Jaro_423

Monday, 25 March 2019. Oh, am I so glad to be back! I don’t know why I dropped this for a bit, but this was a great chapter. I enjoyed every part of it, from the mini sketches of President Obama down to Ce´sar’s (not sure how to get that accent correctly positioned above the e) muffled response. Lots of laughs and a few tears too. I just get so moved by what happens what with Hilary Clinton sending a gift for CJ (way to win him, except he’s not easily won) to Thiago’s support of his friends and firing of his racist girlfriend. Oh, and that quilt! Wow! I presume that is a bit of history that you are sharing and that it is a known relic/monument (what does one call such an incredible tribute?) A really magnificent chapter, Carlos! Thank you.

Bunch of stuff going on and I’ve neglected this for a while so am I little lost in the catching up, but I guess it will all come back as I read further.

I’m finding myself more and more lost in all the American stuff, especially when we get into the games they watch. I know it’s a big American thing, but for an outsider it’s like visiting aliens. Lol.

Yeah, good one, Carlos! And such a cliffie. Just as well it doesn’t bother me in the least. Lol.

The story bobs along. Was somewhat out of it with this chapter. Not sure why, but it didn’t hit me the way it usually does. Maybe my mind is elsewhere too much at the moment. Guess that can affect how much one is really taking in.

Loving the story and the characters. Very touching – I’m on the verge of tears a lot of the time. Thanks, Carlos. Really appreciate this great gift you’ve given your readers. [Sorry about the coming and going. I seem to have lost track again and got distracted, though wifi issues have partly been to blame. I have finished reading Walls so let me post the comments I made on those last chapters and then see if I can pick up the next part.]

I last remember Ritchie’s age being 12, but I might have missed a year. Is he 13 now? Lovely welcome for Liz and so supportive all having their heads shaved. Owen really is part of the family now.

I love these conclusions with the dads. A hard chapter, especially for Brad, but hopefully the message got through. Very touching that he has this circle of friends that are willing to confront him with some hard truths. In time he will be immensely grateful.

I like how you handled the dispute over the gun ownership/possession issue. And the resolution was perfect. I, of course, not being a US citizen/resident totally see Owen’s point of view and don’t understand the US view at all, and I’m not sure I ever will. And the humour is great. Love the dads in the conclusion. Too priceless!

Sorry. Posted the May comment here by mistake.

Yeah, about time too! Have been waiting for that to happen – Ritchie’s move to Washington. Yes, yes, yes! Just as well I downloaded this story before losing the wifi. It’s been a life-saver while the wifi has been out. Thanks for writing and sharing it, Carlos.

Another good one. I love the discussion here on sex and the wonderfully flexible attitude of the guys. I believe it’s such a healthy thing and wish I had that flexibility and openness, but I was so locked into my straight lace that I could not embrace it until comparatively recently, when I came out and started exploring what it meant to be gay. I’ve grown by leaps and bounds but am still very inhibited. So, thanks again, Carlos, for a great story and for the education. Lol.

Damn, Carlos, your story hits me time and again and leaves me teary-eyed. I had to put it down for a while (like a whole day!) just to recover a bit. I love it. You really have written a winner here. Thank you.

Even though you warned us, the shock is there and the tears for Ritchie. I see ultimately though that he’s going to end up with the dads as another son. That will be the best for him and for the brothers. A very dramatic chapter which you really did so well on. Carlos. Well done! Thanks for such a great story. I’m finding it hard to put down, and not having wifi means the comments are all accumulating until I get that restored. Then it’s going to be posting fun! Lol. Gradually catching up the posting. Plan to do another 7 tonite, and then another 7 tomorrow or the next day.

OK. Some excitement afoot concerning Ritchie. Wonder what’s up? Something to do with his parents, I’m guessing. Sounds bad but maybe it will have a good outcome in the long run. It’s a little disconcerting how we jump through the months without dates to guide us, so sometimes takes a while to realize that a week or at least some days have passed between the paragraphs. I guess you think the dates would intrude. CJ is so very lucky to be in that home and have such great dads who give him so much freedom to act responsibly, which he always seems (well, mostly anyway) to respond well to.

