ColumbusGuy

Why do I think Jarra and Yirgella are going to go into the space habitat business? At least the sabotage at the solar array wasn't from a nuclear device--unless that is still a possibility in this future? The question arises as to whether the bomb was from a government or corporation--since it isn't a problem for military-grade explosives to be gotten privately today. I'm on the edge of my seat here, Iarwain! More please, as soon as you can! In an aside, was something wrong with my chapter 18--you skipped it in your reviews--if something didn't work for you, I'd be anxious to know what it was!

An update on my B-Day events: my middle sister (now the oldest since that one passed away a year ago on the 5th) called me, and left a note on Facebook...no cards or calls from the other one, or my gay nephew--he spends his evenings drinking after work and hanging out with his friends. My friend Kat came up from Cincinnati just to have dinner with me--Chinese didn't happen because we got there and the place was gone! So had Bob Evans instead, which was okay since I like their country fried steak. Going to have my last slice of chocolate cake in a minute. Birthday wishes from my house-mate, who got me the cake. The most touching part: all the greetings from my GA friends and co-authors, if I may call myself that. I love every one of you.

Okay, I see now how Dmitri is put together, and I also think I have an idea where you are going with this. I could be wrong, but until this chapter I didn't see any need for Gunni to be in a relationship with anyone...not in a conventional one at any rate. This isn't to say that I don't still find Gunni annoying, but he is serving as filler to the story of Siggi and Dmitri. I guess the sexual spectrum isn't just from 'gay' to 'straight', but extends to 'asexual' as well...I can understand that far better than transgendered aspects, since I can understand there are some aspects of gay sex I love, and others I don't care to try, and still others I will do but not with unbridled passion. I'm figuring that I need to look at the LGBTQ again since it's just a collection of letters to me now that they keep adding; I mean, I can understand the first three fine, and the fourth intellectually, but what the hell do we need the 'Q' for? Queer is just a generic word for 'gay' right? Too much political correctness gone mad in my opinion, which only serves to divide people more rather than bring about understanding. Next chapter, please!

Always a great story, no matter the length, Val! With no details of the town, I can understand Jeremy's not wanting to be out...Vince had it bad, and that was reason enough to stay hidden. I too, was not part of the popular crowd, far from it since I didn't do sports or join 4-H...I was more artistic and was in Art Club three of my four high-school years, but even then, coming out in a 2500 person small town wasn't an option in '77--so far as I knew, I was the only gay person in my school, although I did get two obscene calls from guys--one was pretty hot, but I had no clue who it was, and another time, I did get asked to meet someone in the evening at a point halfway between our houses--but I didn't go thinking it might have been a joke. So, no major drama for my school years, just loneliness until college.

I really hope Ishca can do some good for Hel--he's off to a good start, knowing how to keep him calm, until the subject of his wolf comes up. I wonder if he can do his empathic powers with Hel's wolf--though if he is strictly a spirit one, I doubt it. So remind me again, what does Aki do for work? I thought he did pottery for his job...

