Thank you, Bill! Much appreciated. I wrote this story while on a 30k bike ride. It just flowed out and the dialogue stayed in my head. I do have a friend like Kelly, and he's a keeper. He did me a solid once in straightening my head out when I didn't want to listen.
You're right about communication. I find the biggest roadblock is in wanting to avoid confrontation, so we hold things in. That's never a good idea.
Again, thank you for your kind words and support, friend. Cheers! Gary.