ColumbusGuy

This just keeps getting better Iarwain! It's nice to see Jarra improving, and what a surprise to see Mirri demonstrate an interesting ability! Waiting anxiously for the next chapter!

Thanks for the fun chapter! Well, Devon's father is going to be a problem for him, and why did Devon look sad when Jay announced he was gay? Surely he wasn't that oblivious to how Scott was acting around Jay? I really hope we don't need to worry about Devon getting in the way of Scott and Jay's relationship--Scott deserves every break he can get with his past experience! Eager for the next one!

Darn you Sasha, you've gotta stop writing such moving stories which are self-contained in one chapter! In every single entry of the Songbook, you leave us wanting more, but there isn't really a need for it. I'm so glad Jonas is getting to grips with his fears, and Seth is just what he needs to do it. Sigh.

Tim--just to let you know: I got and loved the reverse-carrot reference to Jasper--laughed right away and could just see him perfectly! Eric blurting out things is what he did at dinner before going if I'm not mistaken, and Rob tried to stop him at the sink. (?)

Thanks AC, I try to keep the boys consistent, and don't want to rush them too fast; I fixed the Linda term when she knocked on the door--bitches is too modern, I adopoted 'dip-shits'. In other uses, which I will work on, out in the country it still meant a female dog...which is what I mean, but it is confusing to modern readers and their ghetto-speak. Odd that no one mentions my favorite bit where Miles mistakes the bridle for something kinky and Jay says he has a dirty mind. Lame joke I guess.

I loved this one too, Sasha, and hope Blake and Alex work it out together. Blake is an exceptional guy, and it was nice to see him find a potentially permanent partner. Brad should get his just desserts, but also a medal for inadvertantly bringing Axel and Blake together.

Nice to see Jules and Marshal meeting...I hope they work out!

Always a wonderful surprise to read your work! My heart fluttered at the last bit just as Eric's did--Nelson better answer before Eric blurts out what he is so good at--the truth is not helpful right now...maybe Nelson could say that they (him and Nelson) were planning on going out to eat, and his parents left things open due to the game? Once more Rob and Jasper know just how to break any tension, though Rob can create it better. Thanks for the nice imagery, and baseball errors would pass me by--I consider it as exciting as watching grass grow. I'll take soccer or rugby any day over and other sport...though swimming has it's own special appeal.

Great story Sasha, and while technically incestuous, this is a story of the purest sort of love, based on trust, friendship and respect. Setting aside religious moralizing on the subject, the only scientific reason against the topic is too close genetic mating which could lead to deformity in offspring--with two males, there is no chance of that. Just where the line is drawn on incest isn't even set today--cousins can marry in some states with not problem, but that is still morally questionable to me between a man and woman. The term also implies that there is some degree of coercion, which is not true in the case of Brayden and Reilly. Without any chance of genetic mingling, and with no type of coercion, why should the two not mutually acknowledge their love? We can only hope that Travis' evil will come to light, and that Father might reconcile himself with his sons--but I'm not holding my breath.

I was a little worried when I spotted the name Tristan...glad it's not Robbie's Tris! Another happy ending, just what the doctor ordered!

Great so far, Sasha--I have to agree with Irri and Gary though. I've never run across a gay farmboy in my youth--small towns haven't changed much since the 70s--but I did meet one who was curious, and willing to let me do oral sex--and, he thoroughly loved my massages when he was done with chores, having absolutely no problem with being touched and caressed, stripped down to his skimpy blue bikini briefs. Such a sweet guy just a few years younger than I was, also blond and tanned. Lost touch after I moved into the big city and he moved a few years later...last I heard, he has three kids, and is probably a good father to them. I hope Clem can find the resolve to talk to Nate, though I don't think it will do him any good...he'll have to find another guy to fill his own nature; alas, most people like Nate don't have the capacity to change, or see the need, to alter their version of masculine behavior. Waiting for more!

What a great chapter James. I am glad that Siggi has someone he can feel safe with and know their love. With all his physical challenges, his mental state is even more fragile than most teens. I really hope that his relationship with Dmitri will recover, and he'll understand that it is more than a physical one for our Russian. I'm sorry, but I'm still not okay with the whole Gunni Plan...I think it's a mistake, and I am less sympathetic to Gunni than I was at the start of the story. I also don't see the need to put more stress on Siggi's mind by having an asexual boyfriend--I think he needs someone who can fulfill every niche that has so far bee nempty in his life, and Dmitri fits that idea far better than Gunni. Can't wait for the next bit--and let's see Kresten get his just desserts!

Loved this one too Sasha! Ditto the whines and begging for another chapter...running low on things by you.

So it isn't just my imagination--this was short? Still, a great addition and leaves me wanting more! Two things: not surprised at Tina at all...and kudos to Rob and Jasper--those two are going to make Eric and Nelson's lives hell, in a good way. I have to agree, Rob needs a new perspective and a new partner, whether it's a permanent change to guys or not, I think he'd be more open to it and just might be happier. Will Eric's dad give them a visit at the game? Can't wait to see that!

What a nice holiday present, James! I'm glad Oscar is arranging his life to suit his own interests rather than his father's, just need to get the nose done. Is it possible this could be done out-patient rather than with a hospital stay? Have a safe trip, and I hope everything goes well for your partner! Surgery sucks, I had it in June, and spent two weeks without computer access until I got to the rehab place, then it was dependent on their wireless connection, which wasn't always stable.