I don't really know where to start, Gary. So many revelations in this one, that we, like Kendall, are at a loss for words--and yet they are thoroughly believable and true-to-life. You have far surpassed us all who hoped for a 'reconciliation'--meaning they'd agree not to hate anymore, but not really get to a point where they could bond further; it is very much true that we learn parenting, good or bad, from the example we are set as children--and Kendall by dint of his strength of character, rose above that and would make an excellent father. That he finds the 'new' Carson hard to accept is understandable, but Michael is telling him that he can trust what he sees in this case. For me, this is Carson Dooley's chapter: he might have wanted to act the way his old self would, but he realized this was his last chance, cancer or not, to save what was important to him--not just Agnes, but Kendall as well. I am so sorry for Carson, emulating the only father he knew, but at the same time, he was different from his own father--he realized most of what he went through wasn't right, and did better with Kendall--and without the cancer, I think he would still have changed, but perhaps not as quickly--but then again, most of the change had already begun thanks to his missing Kendall, seeing the anguish of Delroy losing his son far more permanently than he had K, and then his new partner Dixon continuing to build on that change. Carson knew he needed to change before this, and they were seeking counsel, so he is overcoming his old habits--there is a loving father there trying to get out, and I know he will be free, if the cancer gives him enough time. Kendall is still seeing his father through the eyes of a child, but with Michael's help, I think he will see him as an adult now, and see that there is someone there worthy of being loved, a man who is trying to rise above the circumstances which shaped him, and now has the determination to stand up to himself when he was powerless to stand up to his own father as a child. Kendall I hope will realize that in his grandfather's day, kids did not stand up to such a fathre--there was no support system back then he could draw upon, unlike today. I was prepared to hate Carson Dooley, or at best tolerate him for Kendall's sake, but who knew I could be worried and sad for him, and shed a few tears for what he had gone through? As you so often say, 'kudo's, my friend'. Despite the words above, I was speechless for a while just staring at the screen...assimilating what Carson had been through brought home that my own father, from a generation earlier still, even without the bad aspects Carson had, still could only express his feelings indirectly to his kids; this is a new century, and it's a sad fact that many men still believe that feelings are things to be hidden or denied, even from your own children. ...just, wow...

Dang it, Tim, I love donuts and don't have any--my favorite is sour cream glazed, and the store doesn't always have them. Guess I'll have to settle for a piece of b-day cake. Once again, people have touched on all the points I was thinking of...but I don't see any reason why Rob can't be bisexual--he is so comfortable with Eric and Nelson that it can't have any negative aspects for him, just inexperience. Without the anchor of his ex, now is the time for him to see if there is a guy he might like to date for a while. I don't see him going for casual sex. Jasper and Rob, god, hell on wheels. The mall excursion is going to be nuts I think. Just let somebody comment at the mall about Eric and Nelson--they'll wish they stayed home with four people surrounding them in bad moods. I can see the smirk on Rob's face when Eric opens Nelson's door.

So wonderful to see more friends wishing me a happy B-Day! I think it's pretty cool that I have two from Down Under--a place I've always wanted to visit. Closest I've been to another country was a trip to Niagara Falls when I was probably nine. Got some black and white pics in the album from it--don't really remember much of it. Gary, thanks--a couple keys must have got jammed, eh? Love you too, my dear friend. Guess I'll have a piece of cake--my house-mate got me one, and had them write Happy Birthday on it with my name--tomorrow, my oldest friend Kat is taking me out for Chinese on her way up from Cincinnati to see her mom in Cleveland. Gotta razz her for saying my story sounds like Danielle Steele, whom I've never read.

Of course I run out of likes. You should get unlimited ones on your B-Day! You guys are so awesome, especially Tim for making this thread--what a wonderful surprise to log in to. It's nice and breathtaking to see that so many people took time out of their day to wish me a good day today--it means more than you can imagine to me. Kitt--the most interesting way I kept warm this morning while sleeping was to have my Siamese Bortai laying curled up with me, first on my chest, then stretched out along my side, then curled up next to the family jewels. I could tell she was relaxed because she snored--not usually done I don't think unless the cat is deeply asleep. For a bit she was resting her head in my palm, the small amount of drool I could have done without.... Her brother Genghis is the pic for my avatar--he loved playing hide-and-seek in the tub, but couldn't figure out that his tail always stuck out from under the shower curtain. The two of them were 14 just before New Year's, he was stolen back in 2006. :heart: :heart:

