early, and weighed 2 pounds 10 ounces. I spent my first two months in an incubator--which is what caused my initial eye problems due to excess oxygen then--but it was the best they knew how to do. I have a picture of a nurse holding me in one hand, connected to lots of tubes, and had less than a 50% chance to live. I was in the Columbus paper, and again, with a picture when I made it to my first birthday! So, Tim...the point is this: do what you can do to follow doctor's instructions, but never accept their word as final...live your life as if it will last forever, but make sure you do things today with the enthusiasm you'd feel if you might not do that particular thing again. Be the 'unsinkable' Mikiesboy...and to quote Auntie Mame: 'Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving!' Don't leave the table feeling hungry.

You know, I miss Tony's parents...that section really made me cry. I love this story, and am eager to see where it all goes...especially Sasha, David and Alik. Sadly, there is one fly in the ointment for me--not a big one, but there nonetheless: the constant trips to Milan Tony pushes on Mitch to buy clothes every few months or so--it strikes me as overblown, even for a man who must present a good image. How many dozens of new things does one person need? It sounds like he doesn't wear anything more than once...and Mitch--what the hell? He truly loves Tony, and doesn't want new clothes for himself, so why cave at every opportunity? It seems he's burying his own identity in Tony's...I've never thought that was a healthy relationship dynamic. Where is Mitch's independence now? Why doesn't he put some brakes on Tony's over-indulgence and make his own wishes take precedence once in a while? I was happier with their relationship when it started...now it seems on the surface to be another story of more rich people going crazy just because they can, and losing the values that drew them together in the beginning. Still, I am enjoying the story--just fearful it's going to lose it's edge in becoming a 'lifestyles of the rich and famous' clone.

Yes--I was smiling all the way through this one, my dear friend. I was so pleased by the way you handled Sybil and Arthur's reunion--it was like they took up where they left off all those decades ago...though the world is no longer the same place, their love was timelessly reborn. And Tilly and Logan? I was laughing to myself about how that turned out after all her impatience just before he showed up. Yep, he's wary of doing the wrong thing, thanks to K and T's comments about her...but the attraction is still there; we have to remember they've never met, and this is in stark contrast to Sybil and Arthur, who'd met and begun their courtship so long ago. You have to wonder, which of the two couples is going to really begin the joining first--I'm betting on the older couple, myself.

I loved this! Except for the yoghurt--I'm more partial to icing or custard (pudding, over here). So Trent is going to discover the pleasure another boy can give him? It sounds like he's in for his own treat...and I hope he 'comes around' to the better option. Oliver here: "Please sir, may I have some more?"

A great chapter, and Delia gets to meet her mate at last! I hope Elinor tells Miss Sybil that Arthur is alive and will arrive soon...she's waited and despaired long enough. I had to laugh at the by-play between Kellar and Tobyn...he can be bossy and aggressive when Tobyn tells him it's okay. Sigh...another week for our next fix.... xoxoxo

I'm trying my hardest to capture the times as I remember them: a sense of freedom in most things, but unexpected restraint in others--the Summer of Love is past, having left some wreckage of social mores and lack of guidance, coupled with the teen need to be yourself. Not many rules, no fears of savage and fatal diseases a few condoms won't cure...it's the 'Just say yes' era--if you ask the right person in the right scene. I'll try to keep ahead, but if your schedules frees up some, I'm screwed!

I loved the chicken series of pranks...seems to run in themes, which always makes it more challenging! Pete can go ahead and be distant--it's not like he's been around, so we can hope he just needs time to adjust to the new situation--but if not, the boys have other friends. I really hope that Patrick will become one of the crowd--he seems really nice. I hope his home life isn't too bad, I'd take neglectful parents over physically abusive ones. If the bullying at school is the cause of his physical damages, something can be done quite easily--and Li and Will are going to see he comes out all right.

Well, sure wasn't expecting this today...and definitely not from Ryan's view. Once more we see Rob's charm at work, and it makes me want to know him even more! I laughed at Ryan's comment that Rob was all into doing emotional shit like a chick--that's very uncool for a teen, let alone a jock--and yet, Rob pulls it off. I really hope he's going to try dating a guy some time...sigh. Tak for kapitlet, min ven!

With Benny and Finn being only two years apart, the gap isn't too large for them to have things in common, and having shared a room for so long, that helped too. I could picture them reading comics together, or watching tv late at night and raiding the kitchen for snacks. It is a little harder for them now that Ben has Cal, and drives, while Finn still only has his bike--it's another year before he can get his license, so they may have even less 'together time' when that happens. At least they've found even more common ground for sharing when they talk.

After Gary's comment on the scene, I thought about adding a little to make Denny look less, but I didn't say how long he really looked at Bill...and the fact that Greg was right next to him made it safer for him to be there, but he still needs a lot of help in feeling comfortable with actual contact. He's working on that with Greg, but as for anyone else--nope, not even close. Benny and Finn, it feels right that they have so much trust between them, and yet Finn can still 'wind B up' when he thinks his older brother is getting too serious. From what I gather, if boys share a room growing up, they either end up hating each other or becoming friends as well as brothers...I don't know as I only had sisters, but this is what I'd have liked in a brother myself.

I was afraid I'd pushed things a bit in the wash room; Denny is getting a little more relaxed, and took a quick look, but not as long as most guys would--but he isn't at all ready to do anything with anybody but Greg, anywhere. Regarding Kevin, all Greg will do is talk and listen if he opens up some...he too will not do anything with other guys now that he's found his Yank.

Thanks! It will probably work out in time--Kevin is another real life event I wanted to work in with a happier ending: I lost him irl to suicide ten years into our relationship. Finn as a chihuahua? Man, I hate those dogs...but Finn could yap at my heels all day long!

POV: Jay, Benny, Greg “If they scatter—go for the baby and the mother…” I watched as the low-slung race car roared toward the assembled picnickers…then the driver, Nero The Hero, exclaimed: “Bye bye Baby—hello 70 points!” Moments later, the car and its two occupants, Nero and his Navigator, went up in a fiery blast. In the movie, there was a scramble, and the gushing voice of a busty blonde commentator—Grace Pander—pulled the fictional audience to her rather than the explosion

This was a toughie for me too, Hudson...it hit way too close to home for me. My coming out wasn't filled with angry words or violence--I was in my late 20s, and my father wasn't that type...but that happened a month before we moved to separate houses, and after that, I never heard from him again. Not for his last thirteen years. My parents were divorced, and my mom had asked once, and said it didn't matter to her at all, so I at least had her love until she died ten years ago. That's small consolation to have the bond with my dad broken, though. My Jay & Miles story is my attempt to reshape that past. Wonderful, as always!