C James

I have to agree with Dan here... I think it's unanimous; shdowgod is a shoe whore. Hrmmmm... I just checked my own garage; I do have a couple of ancient pairs of sneakers that I keep for painting, engine work, etc, and those push me perilously close to the limit. Not counting those, I have two pairs of sneakers, one pair of western boots, and one pair of hiking boots. Shdowgod, please seek help with your condition soon. I'm sure it's curable.

He's calling for backup already? Wow, that was just too easy... ACK!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm being replaced? Emoe, heeeelp! Noo! Oh no, Its a revolution! I'm being replaced! But, but, but, Echidna, you really wouldn't do this to a quit and shy lurker like me, now would you? And even my anonymous beta reader is in on the act! Whatever will I do? Help?

These are hilarious!!! I thought he was named Gel de Jack?

The use of Hindi terms, to me, was puzzling. Without a definition, they made no sense as I had no idea what they were, not even what language (so I couldn't even look them up). I strongly echo Bondwriter's suggestion of a glossary at the end of the chapter. Chapter two was great! To be honest, I had my doubts, as I couldn't (until later in the chapter) see a reason why he wouldn't just leave, either with, or without, telling the family where to stick its medieval idiocy (sorry to anyone that offends, but I find the concept of arranged marriage (or anything else) involving unwilling participants to be unacceptable). But, you pulled it off perfectly with the Mother's medical condition reaction to his initial rejection.

Bad grammar and copious amounts of uncensored scenes? But, those person or persons are no longer stalking around the outside of chris' apartment (so you can't blame me there!). They decided to come in, though we don't know quite why yet. I will raise a possibility! Overly pushy door-to-door salesmen? Ack!! But, with Frosty about, Wouldn't that be Cheese and whine? I believe in proper gun control: Always use BOTH hands. And what over-promoting? So far, only Betty has been a little enthusiastic (With her "armed queers" remark) on the gun issue. ROFL!!!!!!!!! I was thinking of another line of dialog for on their way to fiery doom on the canyon floor: "I know I said I like going down, but this isn't quite what I meant... "

I think you have it right about Jeremy and his appeal. Well, that, and the fact that he sounds decidedly hot. My theory with the story Title is that if it relates to stripping, there is a kind of stripper dance called the grind (or bump-and-grind) But, the coffee theory may well prove to be the case: I notice many references to coffee in this chapter (four, I think) yet there were none in prior chapters. But here they are, four, in the same chapter that the story title is mentioned. And as you mention, the story title is spoken in this chapter... Hmmm, I think we are onto something; a Coffee-klatch-connection! I'm wondering what will happen at Bobby's while Jeremy stays over and Bobby's parents are away? I'm very much wondering who "Charlie" is, as it has been mentioned that Jeremy may already know him. One thing I do recall from Jeremy's "encounter" with Bobby: Jeremy made the point of saying that he felt "like a brother" to Bobby. That could be either denial, or, real. Hmmm, perplexing!

I'm utterly shocked and appalled that anyone could own that many shoes! I don't own anywhere near that many, and I have twice as many feet! I think shdowgod has a problem, and may be in denial... Isn't there a treatment program for such addictions? And yes, oc course I'd count flip-flops as shoes; they are footwear, after all. But I highly dount that anyone would ever own more than one pair of those, right? On the serious side though, that job situation is horrible! You could try and confront them over it; bosses tend to take the path of least resistance.

You are so mean to this poor, quit and shy Goat! Delusional? What could make you think about a lurker like me? As for Richard, perving on Val isn't the only thing he's done! He's currently letting his campaign adviser and a PI investigate his son's love-life! Don't forget why Matt's Mom was so upset: Richard had been threatening her (threatening to tell Matt about his Mother's past opinions, as I recall). He's Evil, I say, Evil!

What? How can the slightly mischievous but always industrious and lovable kid brother from my story possibly compare to Richard, who is not only a sleaze bag (I remember him perving a Val!) but also now has a political hack and a PI looking into his own son's sex life? And don't forget, he even interrupted Matt and Jacob in the middle of sex! Now that's just plain evil!!

See? I've been telling everyone that shdowgod is eeevil, but nobody listens to me... Hmmmm! That does sound intriguing... The idea of ending a story with a cliffhanger.. Hmmmm....

