ColumbusGuy

A great one, Iarwain--and I think I'm getting an idea about why the communities are moving underground: ecologic damage and increasing populations. And thanks for tossing me a little bone about the dolphins. Now I'm wondering if Jarra's nanobot project is going to be useful in some way to his own health situation--it would be so fitting. I'm also saddened by your last line--I don't want to see anything make Mirri unhappy--and I hope Jarra can do something to include him in his life more. Bring on the next one--I'm caught up on all my stories now!

What a great chapter, Tim! I love the way Evan and Russ work together to tease their boyfriends--and I'm so glad Chris and Jacob are getting along. I was concerned when you brought up the possibility of their father turning up or having something happen...I hope this isn't an ominous cloud on the horizon. (Im)patiently waiting for the next chapter--I understand it so much better now that I'm doing my own story--and I've got it easier since it's my native language!

Didn't Churchill say something like we are 'two people divided by a common language'? If only you would add a note saying what was changed--I love British English better than my native American...and your accents are wonderful! Not knowing anything else so far, I already dislike Steven and can't abide Lisa. Thank the gods for Adam showing up, whether they do anything or not! Off to do Chapter 2!

Wow, I never would have thought that Wally could change! Now that things are all goodness and light for Zach and Will, I guess the big problem will be Parnell. Or Zach deciding before the end of school that pro ball isn't worth the sacrifice he's making right now for it. I hope in the end, that he makes the choice to be himself, whether that means he gives up football or not depends on the amount of flack he's willing to take in the big leagues. I may be wrong, but wouldn't his talent eventually outweigh who he sleeps with, especially if they are committed to each other? I'm still a little vague on Tom, but I'm glad the issue is cleared up now...maybe another reviewer can refresh my memory? Brad and Marc? Finally they can begin to make more certain progress in their relationship! Bring on the next bit, Mark!

All great here, AC--and you hit the era right on the head--coming off the 60s hippie movement of peace and love, the medical invention of the Pill and no seriously incurable diseases, the Revolution was perfectly timed, and you only had trouble if you were stupid about protection against pregnancy. I assume being gay was a bit more okay in cities among teens, but in rural areas it was still 'invisible'. Those who wanted religion had to go to MCC or most likely become pagans. The Beckels are European, and I used that casual use of wine as something common for them, while Mikey might be worried about it. Being who he is, and his continental outlook, I figured the pot issue was about the same as drinking, especially since it was banned originally due to politics rather than science or moral grounds. Dirck and Rosalie don't strike me as being hypocrites about anything I picked up sex-ed from school, and never had any talks about it or drugs with my parents...since they didn't do drugs or drinking I didn't either, then. Later I did alcohol, but have only been seriously drunk twice, and both times with friends to watch out for me. Pot was much like smoking had been, tried once in a while, but the coughing was enough to make it very rare and never tempting. What's coming up beyond mom-school on Monday, Kurt, a get-together with Dave and Trebor...this is third week of April, so graduation for Linda isn't too far off.

It amazes me that you can say such things after knowing what it took to get there...I'm just trying to write a little story of what I wished for in those days, and try to be true to how the boys would act. I hope I can do that and make it still be realistic.The sex was hard to write because each had done phone sex, and I wanted this to be more than just them getting off. The real 'fun' will come with Mikey's mom, and going back to school on Monday. The real accolades should go to my Triumvirate: You, Tim and AC for making this work so well.

I hope you washed your hands before typing that. I think it way harder to write the first chapters since I was new to gay fiction...it's different than doing an interactive story with others--but I'm glad you stuck around.I was worried that your requested sex scene might be too soon, but we knew they both wanted it, and they finally 'got' that this wasn't a temporary thing for them. Even so, I didn't want them to do the final act of gay sex--screwing--so though they both had fun, it was still not full-on sex. I won't give anything away, but I asked Gary about whether he thought a sequel might work, and he thought it could work.

POV: Mikey, Dirck, Jay, Mikey “I have to have a talk with your mother?” Jay’s soft question sighed through the cab like a whispery breeze through long grass. We had tried finding some music when we left Eastland, but this close to midnight, AM radio was mostly static or blustery talk-show hosts, so we turned it off. Maybe we could pool our resources and get a new radio for it—something with FM and maybe a cassette deck. On our radio at home, I could easily pick up stations from Newark and Co

On the review of Chapter 35 when Zach reminds us of the scene with J.P. decades earlier...isn't that the first Hayes boy, Jeff? The sad one who couldn't cope in the end, also the football star and sad drug addict....It seems like the two families have had a tormented relationship for decades, with Frank being the only other ray of hope besides Zach. I don't count Gathan because he was a piece of work who saw no problem raping Zach as a teen.

