ColumbusGuy

Excellent chapter, Tim. The way the four interact again shows their deep concern and care for one another. So far, so good mall-wise. I loved the way Nelson dealt with Eric's feelings of inferiority to Rob--just the right thing to say, and he's certainly proving it with actions as much as he can. And his talk about figuring out how to proceed is so true--movies are just so full of misinformation about some things its laughable. Some stories are better, but finding them among the dross is very difficult. Thanks for the great gift!

Awesome compliment Eagle--thank you! We can see where Jay gets his warmth from...and now Mikey sees just how genuine Jay is; Mikey is still fearful, but he has found a place to be himself at last. With time he may just become the person Jay can see inside him.The picture is my great-grandfather's house, the porch is gone now, but the house is still there.

It was the bravest thing Mikey has ever done, but in his mind, there was no choice other than complete honesty...Jay deserved nothing less.The poem was written for AC Benus' petry lyric prompt which appeared while I was doing this chapter--I told him I couldn't write poetry, but he told me to do it anyway to prove it. Seems he liked it.

Thanks Eagle, the boys do seem to be a great fit, supporting one another where needed. It took a lot for Mikey to open up, and Jay did just the right thing--listening and sharing his own weakness. Early days yet, but it's a good start.Places described in these chapters are the real deal where I grew up, hence the detail I can plug into them...the people are very loosely based on real ones with new names, and while there are true events in every chapter, the growing feelings between Mikey and Jay are fictitious--it never progressed beyond friendship in the real world.

Thanks for the great review Eagle. I'm glad Jay works as the typical teen, but he's more than that inside, as many probably are--you can't let people catch you being anything else though. I was the youngest, with three older sisters--talk abut an excess of babysitters! I drew on that for the interaction with Jay and Linda--caring, yes...but a lot of bickering and bossing.

Easter present, heck you just blew away those for every holiday in the coming year. I just don't know what to say--the chapter gave you trouble about how to tell it? I don't see that at all--it is perfect in evrey respect. I can't picture one thing that could improve it by even the simplest change. I'll say only one thing--there can be no doubt now that Carson is a new man, and deserving of a second chance--and if he doesn't make it through his ordeal with cancer, there are going to be some very pissed off readers! I so much want him to enjoy his son again for as long as possible...I want him to meet the Acetos, for them all to become friends and family...and I want Kendall to build new memories of a loving father and mother. If the surgery works, perhaps Agnes and Carson could move to Toronto or someplace near the Acetos? I don't like the idea of them living so far from their son and his partner. Damn it, maybe I'm going to cry after all....

It's amazing how this grew from a couple prompts--the only person I saw was Mikey (me)...Jay would be a possible boyfriend, but he wasn't content to let that be his only role--he's 'hooked' on Mikey, and one thing Jay isn't, is fickle. I hope you're clicking on the links? Some are pretty important to our boys.

Back then too, phones were only in homes and phone booths--nothing you could carry around, so that makes Jay not calling even more reasonable. Jay knows Mikey has some self-confidence issues, but hadn't realized the depth of them--now he's going to 'fix' Mikey so he won't think of doing this again.Jay will probably kick himself for a long time, wondering if he should have said something earlier about how he felt for Mikey--but sometimes it takes a close call to make us realize just what those feelings are.

We have to remember that Miles has no real friends he can rely on, so the possibility that he lost the only one he could have was devastating...in his mind, Jay was gone, so what else mattered? Hang in there, Eagle.

And there, you hit the nail on the head Eagle. Miles is so full of doubts and insecurities that his first choice would be 'safe', but there is the chance for something more fulfilling with Jay, if he will take the chance...will dream overcome fear--it will take trust in someone he barely knows yet.

I had a call like that back then--no chance of anonymous phone sex now with cells--then, your only clue as to who called was if you recognized their voice or they told you. With that background, I could say more than if I actually knew the person...and Miles finally gets to let his imagination loose.Jay is what Miles dreams of--someone who might like him, but the lure of hot sex can't be ignored at that age.