Actually, he's right... shdowgod and I were discussing (he is my anonymous beta reader, after all) possible ways to end FTL... And shdowgod came up with a doozy of an iudea! I think it would be perfect... Has everyone here seen the Movie "Thelma and Louise"? In the final scene, they drive their car off the rim of the Grand Canyon, only to end up splattered on the rocks half a mile below. So, shdowgod's idea was for Steve and Chris to do likewise. Very dramatic, I think? I can see it now... Pursued by Thadious J. Emoe and the Piedmont Sheriff, Steve wheels the Charger around, flooring the V-8 engine, only to see the rim of the canyon dead ahead. Steve, slows the Charger to a near crawl, looking for some way out, but he's boxed in, no escape. Chris puts a hand on Steve's shoulder, telling him gently, "Floor it." Steve jams his foot to the floorboards as the engine redlines, hurling them forward in a rising cloud of choking cloud og dust. Surging forward, the Spedomoter passes 100 as the car surges across the barren, dusty landscape. Only the muffled 'thud' from the shocks tells the guys that they have cleared the rim, that, and the sensation of weightlessness. Chris and Steve join hands for the last time as the Charger passes three hundred miles an hour in it's three-quarter-mile plunge to the rocks below. Days later, what remains of Chris, Steve, and the Charger is collected by a park ranger, and deposited into a single coffee can. So, That sure sounds dramatic to me! shdowgod, of course, gets ALL the credit for thinking up this dramatic end to the story!

My opinion of Catherine is that she acts rashly, and it can come back to bite her. Hence, she's still in the junior leagues. As for Richard, hmmmm... I still think he's a slimeball. Sure, he was reluctant to face the issue, so perhaps not 100% slimey, but I'll go with 99.5% slime. And I say again, Eeeevil cliffhanger!!

I checked my own notes, and make that four and a half hours for my fastest chapter! I've only ever managed to do a chapter a day twice. That, though, was merely for the first rough draft, and does not count tweaking, proofing, or incorporating beta and editing suggestions. But when you say three months, I'm betting that you haven't been working on it every day? If you have, it must be one lulu of a chapter!

oops! I'm using firefox tabbed browsing, so I don't see the full browser bar unless I look. I should have looked! I glanced around and saw no mention of gays, but then again I can't view Flash either (I ripped it out of my system a long time ago). Wow, a gay party in Palm Springs? Cool! Looks like it would have some great eye candy too. Thanks Kevin!!

:king: Happy Birthday! :king:

Happy Birthday!!!

ACK! Confined with Frosty? Brrrr!!!! That's just mean!!! Yes, it will be within 24 hours... I don't know how you do it! Well, my clock is telling me that it is now 1:52 AM my time, on Tuesday, so therefor, Chapter 20, Visitations, is up!

That is wonderful, Colin! I'd have been scared to suggest anything with any sex at all in it as reading material for my folks when I was your age (or now!), regardless of orientation issues! Awwww!!! But Bondwriter, I never admit to using cliffhangers! Well, ONE cliffhanger: See the picture of the Volvo that I posted? See the warning sign? A car tottering on the edge of a cliff. Yup, that's a cliffhanger all right, but this isn't in my story so it does not count. All I remember is that in Ch 1 (I think) it was mentioned that Cody had pretty much dissapeared. I'm thinking that he can out-smart Catherine at least; she seems ruthless, but prone to acting rashly; an achillies heel of which she is most likely unawares. But I don't use cliffhangers!

30 minutes for a chapter?!!?!?!?!? Wow. If I have an easy chapter I'm lucky if I can write in a 3 hours! If I have a hard chapter it can take a dozen hours or more, especially if I have to do a lot of research! 30 minutes. I'm very jealous! Way to go Nick!

http://jackscribe.gayauthors.org/breakingnews.php That was hilarious! A riotous send-up of both sides. Rosie O'Donnell indeed!

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks you! I'm always endeavoring to refine and perfect the art of teasing and outwitting shdowgod. He's responsible for global warming, ya know... Now, speaking of shdowgod, I really must object to the wicked cliffhanger! That's so eeeevil! I'm very curious though; Will Cody play along, or will he try and sting Catherine and Raul? Waiting impatiently for Ch 21

I don't recall Leviticus discussing residency? Probably because he didn't; he just said FROM a neighboring country. So, you will be coming to the US FROM Canada, which is a neighboring country. Jan, I have an idea for you... How would you like to make a geographically convenient purchase? I'm pleased to offer for sale; one somewhat addled and near-literate Jack Frost, who may also be put to use as a soft drink cooler during the summer months.

I'll reply to that with a firm, unequivocal, yes and no! I've seen it both ways in my writing. I've had an "easy" chapter generate great feedback, and a "hard" chapter do the same, and also the other way around.

Great chapter!! One thing bothered me though; How can Aaron have a sterling record if he doesn't have a driver's license? I liked the disclaimer at the end, and the listing of the fact that HIV has a latency period (and thus, a negative test is not proof conclusive, and may very well be a false negative during the latency period, especially the first month after contact). The "being out at school" sounds ominous. Brian isn't exactly in a position to defend himself, or run. I loved the scene in the Church. That was a classic.