ReaderPaul

Years ago I worked with a woman who was a heavy smoker. At that time people were allowed to smoke in stores. Her young son would see the burning cigarette ash and say, "Mom, you got a big ash!" This would embarrass the lady.

The dog, Shadow, is with Dick, the very talented woodworker. Dick was first mentioned in the story where the office of the boys was described. It was two or three tales after that where he directly participated in a story.

Well, @kbois has plenty of talent. Speaking of talent, @Geron Kees -- Did Browbeat already have the ability of telepathy? Or does he now only have it with Charlie, Kip, Rick, and Adrian? Browbeat is one of my favorite 30 or 40 characters in your Charlie Boone stories, and he and Rick seem to share the ability to learn and process information, though in differing ways. An outstanding and wonderful ending for this story, Geron. I predict eventually Horace and Amy and Uncle Bob will also be able to communicate with telepathy. This is also obviously different from the "memory sharing" elves are able to do -- at least, some elves have that ability. I know Max and Frit and Pip have the memory sharing ability mentioned quite a few stories back, and probably Keerby does as well, since Keerby is the great-great-great-grandson of Max's brother, Jakos. Is telepathy common among elves?

Wonderful chapter. But, since Charlie and Rick can communicate with each other, and Kip and Adrian can listen in, when touching Charlie or Rick (as established in -- "Elementary, My Dear Charlie Boone!") -- why didn't Charlie do that instead of Kip having to use his cell phone? It's about time Kippy and Adrian were able to initiate remote conversations with Charlie and Rick without have to go strictly through Charlie and/or Rick. If or when that happens, will Kip and Adrian be able to communicate across dimensions, as Rick and Charlie can (see, "Every Boy Should Face His Demons, Charlie Boone!" -- where Rick traced/tracked Charlie across dimensions to the block people dimension). Browbeat and Bob have really been helpful in this adventure, once again. Perhaps in the next adventure, Jeremiah Hawkins and Keerby might appear? (Hint, hint!) BTW (By The Way) -- what skwish ability or abilities might Browbeat have? I predict Hex and Pixel would like Auggie, if they ever met, and probably Casper as well.

My, my. With one that big, don't you have to have special pants made?

Interesting start to the story, @Wombat Bill. Would you tell us the imagined location of this school -- such as state and/or town?

A treat, whether Christmas or not! Thanks, @P. E. Knapp.

You know, when Bob does share all this with Susan, he can just pop/teleport/translocate back home without scaring Susan. At times, Charlie reminds me of Jamie from "The Case of the Short, Short Prince," because of his reasoning processes and instincts.

Feeling punched by puns? Or punished? Perhaps you could punt back with puns of your own. Punitive punishment punditry one of my college roommates, also named Paul, got me into. Often punsters push pointedly past alliteration, also. The punniest punster pundits punk persons at times. But this story is a very good one, and I have a hunch Uncle Bob and Browbeat will use their powers of observation and analysis to point in the directions needed for a solution.

@Geron Kees, what Uncle Bob said is reminding me of the "Teddy Bears" from your excellently exciting story, "Journey Beyond the Sea." However, in this case, the mysterious beings are not in the same situation. I am guessing that Castor's abilities mesh well with Charlie's second presence talent and Rick's magic mechanic skills. Then combining those with Amy's talents and Bob's knowledge and intuition, a great combo. Am I wrong in guessing that Kiri's "Eye of the World" ability is almost as rare as Charlie's second presence?

@P. E. Knapp, am I right that Richard has the ability to initiate a glow on his own? And, his sensitivity to magic seems to be growing stronger, as well. What about the other magical inhabitants of the Realm? Are they also longer-lived than the average human? Perhaps the combination of his magical ancestries will extend Richard's life more than the average human with a pendant is extended. This is an excellent series. So in future stories, will we a story from Anston's view, Riven's view, Drystan's view, etc.? And how do you pronounce "Drystan" anyway? Dry Stan? Drystan rhyming with Tristan? Dries Tan? Drist An? Dris -tun? Drist-ahhn? It's your story -- you can have it said any way YOU with. With all the extra-human ancestry Richard has, can he shape shift now? Please explain what capabilities come with and in the Mythril Staff. Does it take innate magic to use it? Does it have to be "tuned" or "attuned" to the user?

Careful with that -- Less than 10 miles (16 km) from my home was a restaurant that seated 1,200 persons. After two years, it was reduced to about 300 being able to be seated, and other uses found for the rest of the building. So far, you don't even have 300 main characters in the Charlie Boone series. More seriously, could it be someone in one of the alternate Twombly universes whose wish lights are being stolen in larger quantities than "our" Twombly has seen, and borrowing wish lights from other Twomblies? Does Keerby, or Dick, or Will Whitesaw, or Durapar, Rip Shannon, show up in this story?

Oh, I agree magic will play a part, but I still want to see what @P. E. Knapp says.

I'm hoping you will explain how two males have a child together, @P. E. Knapp---- I am a bit surprised @drsawzall or @dughlas or @VBlew or @Al Norris or @akascrubber has not already asked the question.

Couldn't if be both? You are correct, @P. E. Knapp.

Thank you for explaining that. I appreciate that.

I noticed in the chapter the word "consist" is used in a way I do not recall seeing before. Does it mean "train"?

Really good chapter. I look forward to learning more about the dragons. AND the rest of those which inhabit Ever North.

This is going to be a good tale, I can tell. Thank you.

I agree with @Butcher56. I look forward to new chapters. Fascinating concepts.

Very good chapter, @R. Eric. I am not so sure I agree with giving them FTL (Faster Than Light) technology yet. But you are writing the story. I like the idea of some from Elysia going back to Gaia. It will be interesting to see who volunteers to go, or who "gets volunteered." Many times parents can overreact to kids exploring sexuality. Joel and Sarah Beth gave good advice.

It is not that Peter is unattracted to Rebecca, it is that he is attracted to Aaron MORE. Rebecca's reaction is understandable, if regrettable. The mother is her own person. I await the reactions of Aaron, Sr. Perhaps he is bisexual, as are so many of us.

Unfortunately, I think you are right. While I hope there is a seismic attitude shift, I think the conservative-outlook persons will, in many cases, dig in their proverbial heels on non-acceptance. In many cases, the worst opposition to someone being gay or bi has been from the feminine gender. We can hope Aaron's father is secretly bi.

@P. E. Knapp, I'm interested in Marc's mate. @akascrubber is not the only one. But what if Marc's mate turns out to be an identical twin with the same personality? (I know, I know, highly unlikely. Would you say more about the CONFED Navy? How many sectors and/or families make it up? What powers or capabilities do they have? Is there a CONFED army?

Thus far, you have NOT named Ricky's sister and brother. And Max simply called Kiernan's sister "your sister" when speaking to Kiernan about his talent and her talent for seeming invisibility. You rejected the idea of naming Rick's brother Ronyx or Rayon, remember. (But you didn't rule out Robert, or Robin, or Reese.) But if Rick's younger sister was a star runner in track, and her name was Rhonda, spectators could yell "Run, Run, Rhonda" as she ran. (A pun on the Eddie Rabbitt song "Rhonda," where the lyrics are actually "Rhon-Rhon-Rhonda, don't look back...." but Eddie sings it like Run, Run, Rhonda.) Or the Beach Boys song, "Help Me Rhonda." What ever you come up with, I know we who are reading will really enjoy it!