I was in college before I had my first experiences, there was a small gay group, but I didn't join, but I made a few friends in hope that they'd want to do more, but I would just settle for the friendship. I commuted, so life was still pretty much my regular small town. The bizarre thing--my first sex was with a friend from high-school, who I never thought of as anything but straight...it wasn't until my mid 20s that I did things with anyone else. Fear is a powerful thing until you get so fed up that you have to DO something, no matter what. Maybe Miles has a chance I didn't then?

Jay is pretty sure of what he wants, and tries his best to make it happen...more adventures await for both boys.

Thanks Eagle, I'm glad you decided to check this out, and I hope you stick with it. A lot of what Miles feels is the way I felt back then...

Excellent shopping trip--Nelson gets to show off his assets in new pants too! I really hope Eric doesn't buy boxers--they have to be the most unattractive underwear invented, and the most annoying with their lack of support. I've found briefs the most arousing on my boyfriends, and am just glad I found things other than 'tighty-whities' when I started buying my own around age 15...colored Jockeys or Polos were pretty new back in the 70s, so the timing was pretty good. Isn't 'panties' still a female term? Are you saying Eric should buy female underwear? Depending on the cut and style, briefs can be bikini style, trunk style, or near-thongs. Not being too up to date, do they even make men's underwear in satin or silk? Next chapter please, Tim!

Wonderful chapter, Sasha--James is just what Hel needs right now, a pack leader. Is Hel developing a crush? It could be, but he's definitely having to re-think his prior views on gays. Very soon, I think he's going to need Ishca's help to sort through his emotions...James will sort his wolf, Ishca will sort his spirit. And Aki, he provides the security Hel needs to grow. More please!

Not digital radio as we know it--two options: glowing led numbers, or like mine--little tiles which would drop down to reveal the next number--I think they were printed on both sides, and it finally died about 15 years ago. The scene with Dad drew from my emotions from last year when I was told he thought of me after we parted ways...I never expected that, but it brought back the grief I'd denied myself when he died and anger that I'd missed 13 years of his life. Bullies are always trouble, we don't know how bad Zane will be, or what he will do next.

What an awesome chapter Iarwain--I've always wondered how much of the Aboriginal culture embodies the truly ancient views of our earliest ancestors since they remained isolated for most of human history. You've shown a sensitivity to those traditions and yet, also shown how new things can be incorporated seamlessly into their lives through Jarra's story and the dancing of his 'carrier'. I've always wondered too, how sad it is that we pretty much exterminated the Neanderthals when we found them...what could their culture have been like? Our perceptions are colored by the bias of being the victors, and only in the past few years have we even begun to shake off that viewpoint. It is claimed that we won due to dietary influences enhancing our mental faculties, but that is a dubious claim in my opinion...so little remains of Neanderthal sites that we can only guess what their culture was like--some bits of evidence show they believed in an afterlife and had artistic talents, but others still doubt this. Without a time machine, we'll never know. Yirgella's development is a continued pleasure, and Jarra and Mirri lodge themselves ever deeper in my heart. More please!

Not much to say, G-Man...perfection is always worth the wait. You demonstrated in every perspective from each character, the truth of the Wife of Bath's motto: Amor vincet omnia

This chapter is just fantastic on so many different levels--the four boys are so fun together. I love Rob and Jasper being fashion consultants for a gay guy--the irony is intense--now they need to find him some new pants to go with the shirts--I could just see the two trying to find things which would show off his 'assets' best for Eric. You know, it's sad that people have to classify others as a 'top' or 'bottom'--why can't they just be two guys in love, who want to do what pleases their partner, rather than limit themselves to stereotypes. If Nelson had fashion sense, he'd pick stuff for Eric I'm sure...and he wasn't telling him what to wear, but saying what he liked--the choice is Eric's to get what he thinks is best. Please don't force our two boys into the same old roles which are hackneyed by overuse--let them be partners and lovers, not gay clones. One last bit--the changing room scene was amazingly erotic for the simplicity of the language...true skill!

