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RolandQ

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  1. RolandQ
    This story was as much about finding a voice, creating a whole person and following his life. As with all my characters, I love Wellington Dowd.
  2. RolandQ
    I'm pleased you're enjoying the story. I was looking for those architypical elemnets of maturing, and the first car is surely one - for Americans at least - and Wellington Dowd's personality demanded something fabulous.
  3. RolandQ
    Adding the aspects of maturity, one element at a time.
  4. RolandQ
    I contacted the family alma mater, in compliance with my father’s expectation. Other than his moldering diploma on of the wall of the study, I had had no connection with the college. The materials the college provided were similar, if not indistinguishable, from any of the thousands of small private liberal arts colleges emphasizing critical thinking, small class sizes, dedicated faculty and what appeared to be hide-bound traditions. My application was quickly returned with an acceptance with
  5. RolandQ
    With my junior year ending, it was time to get serious about college, which helped refocus my thoughts somewhat. I knew that despite family name and reputation of wealth, there wasn’t any money for college. I felt shame about telling my guidance counselor about my financial predicament. She assumed, like everyone else, that the family fortunes were intact. I realized my car and clothes were as much a part of a masquerade as they were my attempt at a persona. I slumped into despair. It was
  6. RolandQ

    Chapter 1

    RolandQ commented on Bill W's story chapter in Chapter 1

    Your story confirms the contribution of gays to the world. I would have liked you to note, while broadly inferred, that sexuality is an interpersonal dimension, sometimes fluid, and has no effect on what someone can contribute or work they can do. Nonetheless, its valuable to have a reminder that the world is what it is also because of gay people, not in spite of them.
  7. RolandQ
    Not that I'm begging for compliments, but can you describe your enjoyment?
  8. RolandQ
    Not that I'm begging for compliments, but can you describe your enjoyment? Or what is working for you?
  9. RolandQ
    And then one day it came to pass. In the middle of winter’s drear, a vision of the coming spring appeared before me. Even lit by the industrial glow of institutional fluorescence, his beauty was compelling. Tall, trim, fair, robustly chested and appealingly bulging further down, he commanded the space around him, fascinating both boys and girls, errr, men and women. He scanned the assembled crowd, apparently searching for someone. His brows raised and eyes enlarged when they met mine. He p
  10. RolandQ
    I reflected on the status of my life. I had Clark Gable for my spirit guide and transport. I had the body of a man, well at least nearly so. I had the opportunity of renewal each school year brings. I continued my personal inventory. As I anticipated my return to school and the world, I thought it prudent to examine my wardrobe. I had spent the summer clothed in the cast offs and rags appropriate to the backyard mechanic. These adjusted to my rapidly changing physique, appearance was unim
  11. RolandQ
    A seemingly innate ability accompanied my sudden physical maturity - machines and how they work. It must harken back to the long ago generation that actually built the mills that gave rise to the successful milling business. I don’t know. During that magical summer of concentrated puberty, I craved wheels, a car. Not unusual for most boys, but another bolt out of the blue for me. The power and independence of guys with a car, no matter how dilapidated, rivaled my lust for the school’s top a
  12. RolandQ
    Chapter 2: Sudden maturity As I have no doubt mentioned, I was a scrawny, underdeveloped youth far longer than my peers. Entering tenth grade I weighed in at 110 pounds and stood barely over five feet two. Combining my unprepossessing frame with a wardrobe from the early part of the previous century, “we Dowd’s have standards beyond the common herd” or so the family mantra ran, left me as the kid most likely to be pushed around. Waiting for maturity is a long business. I already despair
  13. RolandQ
    “Wellington Napoleon Dowd.” The name, my name, was a clever witticism, a small revenge of my father’s on his wife’s family. It turned out to be a joke that followed me later in life in a very different way. My father wasn’t mean spirited, he simply could not resist absurdity. It became more than absurd in middle school. But more about that later, I was introducing myself. I am the scion of the two leading families of Millsville, the Wellingtons and the Dowds. Between them, they owned t
  14. RolandQ
    A coming of age story in purple prose
  15. RolandQ

    The Interview

    RolandQ commented on RolandQ's story chapter in The Interview

    Loosely based on a real life experience - just the appointment confusion part and using a hotel suite for interviews - otherwise very innocent.
  16. RolandQ

    The Interview

    RolandQ posted new chapter in Town and Country

    “Come on in. You can take your clothes off in there. I’ll be in in a minute.” The man was stocky, in late middle age, yet carried a dynamism about him that spoke success, success in everything he did. The second man nervously removing his clothes in the bedroom of the lavish hotel suite was young, in his middle twenties. He was tall, athletic, some would say handsome, but his anxiety at being in the room concealed anything that was attractive. The older man shouted into his phone, “What ti
  17. RolandQ

    The Dearling

    RolandQ posted new chapter in Town and Country

    The rustling from the wood’s edge caught my attention. The dusk obscured its cause, I felt as much as saw a presence. Not twenty feet away from me on the cabin’s porch, he emerged, caution evident in every step. He scanned the clearing ready to spring back into the safety of the forest. I remained motionless, fearful that I would frighten this beautiful creature away. He must have sensed no danger for he ventured right up to the porch. It was only then that he spotted me. He froze, starin
  18. RolandQ

    Town and Country

    RolandQ posted a story in Fiction

    A series of short stories
  19. RolandQ
    I'll need to go back and read the preceding story. Love and care accepted but not appreciated or returned is certainly an archetype, nicely done here. I feel Miracle's emptiness. I'd like more of Andy's longing. Perhaps the background story will fill in some for me. I had a little difficult with the opening visual. Perhaps some editing could help get the effect with fewer words.
  20. RolandQ
    Worthington was an ass and based on a composite of some college presidents I have known. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
  21. RolandQ
    I tried to emphasize the self interest of each government and department. Note that the entire business was handled away from standard procedures, and hence could be done 'smoothly.' I'm optimistic that such matters could actually be done.
  22. RolandQ
    Alex reclined in the bed gently touching Guy who lay against his chest. As he traced the shape of the Guy’s ear, he thought about how happy he was, how fortunate that life had brought Guy to him. He savored the sensations of their lovemaking, the heat and excitement still with him. “That tickles,” Guy teasingly complained. “What we just got done doing tickled, too.” “I never heard of anyone with a ticklish ass.” “I’ve never been touched that deep before.” “You bet you haven’t.” “Brag, b
  23. RolandQ
    Cal sat on the bench in the early fall light. The sun was warm after the early morning fog had lifted from the campus. His life was quiet now, he had classes to teach, students to advise, friends among the faculty and a close relationship with the acting college president, Dr. Waldheim. He savored his good fortune but still felt the empty grayness that lingered in his heart. He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the sun. “This place is special to you,” a voice said nearby. Cal slowly t
  24. RolandQ
    Both Alex and Guy tried their best to refocus on their jobs. Each had returned to work with some anxiety about all the time they had taken off. Alex was greeted by his friends from the office on his first day back. “I don’t know what you did or where you’ve been, but things have been buzzing. The head honcho keeps asking when you’ll be around. When I told him I didn’t know I was afraid he’d be pissed. No way. He said things could wait and to let him know when you returned. It was almost
  25. RolandQ
    As the days passed, anxiety rose in each of them about what would happen in Ottawa. The day arrived for them to travel to Canada. Alex had visited an office of the airline in the city to arrange for their tickets. They agreed that the less attention drawn to them, the better. Their journey was uneventful. The State Department had made their hotel arrangements, they had little to do once they checked in. Cal hung out in their room, too nervous to sit alone. There was a knock at the door.
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