Dare one say 'Woo Hoo!'? Nelson seems to be a morning person, something I never could understand--getting up before dawn for school was hell for me. School started at 7:15, but it was usually a half hour or forty minute bus ride before getting there in our rural district--I could have biked it faster but that would mean trying to do something only half awake. One of my favorite parts besides the consent joke, was Nelson using Carolyn to try to wake up Jasper--if it had been me, I'm not sure the prospect of talking to a boyfriend would have done it. On a non-school day, the surest way was to let our dog inside--it was pretty much a straight shot in our ranch house from the kitchen, through the living room, and down the hall into my bedroom...so my Harlequin Great Dane could pick up some speed before leaping onto the bed to slobber on me. Trust me, you woke up fast when hit by a dog who, when standing on her hind legs, could stare me in the eye at 6'! I still have faint traces of the scar on my arm where I sat in a doorway to try to keep her in the kitchen and she jumped over my head. Do we need to alter your pseudonym from 'Lightning Tim' to 'Tiny Tim' for the short post? I'm glad someone else noted that--I might have thought it was fast because of my anticipation otherwise. To quote Oliver Twist: 'Please sir, may I have some more?'

Well, life just got more interesting at the Rectory. I'm hoping that Ishca can help Hel to cope with his Spirit Wolf and other traumas--just also hope he can deal with the physical relationship that seems to be going well between Aki and Ishca. Next installment please!

What an action-packed chapter--I am amazed that Dan can forgive Steven so quickly, but then, they had been friends longer than enemies. I am further impressed that Adam went so far to save him, but it would take a hard person to not do something like that if they could--the consequences can be handled later, and that doesn't diminish the heroic nature of his actions. Dan needs to sort out his feelings pretty quick now, or he's going to lose Adam and Steve both. I'd hope he goes for Adam, and tries to keep Steve as a friend, since Steven has shown how unstable and vilent he can be. Maybe I'm missing something, but isn't the 'girlfriend' of Steve's stuck back at the campsite with no transport? And no real clue why Steve and Dan left? More please!

Thanks Iarwain, this is just what I was trying to do here--is Mikey's vision of his parents real or only in his head? There is however, the additional question: is Jay seeing them as they are, or is this their 'company' face?

Thanks Iarwain--our boys are just sorting things out, but Jay has good instincts where Miles is concerned, and humor seems to help him relax in stressful situations, so that is his first support move for Miles.I think it also helps him control his own nervousness, because this is completely new for both of them.

Oh Gary, a cliff-hanger, really? I know it wasn't something you could avoid with this scene--wherever you stopped, we would feel the same; to do the story justice, it was necessary to deal with each parent separately. As far as K's mom siding with her husband, even though he was wrong, I understand it: from her viewpoint, her love for Kendall was undiminished, though it hurt her...knowing she loved him just as much, she opted to try to work on her husband, who she has loved longer than K, and she wasn't going to give up on him changing if she could help with that. Had he actually been abusive and physically violent with Kendall, then I don't doubt that she would have sided with him, but her husband was only mentally cruel. Not much of a reason, but if her husband could be salvaged, then she felt it her duty to try--Kendall was of an age to build his own life. I also understand K's not coming out to his mom until he had no choice--it is a huge step to take, especially given the circumstances here--looking at it from the kid's view, it is a question of love--will they still love me? In reality, it's not just a question of love, it's a question of trust--love is supposedly ingrained in a parent/child relationship, but trust has to be built up and buoyed up by actions for it to be strong. You are giving a huge part of yourself to someone, and if the trust isn't fully there, then the risk isn't worth it at that time. To Kendall, that trust was missing since she sided with his father, but now to maintain his own honor and sense of self, he had to reveal that part of himself. My mother once said after my parents divorced, that it wouldn't matter to her if I was gay...and you'd think that was the perfect time to tell her--but my father had broken the trust I had with him, and I wasn't going to risk that again--one parent's love was better than none if all I had to do was keep quiet. Did I ever tell her, even though my sisters urged me to before she died, but since I'd not had any long-term relationships before then, I saw no need to take the risk...and when she died, she had met my current s.o. a few years earlier and didn't like him, so why bring up drama in her final days? As it turned out, my s.o. killed himself six months later for his own parent-related issues. Eager for the coming scene with the father--I won't try to guess what's coming, especially since he might have heard what was going on--but perhaps facing his own mortality will have an effect?