I remember a couple 'dad' moments then: he hurt his back once, but you'd not know from his expression how much it hurt even with the brace, another tiny suspected heart attack (no damage, just pain) but he wouldn't go to the hospital like the paramedics wanted...and the only time I ever saw him cry--he went into the bedroom for a couple hours when he got the news his oldest brother had died...when he came out, he was himself again. God, those days were so fucked up. Our boys are going to have to be careful at school though, not to let their secret out. Jay is Jay though, so I think for him, it's concern for Mikey that will keep him from going too far. I have to laugh at the idea of Kurt calling Dennis--my first thought, when they met was that he might already have done that! Maybe Dennis was one of the 'possibles'--but then the idea of the locker room hit me, and it just grew from there. We know Kurt has been searching for someone...could it be our new friend?

Darn you, Gary--you did it again. Another emotion-packed tear-jerker. I hope that, after the stir-fry, the guys wind up in Chet's bedroom returning the favor Arron gave him in his own bedroom--it would round out a perfect day. I love Craftsman houses, and looked at one when I was hunting nearly 30 years ago, but it had all been painted over, so I passed. Offered on an 1880's Victorian being sold by the daughter of the original owner--not a lick of paint anywhere, three sets of sliding doors, original lights and oak wainscotting...just missed it, so I have my 1908 Greek revival with original wood, lights and one set of doors and stained glass transom and sidelight...it has a simpler feel than the Victorian, but not quite Craftsman. I've found traces of the original wallpaper-mostly florals in the Morris style, but none were salvageable under other layers of paint and paper. I was so touched by Arron's last words 'I'll pretend to discuss it, but for me, it's already decided.' They are so cautious about asking for what they want, not wanting to impose--but I'll wager that Chet's things start moving in within days.

That picture with my dad is still in a cedar box with others from my childhood, and in writing this part, I saw it clearly in my mind's eye--reading your comment made me choke up thinking about it. I can remember a few things from being two, like climbing the fence to the lady's house next door--she had a wooden leg and told me the hole in it was made by a woodpecker! To be fair, I don't remember much of my mom at that age either. The locker room works thanks to your suggestions, my friend--you know what it was before that. To me, Jay was just being Jay, if he can help, he will, but the worry is that he doesn't always see the consequences--remember running out of the house to rush to Mikey's--and the fact tthat he sort of 'outed' himself that night? Did he do it here, or is he just beeing seen as a goody-goody? Dennis is lucky Jay talked to him initially, I think he is what was needed, and we'll have to see if anything develops between him and Greg. As I said in my email--a 'small part' of JM--my ass! I love you, G-Man.

As I said to LitLover, I can't give anything away. Interesting that you think his mom isn't good for him, in a way she IS holding him back. This is so relevant to the way my real life was then--you can love both parents, but I always felt closer to my dad, despite his semi-detached nature.There was a lot of angst over the locker room--G suggested a couple alterations might help it, and it turned out much better with a little reworking. I thought he was pretty harsh with Timmy in the first version, so G helped with that...another month or so and he'll be gone if he passes his classes. I'm glad and surprised that Dennis has had such an impression on my readers--though his family has some money, he's not the typical rich kid...thank god.

Another great chapter, James. I love to see Siggi being happier, and hope this will continue--it's also wonderful to see his concern for Dmitri; maybe there's hope for his own wounds to finally start to heal. Not really going to say much about Gunni...just that I'd like to see more of his cousin and Jo...and the cat. I don't know, but Gunni just isn't registering with me as a person like Dmitri and Siggi, and even Jo and Eirik. How long has he been in Reykjavik--a year?--he doesn't seem to have really grown much in his personal life...but that could just be me. I love the story, despite the evils lurking in the background for Dmitri and Siggi...and I just hope that they will triumph over them in the end. Next one please--in two weeks. Good luck with your concert!