ColumbusGuy

Wow--a poem, and Siamese cookies! And so many friends...it can't get any better than that! Spent some time writing, so I didn't just lay around like a bum...it got a workout holding me up at my computer while my brain and fingers put some images on my screen to entertain my readers. Yet more rain, but it's colder today...guess the luck is over for our mild winter! This has been a great birthday, thanks to y'all! :P :hug: :P :heart: :P

Such an amazing birthday present--I was lucky that it fell on the same day you normally post. Ulrich and Millie were likely typical of most shifters that are already couples--whatever the circumstances on earth mates, it's hard to give up someone you've been with and come to love. I never doubted that Kellar and Tobyn would agree to their suggestion, but it saddens me that they won't be visiting the graves of their children. I can barely imagine such tragedies, especially when we don't know at what ages they died--if that even matters. My middle sister had three boys, but the middle one died at the age of three days, while the oldest took his own life when he was twenty years old. I'm nearly as eager as Arthur's wolf to see him reunited with Miss Sybil!

Okay, I can picture two of the four guys, Rob and Jasper, and that's enough to get me interested... So, Rob getting aroused in the shower, fairly common if the talk was about girls...you're teasing the heck out of me--I want him to get that way with a guy! What happened to the GSA president--Trevor, was it? I've got my fingers crossed that Rob will at least try the other side of the fence...it might make him get a better understanding of his brother and Nelson. You're definitely a tease, but I thank you for the image of our hero and his side-kick in the shower--nice early birthday present!

Excellent chapter, Tim--and an awesome surprise to see the brief comment from our two favorite spirits! I like Fiona, and I'm glad there may be other cousins worthy of meeting Patrick. Hmm, Laurence is a soldier...that could be dicey for his views on gay people, or it might not matter at all...I'm hoping for the latter of course. Eager for more of your work, on any front...let's see, is it Rob's turn yet?

I liked this one a lot, Ivor! Despite the vagaries of the British school system, it was clear that Pete and Andrew came from different worlds, and yet, found common ground. They discovered that they were more than just the stereotypical kids from their distinct backgrounds. It was what they saw inside one another that allowed them to bond, and not everyone--from either side--would take the time to find that out. Of course, it would be nice to read more about these two...but you've given us a clue that they went on to become even closer friends. Thanks for this 'warm' tale! For American readers, fags are cigarettes, bogs are toilets, plimsolls are sorta like sneakers, but you're on your own with the schools--Ivor tried explaining it to me in an email a week or so back, but that was just the year structure--I know we use different terms (or at least meanings) for public and private schools. I think, our public schools are free to everyone, while in England that means a private school, or one where you have to pay to attend. Grammar schools here, are the same as elementary public schools, over there, I think it might be like a high school...that's just a guess on my part, so don't take it as gospel.

Okay, it was great to see Kellar begin to accept his and Tobyn's role in the future of shifter-kind, and it is due to the painting in Delia's house. The fact that he shows up just when help is most needed is another sign of the path they are meant to take. You don't mess with Fate, or the Earth Mother. Arthur is going to be a force to be reckoned with, and the combination of him and Miss Sybil will lead to some unexpected events, I'm sure. I hope he can remember more of his past, and the location of his old Pack...it must be in dire need as well, and might be another source of new talents. More please, G-Man.

2007 was my year of loss: my mother in the week of my birthday, one of my favorite cousins during that summer...and my boyfriend/s.o. on 1 September to suicide. With my mother, there was the week of vigil at her hospital bedside before she was gone, so that gave some sense of closure...but not with the other two. My cousin died unexpectedly of a heart attack while working, and my s.o.--I'd seen him just a couple days before, and he gave no unusual signs of being ready for such a final step. I think Maurice was lucky in a way, to have Eric's demise being a gradual one--it gave them time to prepare each other for what was to come, as best could be done. One last glance, one last chance to share the love they felt for each other--leaving them both secure in the bond they'd shared for so long. It makes grieving easier, I think, when compared with a sudden absence of someone who was such a big part of your life hit out of nowhere. No final resolutions, no real last words...just a void which you weren't planning on having in your soul, and no way to deal with it. For Maurice and David, they had their partings, and in time were ready to move on--to see if there was a brighter day ahead; they could hoope, secure in the love they'd had previously, and could be ready for it to once more fill their hearts. This new adventure will only augment and enhance that they've had before, not replace it. Sweet, warm and full of solace for a troubled heart, my dear friend. xoxoxo

Oh man, Hudson--I want to know more! Please....Does he come back another time, does the toy soldier draw the wolf to him? You developed the atmosphere of the night so beautifully, that I was hoping a new plateau might be reached between them. It would have been magical, without fear, two souls feeling the call together and succumbing to it. Wonderful!

Wow, Arthur is going to be a handful! I think he's going to remember a lot more soon, maybe even be able to tell them who and where his Pack was. I hope it's still around, but they did lose three members that one day, so if no one stopped the Hunters, they could now be gone. Maybe Kellar could call Miss Sybil and she could come to Vega for now? I bet she can sense Arthur again, which would be amazingly sweet. Just when I think you've given us the happiest moment, you come up with another...don't know how much I can take, my dearest friend.

Tension's building nicely, and Seamus is lucky to have such good parents. There is an old idea that moms always 'know'...I think mine did, because she told me once that it wouldn't matter as I was her 'baby'. At the time, I wasn't seeing anyone, so I didn't confirm it...and she didn't mention it again. This is the woman who found a little story in one of my school books in 10th grade of two boys necking in a restaurant, and I said I had no idea how it got there. How dumb can a teen get? A parent knows her kid's handwriting! I'm eager to see what comes next!