Nice chapter Mark, and thanks. I hope the situation with Cam works out, but at least I now see where Brad really sees them--nowhere, otherwise he'd call him to check up rather than make a date with a complete stranger. Brad the User is in full mode in this chapter, not having really learned anything in this financial situation or in his personal life; the compromise is for his own benefit to smooth life at Escorial for him and Stef, not because he really sees his error, and the fact that he puts Matt in the middle shows that he is once again, morally bankrupt. No real feelings for how things affect other people occur to him so long as it makes his life easier. That it is a potentially bad spot for Matt is unimportant. Brad has lost yet more ground with me, as has Stef. My only hope now, is that Matt will see what Brad is doing and turn it down--but I don't see that happening in the plot as given so far. I am a bit saddened that JP sees what Brad has done with the Matt Compromise, and has no comment on it--doesn't seem like him or Will to let that go. For this chapter, the score is: Self-Interest-7, Morals-0 Let's hope 27 gives some satisfaction to the human side of the family rather than the plutocrats.

Thanks Iarwain! Jay has such a nice set of parents, I wish they had been mine. Not abused, not given dictatorial rules, not lacking anything I needed--happy, right? Was I needy because I wanted more than that? They loved me, but it would have been nice to have been told or shown it more--isolated or insulated--that was me then.

Love it Caz, just trying to figure out a chronology for your stuff! OUt of likes, alas...will have to come back!

Great as always, Val. I'd like to read more of their story, I can already picture them all in just this short narrative.

This sucks, had my review almost done, and lost power for two seconds, and it's gone. Condensed versoin then: I loved it, and while I can't understand Zach's spiteful behavior, I can understand and identify with Bay's. It is so much like my thoughts at that age. Who wants to be considered something with no positive stereotypes or role models? It wasn't the sex or the idea of being homosexual which was the problem, it was the idea of being seen as other's concept of being gay--which he was perfectly right to fear since it happened just as he thought. In my teen years in a very rural town in the mid 70s, there was no way to be 'out', no support groups, no good role-models to follow, just the endless mincing and lisping things television and the media presented--not something any boy or girl would want to identify with then. I grew up an avid reader as a way to escape boredom and try to deal with my isolation from my peers since I couldn't dream of another boy in town being gay...even in this day and age, the high-school I attended has no support group for gay students. After college, when I finally moved to a bigger town, I can't really express how sad I felt to see that so many of the images of gays did actually appear to be true. Most of my friends were still among the straight crowd, but there were gay ones also...but I didn't and still don't fit into the average gay community. I'm going to be jumped on for this, perhaps, but I think there are a large number of people who owuld be out if they saw an alternative to the club-scene, the drag-scene or the leather-scene which is all you get from media and going out to bars for an occasional drink. Some stereotype, maybe all, exist because there is deep down, some small fragment of truth--and that is so unacceptable in this politically correct age, but if you really think about it, and put aside programming from both the right and left viewpoints, you will see it yourself. It isn't a pleasant thing, but until it is acknowledged, there can be no getting rid of the stereotypes. Bay is a person, himself, first and foremost--then he is gay. It is a part of who he is, not his entire being and reason to exist. He is integrating it better into himself, but still, it is only a piece of his total self--a lesson many in the gay community can't seem to grasp; gay is not you--you are gay...a big difference. Proclaiming the images of drag, leather and club types as the only way to be gay does nothing but reinforce the stereotypes...accept also that there are a great number of people who are indistinguishable from the rest of society except for their love lives, then we will be a true community. Bay wants to be himself--not change into what others see as being gay...and that is perfectly fine, even laudable...and he is learning to make his sexuality a positive part of that, without changing who he really is at heart--kudos for giving him that chance, Sasha.

Wow, this was certainly unexpected, pm! I have to say that I loved it--I am glad that Jay, for whatever reason, finally did the right thing which would make his relationship easier. Now, we just have to figure out Keith's problem. Next installment please, this is great!

I was intrigued because I only discovered Buried Treasure byaccident and knew nothing of your universe--I'm now off to read in sequence, so I will get back to BT in time!

Only rode a horse twice, but I can imagine the intimacy of riding with someone on the same mount...must be even better than on a motorcycle!

This story was such a tough ride, but I couldn't stop...did it all in one go. I'd have loved a few more pages to show Ryan and Connor working out the new 'us', but I am just so glad they got themselves sorted out, and hope they can maintain the lines of communication that are so vital to making things work. I am glad Connor managed to open up and let people in...just to let you know, though, that his isolation and lack of self-esteem doesn't have to come from such an abusive life--it can also come from your own inner doubts partially supported by an environment where you can't see a place for yourself. I was never physically abused, but physical shortcomings kept me from being part of my small-town world. Connor had Ryan and Toby to save him, he was very lucky in that regard. A wonderful story, I wish there was more, or a sequel.

A great chapter Mark, but I'm afraid it's a mixed bag for me. Cheers to Claire, Will, JJ and Matt for holding the moral center of their identities; at the same time, boos to Wade, Brad & Stef,, and Alex for not getting the point of what their actions really mean: despite your reply about Wade, I still don't agree--he is essentially saying he still doesn't trust Matt completely no matter how you slice it. Brad and Stef, well, no surprise about Brad, but to see Stef knowingly hurt JP like that is just reprehensible--I'm assuming it's a remnant of his street-kid childhood when he had nothing and did tricks to survive, but for both of them, how much money is enough? Alex? I question his true feelings given that he still hasn't said who he cheated with--omission is still a lie--and his reaction to JJ's molestation disgusted me--he's okay with it as long as he is still going to be the first to fuck him? What a scumbag! I am also a bit disappointed in Zach for not seeing Will's point--but he has never had experience with these issues, and given his upbringing, I'm hoping he gets it now. As for Elizabeth Danfield--although she sees it as a bargain with Wade, she still did something to help him out--and that shows that there is still some small spark of familial feeling in her. Bring on Chapter 26 please!