Jaro_423

I had been wondering why Owen seemed to have backed off, but seems he’s just biding his time. Interesting. Maybe something much further down the line, unless Owen meets someone else in the USA that diverts his attention completely.

Interesting places we visited here with a fund of information. CJ is a sensible youngster altogether. Did he and Owen come to some sort of agreement about not picking up their relationship? Or is this just a follow on from the separation which CJ earlier made from Owen when he moved back home? I’m puzzled that Owen is not pushing CJ for anything.

Here I am making comments but whether they’ll ever be posted, who knows. At the moment (18 Feb. 19, cut from a couple of days ago) I have no wifi connection so not even an email is possible let alone a phone text or call on Whatsapp, though I guess someone could call me, but I have no airtime either to call or text someone. Quite a cut off and likely to last until the end of Feb as our subscription has used up all the data allocated for the month and the landlord is refusing to upgrade. Great chapter on the second Australian visit. Glad CJ and Owen did not immediately resume a sexual liaison. I enjoyed the commentary on gun laws and differences between USA and Australia. Interesting to see CJ’s comments, though I tend to side more with Owen’s view, but perhaps that’s because I don’t live in the USA nor do I understand their laws and culture. The mass shootings and the frequency of them appall me. No other country in the world has such a record, so it’s not surprising Owen has this rather warped view that all Americans are gun-toting and trigger-happy.

A nice chapter introducing the new boys and seeing them settled in Washington, not that it took much to settle them. Very much keeping CJ central and showing him to be the great guy that he is. Love the banter too. It’s so teen! I like the way you show the characters through the banter and their reactions to it.

It’s so good that we hear Rod’s take on CJ’s dads, giving us another perspective outside of the immediate tight family unit of the three of them. And it’s such a wonderful view that makes the dads so much more special than we could imagine. I love CJ’s comment that he wants to be like them. What an endorsement! I love these guys so much. And I love being home with them again. OMG the last scene through Brett’s eyes, of CJ and Eli. Wow! Hot. Great job, Carlos. Thank you.

Wow! That was a ton of info on both bikes and buildings. I can’t say I’m into either so I’m a little lost on this one to say the least.

Loved the farm. Definitely my choice of the good life! Very interesting meeting the retired hippies still living some of the dream. Typo: cows where everywhere

Finding this section of the story quite a challenge. Somewhat of an overload on information on the trip – American places and culture plus CJ hurling in some Australian versions too just to cause more confusion than ever - and not much on the characters.

The end of José-María is not good. Here is CJ standing for anti-bullying and his mates appear to have bullied him unmercifully. No matter how much he might have deserved it, it was the wrong way to go about it entirely. I’m gutted that he was treated so badly. I really hope CJ does something to redress this in some way, more than just a gentle rebuke to his friends. I’m finding it quite hard to believe his friends would actually do this. I wonder who was at the heart of it. Maybe Thiago. Really quite sad. For me, it is a very ambivalent note on which to end this part of the story.

I love this chapter. The move to embrace Owen again, the surprise birthday gift, and the magnificent letter that summarized CJ’s life in Washington, was all beautiful and left me teary-eyed with happiness. We didn’t get Owen’s reaction, but if I reacted that way I can just imagine how pumped he was. I love also how you involved Dragon in the mending process for CJ. Beautiful. And I love the dad bedtime chats you so often end on. Great stuff! Thank you.

Great that the gang is growing. Welcome, Bradley and Patrick. Interested to hear why this happened though I have strong suspicions concerning young Patrick and believe this is going to be the best ever solution for him. Lucky young man. With Brad it would not matter quite so much but it is as well that he is far away from the toxic environment of his bigoted grandfather. Love the input that the older gang has into CJ. His 2 fathers and his many uncles are such a boon, and closer than most families. I just love how they all look out for each other. What a great world it would be if more folk could live like this. Thanks again, Carlos, for a very inspiring and enjoyable story. Typos it doesn’t looks like you’re having any trouble standing on yours.” “I am César.” Cj took a step back and chuckled. CJ What does age have to do it? Punctuation Grab a stool, guys.

Seems to me that CJ had a much better holiday in the end with those he loves. He really is going to have to learn to control that hot head of his and also to temper his judgments more. I guess it’s fairly typical of teens to have a black and white outlook on things and not colour anything grey. José-María must be regretting he did not stand up for CJ against his cousin. Could be an interesting start to the new term. We never did see how Doc and Sean settled their affairs, but they both such nice likable folk so I guess there were no hard feelings on Sean’s behalf.