Thanks dughlas--I'm still amazed at the fact that my first chapter now has over 1k views, and I have 19 followers! This started as just a few prompts to morph into a pretty cleansing look back at my teen years, though I didn't have the courage to connect beyond casual friendship with my version of 'Jay'. So much of this is true and what I would have loved back then, but I was hampered by terminal shyness and worry about being found out. Real events in every chapter--when I look back I often wonder how much I missed out on--I think I missed more than a few chances to express my 'feelings' with another boy--especially when I got the 'sex call' one Spring day.

Dang, Tim, now I have to finish my own 'discovery' chapter, which wasinspired by you asking me when it would happen. It seems we are running slightly parallel universes here, because I have to finish my boys' date too... You plotted an excellent scenario for the mall visit, and it will be fun to see how this enhances the relationship, since they view it from differing perspectives--maybe Rob will be forced to stay in the bookstore with them as friendly torture? Or maybe he and Jasper will go off on their own for a bit, giving the boys some time for more bonding...Your boys have it so much easier than mine thank to the more tolerant culture around today. A big thanks to you for mentioning my small contribution here--my Chapter 15 is going to be mainly inspired by your question about getting them together--without that, it would have taken a whole new direction. I'll wait for the next one as patiently as I can.

I'd be hard pressed to find a better chapter in this story, Mark. I agree with everyone else's comments, but I have one minor disagreement with Tim...incredibly painful for all concerned, but Will's presence was a huge help to the person most involved--Zach. He is the one with the most to lose in this deal--Wally shows no real sign of caring that he is ruining his son's life, and perhaps Clara is realizing that she has sided with the wrong person all along. Wally is determined to control Zach at all costs, and would have guilted or bullied him mercilessly had he come alone...by his being there, Will showed his support for his lover, and gave him focus to his thoughts. Had Will not been there, the 'gay issue' would have turned out very differently I think--Clara would not have seen Zach's view at all. Now, he may be able to salvage a relationship with his mother, rather than lose her and Wally too. I'd ask Tim to look at Will in the perspective of my own characters: he provides the same focus and support for Zach that Mikey does for Jay in my own story...and that is invaluable. Anxious for the next one!

Happy Birthday dughlas! Throw some more logs on the bonfire and have a frolic around it for me! And a big piece of cake since that's technically verboten for me.

I always did most of my shopping at Eastland, it was the closest group of stores to us...Now, it'ss the only enclosed one left, the newer ones are strip malls, and Eastland went up for sale earlier in the year and got one bid for less than the company would accept, so we don't know what it's future will be--that would leave southeast Columbus with no major shopping areas, though it has some 75 stores in it, including Sears Penney's and Macy's. Seems it's gotten a bad rep lately, and the interior trees are gone and the floors are entirely carpeted now...so I'm sure it sucks.

Thanks Iarwain--I was wondering where you got to! Jay has a problem with spontaneity--he has too much of it, and can blurt out stuff or do something totally unexpected if he's excited. With luck Mikey can balance that out. I confess to having a tiny bit of a fondness for socks.

A lot to take in, Pat. The date was such a disaster, and having Devon appear in that way was just the last straw. I still think he's gay and hiding in a very deep closet. I'm so glad Scott and Jay have made up, but I really think they need to put some distance between themselves and Devon--particularly Jay since he seems to be tempted by him. I have to say that as much as I liked this chapter, I really didn't care for Jasmine at all--that comes from my small-town childhood and attitudes, probably a lot like Jay's...cross-dressing is something I will never feel comfortable with as for me it contradicts the whole concept of being gay: I want to date guys, and if I want someone dressed as a girl, I'll date a girl. While I recognize their desire to do so, it has always struck me as drawing too much of the wrong sort of attention to the community from the media. I'm eager to see the next chapter, and hope you had a great New Year's Eve!

Well, a minor disappointment here for those of Team Rob who would like to see him try dating another guy....He seems so accepting and open that I'd have thought it a possibility. I loved the scene with his dad, and it made me wistful about times my dad and I used to have--I felt close to him, but we never really shared a laugh, except probably when I was too young to remember. By the time I was a teenager, my parents both worked, and I started to draw into myself more. Was that a result of their jobs, or my also realizing my sexuality? I don't know, but I knew the love was there, but it got a back seat in our interactions. There was zero support for gay kids or even much other counselling in my school back in the mid-70s, and when I graduated college in '81, I think there might have been a fledgling gay awareness--I know we read some gay-themed works in Lit classes, and one of my female professors was the first one I mentioned being gay to in a theme on Rita Mae Brown's Rubyfruit Jungle. In high school, it was a well-known fact that my art teacher and one of the biology teachers lived together, but it wasn't blatantly discussed. The school even now has no GSA group. Can't wait for the Mall excursion--and now the GSA meeting!