Hmm, motivation for Timmy Zane? I had conflicting ideas on that, but I will have to decide soon--would that be some big 'confession' scene with Bobby? Friends help cheer up each others' days, and Greg is pretty good at it, but perhaps in a more subtle way than Jay...he only had a brief glimpse of Jay working on Mikey's 'banana', so it felt right to let him use that. More Linda coming up...and more of everybody else too!

Soup of the day? Make mine tomato, with a grilled cheese on the side...there's nothing better to bring comfort on a February day. March is around the corner with its promise of Spring, and a host of new dreams and promises. I'd light a bonfire on a hill just for you, if I was allowed to play with matches!

This chapter was all about sharing friendship and family, creating memories the guys will never forget. I have those memories from my childhood, and you never think about how fragile those friends are. My memories of those friends are to me, forever kids or teens. I too, saw such a site for my class, and it was a shock. Even more so was the magazine put out by my college with news of various classes---I recognized names from my years there, and within a decade, several of those I knew of were already gone. One thing I hoped to do with this story was come to grips with how my father and I's relationship ended--I wanted Mikey's to end on a happier note--for thirteen years, we had no contact, then he was gone--no final chances left. I'd have welcomed a renewal of our bond, but he had a problem with my sexuality. Only years later, one of my sisters told me he asked about me when she'd see him in Florida, but it was far too late when I heard that. Mikey will have it better, and I hope to lay some ghosts in the process of writing this tale.

Thanks Wesley...I'm working on the next one now. We will see more of Billy and Kevin, but I don't know yet if they'll get their own points of view--it's kinda crowded in JMland, and only one of them goes to the same school. Maybe I should put a question in the Discussion Group asking if we want more of the new guys?

Sigh...I missed out on so much fun being the 'baby' and the only boy! I loved reading about these two best friends, and the havoc they caused for Trent--I can just picture what he might do to get even--maybe up-ending the filled rubber over the boys as they are sleeping? More please, my friend!

I just don't have the words.... The idea of a network is amazing--but why wait to find more packs? They could start now--and I think a more pro-active search into Hunter genealogy could yield a lot of good. In this age of information, you can find a lot of stuff online--but I wonder if the Hunters, with their mania akin to religious fervor would think to do the same into Packs, or even think of seeing who looks into their own history? Even with renewed vigor and longer life-spans, I think it might be difficult for Arthur and Sybil to become parents...but hey, this is fiction, so you never know! Or rather, we don't know--I'm sure a certain denizen of the Great White North could tell us.

I love this story Sasha! Jian has found the perfect mate, and the perfect job...and now they are sharing Emmett's dream too. I'd never survive that far north--Ohio is plenty cold enough for me these days. It would be awesome if we heard more from these two in the future!

I hope this turns out okay--I thought Wes' father was more reasonable, but we'll find out. Some things I've seen, I'm not sure if it is due to punctuation or other usages that are considered okay now in the computer age. I learned my rules back in the Dark Ages of the '60s and '70s. If you'd like, I could take a look and offer suggestions?

Bad author, bad author! Where's the rolled-up paper to swat you with? You can't leave a mess like that for too long...it'll ruin the carpet from us drooling and panting for a resolution. That crazy woman had better be in jail in the next chapter--out the door with her nutty family at the very least! More please!

I'm liking this story a lot, Lit! I hope Nathan turns out to be the one, but as Marty said, there's no rush. Speaking of Marty, where can I find one of those? Maybe he has 'tendencies' and could go for Liam?

The only response I've got to such feelings is how it works for me...sometimes. I try to smile and look on the brighter side, and if I'm lucky, it becomes true in time. Sadly, my mantra was co-opted by a political movement in Germany before WWII: 'Strength Through Joy'...the original name for the Volkswagen car which was to symbolize the new prosperity coming out of the Depression...but was a mask for other movements. Still, I feel better able to cope with a smile on my face than a frown.

You'll have to wait and see if Mikey's dad knows...depends on how well he knows his son, wouldn't you think? Yeah, Greg and Denny fit pretty well, and things seem to be going well with Denny's recovery--Greg seems to have an instinct for putting people at ease, or is it just Denny? I'm working on the next one--guess I'm lucky you aren't like me--if I start a story I like, I go right through--but then, I don't have a job or a night life!

You ought to know, of all people, what images prompts put in your head. This one almost screamed at me to write it, so I had to do it. The 'thals left were the ones who could 'pass' in human society, so their numbers were small...we get the impression that the Compound was now more a residential enclave than the former research organization, since it was a holiday continuation for Harman. Our young hero will have an interesting role coming up. Yes, the 'good' humans have a rosy future--there are still some on Earth, but maybe they will start a Resistance movement?

Thanks...sorry about the ! but perhaps air-cars are the norm in the developed world? Maybe a lot of heavy or bulk transport is done by trains? I had a couple Prompts to choose from, and this one seemed like it ought to come first...Harman is a new character who will play a role soon, but we'll get back to our Martian and 'thal friends in the next one...gotta see what Two-Sapphire plans for a baby!

This is sounding pretty dicey...I hope the next meeting will help resolve more of the issues at stake. Those who don't want to leave could try to maintain Vega's sawmill, while the rest could roate in and out as needed. I hope none of the pairings leave Morningstar, since that will almost negate the advantage of finding them in the first place. Do we even know the last location of other Packs? I vaguely recall one, unless that's from another story, or my imagination! Another week...grumble, grumble, sigh.