Cole Matthews

I'm glad you enjoyed it and like my little theme. I enjoyed writing it. Thanks Jian!!!

Thanks Addy!!! I do have a thing for assertive women i guess. Yeah, thats the word. They did end up with a good life together. Im glad you enjoyed it and thanks for all your help.

Some old friends of ours from Joe the Welder make an appearance. Cool. The guys are getting situated all right. I'm wondering when Barry's going to reveal he's the new bar owner. I also wonder when we find out about these other secrets. Can't wait!

That is so very true, Puppilull! It's best to appreciate all you can get. Taking your own advice is sometimes the best! thanks so much!

Addy, that was wonderful. What a beautiful remembrance and ode to him. I could feel your love and how much he touched your heart. How did you make an earwig sound delightful? Haha!!! Amazing.

I love this story's characters and your use of social convention was awesome. It is so powerful we dont even recognize it exists at times. Well, at least some social norms that is. Wonderful story and awesome use of perspective. Thanks Cia for sharing with us!!

Thanks Dolores. Im glad you liked it.

Beautiful and haunting love story. I loved the little hints and in the end we dont really know. But we do. In the end we will change for the one we love. Sometimes it isnt even a conscious decision. Wonderful job Sasha!! I loved it. Thanks!

I was in high school when your story is set but i remember the fear and questions swirling around at the time. Then too the gay cancer or GRID was a kind of scarlet letter as well. Later in the 80s, i recall people equating AIDS with gay even though by then it was more clear what it was. I also recall how important those adoptive families we created were. It was especially important to have a backup support system. Wonderful job bringing back memories and the story is so interesting. The guys feel like men ive known. Weve since drifted apart but they were vital in my youth. As you can tell by my gabbiness, your story touched me on a personal level. Thanks for sharing it.

That was a gut wrenching story and so well done. It was beautifully told with so much pain in its substance. It was brutally and wonderfully honest. There are layers to relationships between fathers and sons no one, even the principals involved, can fathom. Really moving and thought provoking. Fantastic jobb, Ron. You should be very proud of it.

Haha! Thanks Graeme! Yes, definitely a Möbius strip and a full loop more than a circle. I wanted the reader to see what 1985 Brian couldn't. I'm glad you caught that. I tried to capture a taste of the difference in times. Not sure that part worked as well. Anyway, I appreciate the awesome review.

Thanks Cassie! I'm glad the tension came through and the surprise worked. It was fun to write and it's nice people have enjoyed it.

Wow! That is quite the family! I'm not sure anyone comes out looking well. Mom seemed to want to keep the family together and give Tim some hold over the others. Nick was odious but Lisa wasn't much better. Frank was the only one who seemed genuinely abashed at his behavior. A parent dying is always difficult, but this was especially hard. If I were Tim, I'd run away as fast as I could. Very well done, but so toxic! So thought provoking, Wayne. Great job.

I felt my heart in my throat as I read it. That's something since I'd already read it! I was so anxious about Romeo meeting his Julian. Beautiful story, Addy! Thrilling tension. Simple, riveting plot line. Lovely characters you want to succeed! It has it all. Marvelous additions by the way. Those finishing touches made it so rich. Bravo!

So you've captured my early teen years perfectly. I wanted to dream away the boys and place the girls by my side but they kept switching places. Fantastic job Dolores!

I love Max and Elliott and so glad they made it through. What I adore about this story is how they made each other better. It seems so simple, yet it's not. That's what love can do, makes a duo better than two singles. Wonderful job Val! Elegant.

Magnificent story. I love your writing regardless, but this was something special. You tell the complete story of three men in a short format. I could feel Alex's want. Derek's guilt was gnawing my insides. Ethan's innocence and guilt gave me whiplash from it's intensity. Throughout I felt the two men's concern for each other and their care for themselves cresting from time to time. Lovely expression of when friendship crosses the line into love. Very touching and I was on the beach with them. Awesome job Cassie! Brava!

I love when writers touch on human experience we don't always notice. You write about such an experience in a wonderful way. We often do things to help others and without much thought. The right thing to do isn't particularly remarkable. However, the someone we help remembers that kindness forever. I know I do. You did a fantastic job portraying that idea. Great job! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Well, you had me tearing up for both Liam and Neil at the end. Bastard. You moved me.

Thanks Wayne! I'm glad you liked it. I thought back to how good friends worried about us at that time. They were perhaps overly protective which seems almost wrong now. I don't want to forget that concern. I appreciate the wonderful comments.

Barry does seem ready for his next step. Wait until he actually has to run a bar!!!! Its not all fun and profit thats for sure. Dave definitely decided to take things to the next level too!!! My goodness, ride em cowboy. Great transitional chapter. We will see what's really happening in the Big Easy.

The reunion was fantastic! I loved the child star aspect and it didn't go too far. There was a kind of reticence and reserve that made the pacing and cadence work really well. Wonderful vignette. I wonder about these guys. I'm curious. Great job Wayne!

That was messy. Life is messy. Well done! The interactions between fathers and sons are sometimes pretty mixed up and you portrayed it well. Carson is dying. Maybe he'll survive this bout of cancer but he knows his expiration date isn't too far in the future. Kendall is also seeing his father is a flawed human being with his own demons and issues. Thats going to be another road bump. Its striking how these powerful situations change us. As we watch our elders begin to fail, it makes us contemplate things. Great job Gary, presenting us with some seriously gritty interaction. You remain honest to these characters. Good for you. Thank you for sharing with us.

Interesting chapter. I'm glad Doug has seen the error of his assumptions at least through the lens of his best friend. It's good to see Neil's becoming more open to Liam's attempts. Liam is so noble in his attempts to help Neil. It's quite the fascinating interplay and very realistic. The Carlton play for Ty is different. It seems they are building up Jim without wanting him. Kind of cruel if they only use him to get to Ty. But it is a fascinating scenario. As for Neil's mom, you are showing the complexity and depth of emotions very honestly. She is conflicted, tortured by her son's situation and her beliefs. They are colliding and you demonstrated her pain so well. Too often these raw emotional conflicts are shoved to one side. You are bravely presenting both sides so we can struggle along with the characters. Absolutely fantastic. Bravo to you! Thanks Graeme!

Happy Birthday Buddy! Hope you have a very special day!