Nice job, Billy...the good guys are rounding the wagons into a circle to protect their friends. Brent is obviously one stupid and conceited dick if he thinks his father can be useful here, against a judge. As for the governor's race, the Judge has said in the other story that he will support his son, even at the cost of the election. JT and Cody are foster children (maybe adopted by now?)--their stories are told in the other Pine Hills story as well. Evan still being loose is a huge concern however. Next chapter please Billy!

What a great chapter! You pictured their teen antics and angst perfectly! Knowing Derrick, I hope Tanner takes the lead in this and talks to Chris' father on behalf of Mrs. Liddle--and talks her into trying for it since she's so perfect for such a position. I don't know if Tanner's word or even Chris' would be enough, but maybe he'd learn by having a meal she cooked? I wouldn't give him the recipes though, not without a contract, knowing how businesses operate with their 'movable morals'.

Great chapter James, and I'll forgive the shortness, this time. I was afraid it would take a bit to get back into the characters, but after a few words it was all back--though I still can't wrap my head around Oliver/Olivia and Oscar thinking he's gay now. I had read the words, when he was thinking that...but it still doesn't register for me--despite mental feelings and mind-sets, Oliver is still in a female body, and that doesn't make Oscar gay...gay-friendly perhaps, but he is still loving a girl's body...and the experience with Jean wasn't his own choice at the time. I like the story and the characters, but the Oliver situation is going to remain academic for me rather than something I can connect with. Okay comments inspire you--I'd like to see Brandon be more than just the stereotypical macho asshole he's been--he's trying to show his concern about Oscar as best he can, perhaps he's afraid it's too late to try to rebuild anything between them--but what if, Oscar discovers that Brandon can play some sort of instrument since he seems to hang out in the music room--it could be a connecting factor which Oscar didn't know about, and Brandon can't share it with his other friends? Maybe not the viola, but piano, or some woodwind or even guitar? Just a thought--I don't like to see anyone written off as a stereotypical anything, and maybe he was influenced by Wendy up until Oscar got attacked?

Okay, I have to say this: I don't care how long your chapters are--they are still too short. I am so enthralled by Jarra and Mirri and Yirgy that I hate to see the end. I love seeing the world begin to shape itself into that where Attunga takes place, and I get a cracking good story too. I'm dying to see who is the carry-over character to Attunga--all I can say now is I have no clue, but am eager to find out! Dang, another wait for the next one. Sigh.

I love this chapter's revelations--Angels being aliens with fancy tech! I've read my von Däniken back in the 70s, and always thought that could have been the basis for religion--at least the more advanced ones that actually picture individual gods--they are always merely giant-sized humans with all the frailties of men, and that goes especially for the Christina deity whose followers try to force people into unthinking and unquestioning herds. And why does this negate seeing his mother again? Her spirit is still around, mixed in with all other living things, and he will be with her again when the time comes. The Christian concept of the Afterlife is just so ridiculous--sitting around on clouds singing praises to what is obviously a severely egotistical and monomaniacal human? Not my idea of a Creator or an Eternity. ALL gods are creations of Man to explain the world around him, and the rise of Science should have reduced this Human-like God to the creative force it truly is--but there was no way organized religion was going to give up their perks to an easy life, so they attacked Science and those who tried to reconcile the two. Science is the perfect tool to show us the true Wonder of the universe, not the destroyer of imagination and free-thinking. That task is imminenetly well served by Churches of every stripe. Sorry for carrying on, now back to our Story.

