ReaderPaul

Hence, no crime. In Texas, a minor can be the sole owner of a bank account. Parents can have a veto power over children's accounts if they go through certain letter-writing steps -- but they have to know about the account first. For information see -- https://houston-probate-law.com/can-a-minor-child-open-a-bank-account-in-texas/#:~:text=In Texas, the law permits minors to open From the article: Minors Can Have Deposit Accounts in Texas In Texas, the law permits minors to open bank accounts and be the sole owner of the account. According to Texas Finance Code § 34.305, the disability of being a minor is waived for the purposes of contracting with the bank. This means that minors can enter into contracts with banks to open accounts without requiring parental or guardian approval. However, the contract is voidable if the minor disaffirms the contract within a reasonable amount of time. Banks May Have Other Requirements It is important to note that some banks may have additional requirements or restrictions when it comes to minors opening accounts. For instance, they may limit the types of transactions, require parental approval for specific services, or request a parent to be a joint account holder. To ensure that the account is appropriate for their child’s needs and financial goals, parents and guardians should discuss these restrictions with the bank and their child. Parents Have Veto Power Parents or guardians still have veto power over the minor’s account to ensure that their interests are protected. They can restrict the minor’s ability to control, transfer, draft, or make a withdrawal from the account by writing a letter to the bank. This provides parents and guardians with a level of control over the account while allowing children to learn about financial independence and management. Much more information in the link above, @P. E. Knapp and @Al Norris and @akascrubber.

The story is set in Texas.

Good chapter. Will wait to see what happens next.

It was stated in an earlier chapter that Camille had penetrated Roman with a strap-on, but Roman was not interested in penetrating Camille. Marc arranging for Hugo and Janek and Rory together on one ship was another example of Marc's caring concern for connected companions he loves. I look forward to careful confrontation concerning Christopher.

Fascinating chapter. Marc is more self-sufficient that most persons near his age. Part of that is temperament; part probably from other factors. The twins, however, have almost always had others or each other near. This type of background makes consistent separation for days at a time a challenge. Interesting conversation with the parents of the twins. Interesting conversation with Christopher coming -- probably. Hopefully, the family of Chris does not have their own extensive spy network.

I am curious how the sudden availability of gold is being explained when it is cashed in. It is not a necessary component of the story, but to finance the upgrades, remodeling, and property acquisitions, there has to be quite a bit of gold being brought onto Earth. I am also in admiration, @quokka, of how organized the planning and upgrades to the Embassy properties have gone. When will the next approach to Australian authorities be made, and how? Will that be in another chapter or two? Also, are the construction personnel working on the upgrades being required to sign a video recorded NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement)? Further, since you said no mixing of stories, I guess that Jacob Simba Blackwood and/or Uncle Nate will not be showing up to investigate.

I have had several that I did not finish. One book by a favorite author I read half of and the book got ruined in a freak accident. I did not like the story enough to get a replacement copy. Another I DNF was a book of mathematical history which, by halfway through, had math I did not have enough training in to understand some of the concepts. I did read the first four chapters multiple times, however. A story I read on Nifty and do not remember the title -- I read about 8 chapters and lost interest. The story went from interesting and intriguing to stale cliché, staler cliché, and then descended into asinine incomprehensibility.

The slightly mysterious co-owner obviously has some pull in addition to wealth. (Of course, wealth has pull in and of itself.)

Warning: If you are having a bad day, wait to read this story until you have a moderate to good day. That said, this is a sensitive handling of a serious subject, and should help one think about the potential end of someone's life. If someone close to us, or we ourselves, may be facing potential or actual end of life, this is a sensitive and thoughtful (and quite brief) commentary on possibilities. Less than fifteen hundred words, it is very well worth reading.

A sensitive handling of a sometimes delicate subject. My father was not connected to anything when he died, but my brother, mother, and myself were with him when he passed from this life. The memories are not the same as this story, but both this story and my father's passing were good. He was out of pain and feebleness. Well done, @Mancunian

Good to see the plans coming together. I hope Brett and Hugh and Joyce and Susan all have security plans in place. Have Susan and Joyce been issued special watches yet, with emergency teleportation capabilities? Will any plants from the other star system be planted on the Embassy grounds, after checking to see if they are similar enough to Earth plants to not be immediately obvious, and that they will grow in Earth soil? Or is that for a year or two down the road?

I am wondering the same thing, or might it be that in this future society Children can come from multiple combinations of parental partners? Looks like the Malachi family was worried that Marc knew more than they thought when he got mad at Christopher----

Much of that depends on the state laws of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. It varies a lot from state to state. In most states, a child 14 or older can express a preference of which parent the child wishes to live with, but the judge presiding over the divorce does not have to allow the child their choice. Other factors include the mental conditions perceived by the court of the child or children, and the mental/emotional condition of each parent or guardian, whether either or both parents have previous convictions or accusations of drug use, child abuse, moral turpitude, etc. Sometimes it can also come down to the mood of the judge at the time of his ruling. provided he keeps the ruling within legal guidelines. Appealing the ruling of a judge in a divorce case is usually very time-consuming and expensive, and one must have the right lawyer or lawyers except in the most outrageous cases.

