Carlos Hazday

So glad you're enjoying yourself!

His generosity, encouraged by his parents, will be a recurring theme.

Thanks! This chapter's probably one of the most emotional ones in the series. I'm hoping any further tears will be happy ones.

Our experiences shape our beliefs and actions. I'm perfectly fine with differences of opinion.

Right now, you're doing what I do so often. A binge reader leaves a comment, and I get lost reading these older chapters again. I'm just as surprised at how long I've kept this going!

Cesar and Brett are new to full-time parenthood and will make mistakes. They'll realize their son won't shy away from calling them out when they do.

It was an option I considered. The final decision was made because of readers. They kept asking for X so of course I had to give them Y. Chipper had already taken Z. LOL Mann has changed stories when readers have guessed where he was going or someone upset him with a comment. He's taught me more than grammar. I'm kinda proud only my beta readers know what happens at the end of CDMX. It means I won't have to do any rewrites!

It took a while, but those two are exactly where they should be. Glad you liked it.

Maybe it's because the last chapter I read was when they're all in NYC, but I'd forgotten the boys had met Tom before. Hell, I even planned it that way so CJ wouldn't outshine the reunion. And WTF's up with the italics in this chapter? I need to do a little cleaning.

LMAO My apologies. As you've probably noticed, you're not the only binge reader leaving comments. Because each story builds on previous events, I try not to reveal what's coming. I shouldn't have used a name, but you'll meet the famed Owen soon enough.

I literally banged my desk while laughing. At least I didn't name the two other guys and the girl on the boat. @markM It's someone CJ meets in Australia and becomes friendly with.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooops

At least 1810 Alhambra lives on in that beautiful painting hanging in Everhope's living room.

I have a story banner and a ten-line outline. However, his spinoff's no closer to being written. You'll be happy to hear he shows up in an upcoming CDMX chapter, and he'll have a huge appearance in another upcoming story. He's still talking.

LMAO Yeah, she told me how she felt in a chapter comment and a text. But I also sold your house so the two of you are even.

I think I do this one or two more times. Afterward, you'll be on your own. There are a lot of series entries and related stories to come, and as of this morning, there are close to 450 named characters. Don't worry, some make an appearance and quitly slip away. A couple I kill off. Oops. Sorry for the spoiler.

@dughlas Couldn't have said it better myself. As I age, I've actively tried to reduce my usage of blanket statements. I doubt I'll ever be able to eradicate them from my vocabulary, but I'll keep trying. You have the benefit of hindsight, CJ celebrates his 16th b'day in this chapter and in the one I'll post next Friday he'll celebrate his 24th. A lot has happened in the intervening nine years and you're aware where his drug usage went. @markM I'll give you a couple of examples of what I mean by blanket statement. A female author on this site once claimed all men wanted to marry a virgin. I vigorously disagreed. Breaking in virgins can be dicey and some men prefer someone with experience. A reader of this series once claimed my stories didn't belong on Gay Authors because there wasn't enough sex. I pointed out the site's name and the fact I was gay. Other readers trampled him. The point is in both cases the comments were generic and painted with such a broad brush, they failed. It's fine to have our values and opinions guide our lives, but when we try to impose those values on others, we become bullies ourselves. Live and let live.

@markM As of 2027, the PP remains afloat. I just wrote something about CJ and Owen taking it out with some people they're very close with. You're about to enter the Australia Zone. CJ's birthday trip down under will introduce a few new characters, some of them will stick around for a while. Pay attention to them.

Hang on to that thought. Posse will suffice until we find something better.

@markM LMAO Yes, you hit a nerve. Not because we disagree, I welcome this type of discussion, but because I dislike generalizations. What you describe is abuse, not use, and there's a difference. Mistreatment of children's never acceptable, but you can't lump in everyone with those who do. Marijuana use is one of multiple controversial issues I tackle in the series. Wait until you read the heated discussions about gun control and motorcycle helmets. I've tried very hard not to make CJ perfect. I prefer him to be realistic. And the fact is a large number of teens use drugs and alcohol, usually hiding that usage from their parents. I think it's healthier for parents to acknowledge reality and guide their children instead of issuing blanket prohibitions. Those rarely work and may actually exacerbate the situation. It hasn't gone too far. If it deescalated to name calling, then it could be an issue. I try to refrain from personal attacks. LOL

A little too much energy. CJ and his posse will stand out when they walk into school as a group.

Do you drink alcohol? Why would smoking pot be different? And before you answer that, read my response to the previous comment. Opposition to marijuana seems to be ingrained in some people, many of them older. Whereas my parents would have never partaken, their sons and grandchildren do. It's generational. For the record, I'm 64. Last May I was at a party celebrating a law school graduation. Sometime after midnight, there were a handful of 20somethings (a few graduates, their significant others, and their parents) sitting in the backyard after lots of alcohol consumption. At that point, anyone walking by the cluster of people on Adirondack chairs could have gotten high from the smoke cloud. Attitudes evolve and if we ignore changes we can become obsolete ourselves. A long time ago, the couple with season hockey tickets behind mine, admitted they encouraged their 16yo daughter to smoke pot at home. The mother claimed kids would do it anyway and she felt safer if her kid was at home when doing it.

CJ was bullied by his step-father, and others have tried to. He's learning to fight back. The fight against bullies will be a recurring theme. Pet peeve of mine along with any sort of discrimination.

Now and then I get lucky and write a good line like that. It actually fits in well with CJ's developing fixation with churches. Because of their architecture!!!! LOL

Let's hope the dads learn their lesson. Parenthood's not easy and having a kid who can stand on his own makes some of the old cliches obsolete. You can't tell CJ something and not back it up because he will call you out. None of the do as I say, not as I do crap with him.