Wow! Some great lessons here for CJ. Hope he learns them well, otherwise he will get in trouble by over-reacting and hurting someone badly. Sean shows himself to be a really good friend. Can’t imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t shown up just at the right time. Typos CJ eyes swiveled from one man to the other. CJ’s faked outrage didn’t eem to convince his friend

Love the interaction between CJ and Brett. Some very tender moments here. And, of course, CJ with his friends. Such a blast. I visited NYC as a student many years ago and remember the Guggenheim Museum, again for the structure and not the exhibits. Will be interesting to see the outcome of Bernardo’s attempts to seduce CJ. I think he might just have bitten off more than he can chew. Forgive the cliché. Typo I want to peel them beforse slicing them Dasan reply was accompanied by a coy smile.

My, my, my, CJ is in such denial over Owen. Chipper sees right through it. Is that a protection thing? Like he doesn’t want to acknowledge it just in case it doesn’t work out and he gets hurt again? Anyway, I’m rooting for him and Owen just like everyone who knows CJ is too. Love it. Wow! Brett is so unconventional that he now thinks of having some youngsters on the board to advise on youth issues. That makes so much sense. And as Chipper says, the dads aren’t normal. Love that. And you, lucky fuck, you walked right into their perfect life and settled right in. Yeah! That’s what makes this such a satisfying read. Thanks for writing such a beautiful story, Carlos. It really hits the mark. Typo giving his father a questioning look ehile picking it up.

I took your advice and downloaded the chapters, so have been enjoying reading while the internet is down because we having more load-shedding cuts this evening. Great idea. Wow! Having JP and Tom next door and Owen, Bradley & Patrick. What a bonus! Though could be difficult too, especially if CJ rejects Owen. He hasn’t mentioned Owen in his excitement so not sure where he stands there. We only know he has been determined not to be a long-distance boyfriend, but not sure whether he wants a boyfriend at all, even one next door. Harley is a treasure showing such concern for Brett. Wow! He’s a bit like CJ in this. What amazing youngsters to have such compassion.

Yeah. Such a relief that Brett is OK though somewhat banged up. Not sure why you did that to us. It added gray hairs - actually have to say white in my case, though I don't know whether that's possible as it's all white already. Lol. So easy to read and a joy all round, except for the frights you give us! Thanks. Typo “We showed CJ were the guns are kept…

Yeah, so glad I'm not waiting a week for the resolution! The intransigence of internet connections is bad enough and on top of it load-shedding power cuts increased in the last couple of days, just to add to frustrating delays. Lol. Was going to comment on the Muslim issue but I think I will leave well enough alone. Suffice it to say religious bigotry and the zealots that pursue it are bad no matter the religion and it is perfectly understandable that a marine should be totally pissed off by that. I did laugh at Brett's "Don't call me late for dinner". The story goes that my wife's dad used to say that to his kids when they were little. They, not understanding it at all, would all enter in a rowdy chorus of calling him "Late for dinner", except I think it may have been "breakfast" instead. It was years before they finally understood the joke. Lol.

Sorry about the repetition. Blame it on my internet connection blipping out on me at a crucial moment. Lol.

Always heart-warming seeing the love. Thanks.

The plans were mentioned but never revealed. Pity. The mystery visitor from Miami still to come. A hundred and one other unfinished stories here. You are juggling pretty well.

Never heard of Fleet before. You learn something new every day. Lol.

I so felt this in the chapter. It was like I had been traveling with the guys and so much happened that made it seem much longer than it was, and was now back home - it was strange but so good to be back. Lot's of tender moments in this chapter too with goodbyes and big changes. Great chapter, again! Thanks.

Thanks. Great chapter and I so endorse so many of the comments here. You portray CJ's first time so very well and in such a balanced way. It was so hot but without being sleazy at all. And so many hints flying in all directions here that it is difficult to make any predictions about where you are taking this. I guess it's exciting times ahead whichever way we look at it, but it's something to look forward to. A typo: “Is this were they slept?” asked CJ.

Loving this. Very good to see Owen and CJ's relationship going further. Hot! I posted what I think was a PM to you regarding a grammar query/criticism but I gave out Ch. 4 when it was this chapter that the errors were in. Sorry about that.