Damn stupid cat, or maybe the designers of the HP computers for putting the Power Button on top where she can land on it. I was alost done with my review and got the shutdown warning, but couldn't save my work...happens at least once a day since she's too lazy to jump onto the desk top from the floor--so it's floor-computer-cabinet NEXT to desk-then desk itself. So, I have a chance to condense. Damn it, Gary, what are you doing? Starting the chapter with a worrisome email, and yet giving me the 'warm and fuzzies' throughout? That, and the feeling of belonging which permeated the whole thing--the boys finding friends and support in places they had never thought to look. Family isn't just genetics, it's also about caring and concern for close friends. I can sympathize with Kendall's predicament over his father as the situation is much like what I went through several decades ago; my father's generation (born in 1918) was not one for demonstrative emotional displays, so he always seemed distant, though I did not doubt he loved me--until 1987. In the summer of that year, we were selling our house to move to separate houses, I with a girl I knew, and he with his current girlfriend, who had been his second wife before my mother married him. Two months before the move, he found a letter I received from a guy answering my personals ad--and he wasn't happy--in fact, once we moved, I never heard from him again. When he died in 2001, I felt nothing particular since he'd not attempted to contact me, though my sister still saw him on fishing trips down to Florida where he'd retired. Twelve years later, in 2013 while discussing the loss of our aunt, I finally asked if my dad had ever asked about me--and she said he did, and that it had been his girlfriend's work which kept any of us from seeing him. She told me he still loved me, and that just destroyed the doors I had set up to block out memories of my dad--after more than a decade since his death, I cried for hours, and still do if I think about it...so, I am fully aware of how Kendall feels and what he ought to do about it. For Kendall, it's not too late yet, and I think he needs to go see him no matter what--if it doesn't work, then he hasn't lost anything, but if it does, then perhaps they can reconcile--either way, he knows he's done all he could. So, right down to the mom who might have been sympathetic, Gary has unwittingly portrayed my own family. Being the youngest, my mom was protective since I was premature and had vision problems due to that, and years later she asked me if I was gay, saying it was no matter to her since she loved me without reservation...but since I wasn't seeing anyone, I never told her. I had lost one parent over it, or so I thought, and didn't want to lose her too. She had met my last partner at my house one day, and didn't like him--but she didn't know we were 'dating', yet another reason not to out myself to her. She was hard to please, so her reaction to him wasn't much of a surprise. So, Gary, 'warm and fuzzies', as well as memories of my parents in one go...I think I need some ice-cream to calm down.

I swear Val, your prompts are like Chinese food--an hour later I'm hungry again, but know the take-out place has closed for the night. Pass the sweet and sour sauce, and more of that chicken!

Such an amazing breakfast they had with mom and pop! The two Michaels are so similar in outlook their banter was hilarious. And it was so great that Kendall felt it was right to give them attitude back with the moving furniture comment. When they talked about talking to Chet, and then the possibility of kendall going to see him alone, I felt a twinge of worry--not because it could make Michael feel bad, but because Kendall's answer made me think of the common pitfall so many couples fall into: giving up every scrap of their own will to the other. New romances turn into 'what do you want to do?' 'I want to do what you want' ad nauseum. I could see it getting old very quickly--just make a fucking decision already. People seem to think that they have to completely subsume themselves into their partner for it to be true love--completely forgetting that it's the differences which make exploring one another exciting. Is this why so many marriages and romances break up in a year or two? The hardest thing is when the reasons for both courses of action are valid--what happens then? In the case of Chet, I'd do as Michael suggested: Kendall sees him first to draw him into their circle the easiest way, whereas both of them doing it might make Chet see it as an either/or proposition he must make right then. Michael and Kendall are secure in their love for one another, so keeping some form of independent identity shouldn't be a threat. Just an opinion, and by no means a criticism of what is going on...the interaction of these two is sappy and romantic in a good way, and I think they both are probably strong enough not to melt down into an undifferentiated mass of goo like many couples do before congealing and shattering with time. Perhaps Chet should be introduced to Jeremy is it--Kendall's assistant? He is the single one, right?

Ah, clever man, it's great to see Andy, Roger and Joey again! I feel bad for Sammy though, having to choose between two great guys. Quick, somebody break Brent's legs! Or sew his lips together so he can't sic the football guys on him.

Okay, now things are going to get even more interesting. Frustrated rector, angsty teen...and toss in an insecure empath...what a good tv series this would make! I really hope Ishca can help Hel feel better, and the three can connect on a deeper level to fix themselves. More please!