Yeah, I echo Brett’s words – it’s about damn time! Lol! Time for a party, a celebration! BTW that would have been a good chapter title too. Just saying cos I really don’t go for these boring date headings. Rather make them sub-headings. I was just mulling over the story earlier today and appreciating all the detail you put into this epic tale – details of places, buildings, history, cars and bikes – and people and cultures and language and politics and life. I sometimes find it a little overwhelming, but then if those details weren’t there the whole beautiful tapestry would be missing some bits that make it so splendid. You do such a magnificent job. Thanks, Carlos.

The dads are such a hoot! Love them to bits. Such a nice finish to the chapter. OMG, that was a chapter of note with CJ hob-nobbing with an ex-president and using his first name. What’s next? I guess the sky is the limit. Lol. And CJ’s connections secure them a better table than all the dads’ donations. That’s so funny. Owen is a hoot when he’s nervous too, and a bit too free with the Aussie expressions. Lol. How I would love to see a pic of those two handsome young men dressed to the nines. The chapter titles are no doubt keeping track of things, but they’re so boring compared to what we are used to.

Loved the chapter. I never escape without some tears. Lol. Good to see how Brad stood up to his grandfather. Great interaction with their mom, Hilary, to the point even CJ was envious. And a glimpse of Boston, but nothing that I recognised. I visited there when a student in the late 60s, so it was a long time back, but must confess I did not see much of the place as we were on a student tour attending the Biennial Student Conference of the CS church which has its HQ there in Boston, so most of our time was in conference or at camp up in Maine. I never had lobster on that visit, but on a more recent visit to USA in the late 80s we were treated to lobster somewhere in Florida, I think, and it was delicious. I love the bedtime chat of the dads as a conclusion. It’s so them and so family. Delightful. Thanks, Carlos.

Wow! Papa’s defence of CJ against his own dad is awesome. He really gets CJ more even than his own dad. I love him. Well done, Jarhead. You did good! As did CJ in both confrontations. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of either of them by any means, but CJ has shown his strength of character both in not pushing the teacher and in pushing Ms Tu pretty hard and refusing to stand up to her crap. He’s showing such maturity in his judgment of when to push and when not to push. Great chapter.

CJ re-establishing connections old and new in his busy life. Very good. I feel like I’m with an old friend when I’m reading this story.

@Carlos Hazday Thank you for taking the time to respond. It is so much appreciated. What is happening on the political power scene in the USA today is very interesting, if rather alarming, so it will be good to learn a little of the politics of your nation, as whatever happens in the USA ultimately affects the whole world. It's quite a responsibility and one which it seems the current president is ignoring or deliberately antagonizing.

Fan…fucking…tastic! Well done, Carlos! Lovely chapter really setting the scene for the political influence of this great family: the fathers being the power couple and CJ being the power son. I loved it, even though the politics of this registration process was quite beyond me. The complexities of USA politics are quite something. Looking forward to Walls.

Great chapter with all the gang re-grouping in Washington and the basement all but finished. I can see it’s going to be a great year for the guys and can’t wait to see what you’ve planned for them all in Walls. Typo: The only trees where little clumps of them always with a house in the middle

Yay! CJ & Owen shack up for the night! Yes! I like that. I have to say that Owen has been amazing in his respectfully holding back and not putting the least pressure on CJ. I’m guessing his feelings have not changed much since the first time. Lovely chapter on a turf that’s obviously very familiar to you, Carlos. Thank you.

Back to family dynamics. It’s mostly good, but some bad what with CJ’s mother trying to interfere. So glad he calmly put her in her place. I wonder how she feels that he disowns her like she disowned him. And Owen is either going to have to man up and accept with grace all the generosity of CJ’s family, or move on. I think he will man up. I love that you paint a picture here of the good rich guys. Mostly rich guys have a bad reputation for being the worst because they usually are, but here we have some fantastic guys who want to use their wealth to make the world a better place instead of raping it all to make more money. I love it.