A wonderful New Year's chapter, Iarwain...I'm glad that Jarra has recordings of Mirri's singing--I'm betting that there is gong to be some use for it beyond the expression of happiness. I don't recall the Valley of The Eagles from Attunga...but I'm getting a funny feleing that one very concrete connection between that and this story is coming up in the not too distant future. I'm really looking forward to spotting links for Attunga...I love a challenge! More, please!

Happy New Year Sasha, and thanks for the chapter. I hope Madison will like Ashlee, but I don't see much good coming out of the rodeo date besides that. Nathan and Ashlee are not going to be at all cordial--probably not even civil. There are gay rodeos, but I'm sure this isn't one, and if there re any gay riders there, I doubt they would help Clem and Ashlee out if it came down to a fight. I don't think jail is in the works, but I'd lay money on lacerations and possible stitches for somebody. Bring on the next chapter...I'm sticking with it even though I'm not comfortable with Ashlee.

What an excellent way to bridge the gap between two stories! I can't wait for the new one to start, but I'm forced into it. Harrison is going to have a very rough time of it, but I think Justin can be just the right person to help him, if he allows it. I've been reading a story where every single character has issues, but the 'hero' brings most of his problems on himself--there is another character who is interested in him, but he constantly suspects him of toying with him, and not letting him get close...32 chapters of angst and mental games have worn me down...I no longer have any sympathy for the story's characters, and am just hanging on to watch the train wreck at the end. It's nice to find an author who knows that it can't be constant drama and disillusionment--that there have to be bright spots of hope.

Tim has nailed it exactly for me...I think there should be another session with Wally and Clara before Zach gets involved, now that the counsellor knows what the issue really is. I'd put in one before Zach arrives otherwise I don't see any progress happening, no matter what Zach wants--and him coming out to Wally without him changing his ways is not a smart move--Wally has nothing to show that he is willing to change and work with Zach, while it looks like Zach is making all the concessions--not what I'd call professional on the therapist's part. I'd love to see JP face these two bozos, and I'd advise Will not to go until Wally has shown some sign of altering his behavior...so that leaves Frank. Oh, and what's this about Frank's fiancee? I thought he and Isidore were married? Everything's cool with Brad and Marc, and JJ and Alex...so no complaints there. Next, please!

A great chapter, pm. I hope Friday's date goes well, and Jay can relax at last with Scott. I know he is stressing badly at the prospect of a physical encounter, but most kids do as teens--at least I did! I guess Devon will be reported on by Mr. Collins, he's just the oily type which turns me against organized religion. Hypocritical and judgmental to a fault. I am still concerned that Devon is going to have an adverse effect on Jay and Scott's relationship, even if it isn't intentional. Let's see the next part--I'm full of anxiety here!

This was such a great chapter--I have been waiting as patiently as I could manage, and now I have two! His grandmother just gets nicer and nicer...and her letting Jay have such an important part of her past is just amazing. Finally he has a support system and real love in his life--I hope he can get more comfortable accepting it. The only worry I have is Devon--the feeling is growing in me that he is really only dating Dani because of his father...I really hope that he won't wreck things between Jay and Scott. He is far too unstable to become a major part of Jay's fragile equilibrium.

Wow, Dyno...words fail me completely. I can so easily envision the family's discovery, having had such a tragedy impactme twice--once by one of my nephews' success, and the other by my last boyfriend. I can understand what caused it, but the feeling remains that I could have done more to prevent it if I'd only known...particularly in the latter instance, where I'd seen him less than a month before he died.

I'm not sure why, but I kept getting imagery of Native American figures in my head reading this.... Amonsri, you could find the One walking down the street, just around the next corner...you never know when, but be open to the possibility at every encounter. While there is breath, there is that chance of finding the One for yourself. I know about the sense of isolation, having lived it through my teen years in a small farming town...it took until I moved into a larger town to finally dispel it...but they say things are easier today for young people, and I hope that is so--yet the sense of rootlessness and not-belonging still comes up. Emotions are beyond any logic found in the modern world and they respond only to other primal forces rather than reasoned examination. The One is there...it remains only to meet him...give him time, he is searching also. A Fellow Crier sends peace and assurances.