Carlos Hazday

Dinner! Where did I put my shotgun? With the summer of '22 being split into 9 stories, I keep reminding people just because one ends, it doesn't mean we're done with that story arc.

He's been around for nearly 10 years!

I punt on how that happens. We have 17 years and 4 presidential elections before CJ runs. My writing days will be over before that. Trust me. Didn't I tell you a little earlier today I need a break?

Damn! That's a lot of chapters and words. I'll have to pull that stat out next time someone complains my stories are too short LOL Thanks for the continued support, my friend.

I wanted to show how much respect CJ has for Owen. He put up with Pam until the end, not wanting to spoil her time with Liebe, and only went on the attack with his husband's support. Thanks for reading, Parker.

For DC to become a state, there'll have to be a monumental shift in congress and state legislatures. Not saying it's impossible, but it'll be easier in fiction. Jack Clancy solved that issue by having a Japanese pilot crash a jet into the capitol during a joint session of Congress. Let's see if I can come up with something better. Kidding, I already figured that one out. It'll be a new virus the right-wingers will refuse to be vaccinated against.

Taft, thanks to Roosevelt running as a third-party presidential candidate, lost his reelection bid to Woodrow Wilson. Harding appointed him Chief Justice soon after his inauguration.

All those government and history courses I took in college helped me! My use of Obama to swear CJ in as president was inspired by Taft.

Nope, each court year, from October to June, is referred to as a term. CJ tried a mild reprimand explaining reasons for his action, he tried humor, he tried avoidance, and finally, he was simply tired. It's not easy showing someone with so much patience when I wouldn't have it myself. I think she gets more rope from him because of respect for Owen. But even with her son, she's worn out her welcome. I've written 3 stories set in June 2022 and this one set in July. There are two that take place before Capitol Hill and three that take place in August 2022.

I'll just have to keep on killing current justices. I think even more valuable than education for a justice is experience. Obama has that up the wazoo..

It's a chronic affliction by now. LOL

Thank you for reading! The series has such a large number of characters I sometimes struggle to give them all some ink. I was happy with how this one turned out. At the dinner party, I had our her0res, both sets of parents and two other couples, one older and the other one younger. It was fun to use each dish prepared by the chef to tie together conversations about sports and politics. CJ and Owen show they're perfect hosts by engaging in diverse subjects seamlessly. Sorry I trashed one of your guys in the story. Marco will return under better circumstances. LOL

Yes. If the position of Chief Justice comes open, the president may appoint someone already on the bench or an outsider. I didn't want to kill Justice Edwards, so I'll have Obama become Chief Justice at some point between 2022 and 2041. Australia has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the world, As CJ joked and Owen explained, mass shootings can happen anywhere, even in a rural community like Pokolbin. I very much doubt the media down under reports on every shooting in the US so Pam could be rightfully surprised at how calm everyone was. CJ's evolution from a shoot-first-ask-questions-later personality is ongoing. He was calm with Rubio and with Pam he didn't lose it until the end, and that was after consulting with Owen and them being in full agreement. He'll still explode at times, but he's learning that diplomacy should be his initial reaction.

If you get the shakes, go back and revisit one of the previous books. LOL Nothing ready to go yet, but I'll work on something new for you.

Get as political as you want. I sure as shit do in my stories. I wanted to show how desensitized to mass shootings many Americans have become, and Pam was the perfect foil. I do have plans to go after the gun lobby during a story set in New York a couple of weeks after this one. The fact so many politicians won't even consider changing laws is further proof of how little they value life. Unless it's a fetus they're talking about who isn't even technically alive. Trust me, I feel as much disgust as you might.

Life seldom moves at a steady pace, and I've tried to mix highs and lows all along the way. In this story, we had confrontations with a senator and a mother-in-law and ended with a shooting and Obama as a Supreme Court Justice. Considering this is happening less than two months after CJ killed a kidnapper, I think it was enough drama in a five-day visit from Owen's parents. I think Geoff in particular gained a better understanding of what his son and son-in-law' lives are like.

LMAO - There are at least 4 short stories/novelettes/novellas to go before Roo and Jefferson are born. As for graduating, don't they end up attending private school in New York then transfer to Sidwell when they return to Washington? That's so far off in the future I haven't even figured out the details.

A small chapter in CJ and Owen's life concludes, but their adventures shall continue.

It's a healthy addiction. LOL

Michelle might be upset with me; they have to stay in Washington even though they've been building a mansion in Hawaii. Oh well, vacation home I'm sure CJ and Owen will get to use.

In Hail to the Chief, I had Obama swear CJ in as president, so I had to get him on the bench. Next, I need to get rid of the current Chief Justice. LOL

I tried to show CJ being patient, but Pam kept pushing. He offers hope for a proper reconciliation at the end. I had to facilitate the swearing-in of President Abello! This was part one since I still need him to be promoted. LOL

CJ will always talk to his parents even if not all conversations will be comfortable ones. AS for CJ finding the right guys, he's too damn young to marry off. He needs to kiss a few frogs before he finds his prince.

This was the second relationship among the dads' friends that crumbled. Whether they reconcile or not, I wanted to show not everyone plays by the same rules or set of beliefs.

Doesn't it all come down to communication? One of my goals for the stories was to explore different types of relationships, and not all of them being gay, romantic ones. A varied cast's bound to exhibit varying attitudes. If every character felt or acted the same we'd have a boring story.