Unfortunately, in the US, the large majority of states give preference to the mother in child custody cases, in spite of the laws of some states stating that fathers are to be given "equal" consideration. Unless the father is very wealthy, and can afford to hire very expensive lawyers, or has a lot of legal and other influence, mothers are presumed to be better caretakers of those below the legal age of adulthood. It is often not logical, but it is very true.

I like the developments of this chapter. Plans are coming together. Simeon and Travis will make interesting staff additions. Hugh is turning into an organizer of good administration. Also, Preston, I am interested in seeing how the gold from the Amixorpians is turned into Australian money. One minor thing -- in this chapter, Joyce is mentioned as Tibbert, and part of the time as Tibbet. Which will it be? Do the Amixorpian watches also allow teleportation into other dimensions or parallel worlds, so that some of the persons from the Deep Space series might turn up? (Yes, I know that would be a stretch, but if anyone could make that happen, it would be you, @quokka.)

Ah, I forgot the time was 2004. Many fewer cameras then, anyway.

If Quinn is still officially in the custody of the mother, Orion could be charged with kidnapping, if there are security cameras to catch them together -- and the school probably has them. I think there are still wrinkles to go.

It would appear Christopher has a very reasoning-resistant reality in his version of logic.

I see talented authors on these lists -- @Mancunian, @Mark Arbour, @Bill W, @D.K. Daniels, @Ronyx, @Mikiesboy, and more I'm sure I would like if if I can find to read some of their stories.

Unfortunately, children sometimes end up as pawns of the parents. Statistics show that fathers who get to see their children as the court has ordered are much more likely to pay, and regularly, and on time. I know one guy who was often getting hauled into court for back support and he got to work and caught up $14,000 of back child support in two years. THEN, the authorities started going after the ex-wife for keeping his son and daughter from him in the first place. Another guy had to pay child support 12 months a year, even though he had the kids 2 and a half months in the summer every year. Eventually the pain and stress got to him, as his ex was married to a multi-millionaire who would fund any lawyer SHE wanted, and he committed suicide. So much rings true to life in this chapter, and I am glad Quinn got up the courage to talk seriously with Orion. Aiden helps the situation.

I went to a rural elementary school and a bookmobile came around and I discovered the science fiction of Robert Anson Heinlein, Andre Norton, and Alan E. Nourse (later I discovered Nourse was a medical doctor and surgeon, so any medical-related happenings in his books were extremely realistic). My dad and I were avid readers; mom and older brother -- no. Some really talented authors in the listings above in the Weekly Wrap Up, and I am sure more authors that I have not yet tried. Thanks, @wildone.

Most US fast-food restaurants give free refills for those eating inside the restaurants -- McDonald's, Wendy's, Arby's, Burger King, Freddy's, Culver's, etc. However, during the 2020 Pandemic, most fast food restaurants closed their inside facilities to the public and all had to use the drive-thru lanes. Now, drive-thru customers are preferred by almost all fast food chains -- because the drive-thru customers don't use the restrooms, make messes or spill things in the dining room, track in rain or dust or dirt, require a person at the front counter to wait on them, etc. Often, a customer is almost ignored at the counter while those going through the drive-thru are helped. This seems most obvious at McDonald's. Customers at the counters are made to seem most welcome at the front counters of Arby's, Freddy's, Culver's, and some Burger King stores, and some of the fast food chains which feature chicken. Could someone from the UK and also from Australia tell me if drive-thru or car lanes are now preferred in those countries?

I read this story again after several years, and I appreciate it much more now than I did the first two times I read it. I enjoyed it then. but it struck me even more positively this time. So many small nuggets of observation and sometimes wry wisdom are in this story. It covers quite a few years of the main character's life, demonstrating some ways friendships (and sometimes more) are formed. Geron has packed so much of one way life can happen. The different phases of the life of Griffin Ballard are well covered in spite of being covered in brief. The friends he makes; the challenges overcome -- all work together to make a really good story.

A great story, Craig and Terry. The story rings true with me, as I have spoken with some who have volunteered at shelters over the years. Sensitive, well-written, and good message. Well done.

From how you have presented the stories at this time, @P. E. Knapp, I thought the stations and possibly the ships have some type of artificial gravity. By that time in the future or in a parallel universe, as the case might be, artificial gravity is probably possible. @Al Norris -- The Isaac Asimov short story had a 60+-year-old man from Earth and a 20s or 30s Lunar woman falling for each other on the moon. The woman had tried sex with an Earth male before, and his Earthly muscles were too powerful for her to be comfortable, and they bounced a lot in the 1/6th G Lunar gravity. To the best of my knowledge, no nation which has sent humans into space has admitted to intercourse being tried in space. It makes for interesting speculation, however.