ReaderPaul

@Ronyx -- over the years I have read this story several times. It is one of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking stories I have ever read. I know at least one trans person. This person was born male, but had surgery in Canada to become female. I believe that in this story you have done an excellent job of describing the feelings of a person who was raised in a very conservative environment but instinctively understood that attempts to be understanding are more important that blind acceptance of tradition, as some would have it.

Hopefully, his aunt will be able to give him some good advice on a few of the cultural differences he has to face. It may also be that his name will be a challenge for him, in getting adjusted to being "Hamilton" instead of Yeshe.

I live in an area not technically rural, but not big city, either. It is a very conservative, mostly redneck (though the majority of business owners try to hide that to visitors) area. Most of the area population is either very Bible-belt conservative or just plain opportunists conservative. The closest gay friendly bar is over 40 miles away. I mostly keep my mouth shut, because many (especially females) are vocally anti gay/bi/trans/queer. I have found a FEW open-minded persons -- but only a few. Conservative conditioning is strong here. One of my black friends, C, was followed by the sheriff's department for the first nine months he lived in this area. He happened to mention it to his (white) pastor, and the pastor went over to the sheriff's department and chewed them out enough that they stopped following my friend C. Now, C has lived in the area about 20 years, and has no trouble. But some who are gay or bi are still watched, though in more of a subtle way than it used to be. Some things have improved, but slowly.

On rare times (not recently), I have been blocked on Firefox from getting to GA. Never had a problem with Chrome or Edge, except for a couple of times in fast food places which had parental controls on their wifi. I usually connect direct these days on my phone, since my plan includes 25 gigabytes of data anyway.

In looking up this button, there were three others with somewhat similar sayings, including, for Nixon running against George McGovern, one which said -- "MCGOVERN CAN'T LICK OUR DICK". A poster named "Jonathon" asked something like, "Was there really a Mr. McGovern running against Nixon?" He was thinking about things like "McMansion" and McFlurry and McDouble and other "Mc" things sometimes referred to in modern American culture.

@JamesSavik -- I just ran across this again by accident. Every bit as good -- or better -- than when I read it the first time.

Yes, Max has at least one brother. From the Charlie Boone adventure where Keerby, Frit, and Pip went with Pacha and the guys to Earanar, and found Casper -- "There's A Monster in My Closet, Charlie Boone!" ------ "So what about what you do back home?" Ricky asked. "How can we be here a week and only a little time passes there?" "I just fix it so that our frame slides past the one at home, and is always falling behind it, until I tell it not to. When we get back home, I'll make it stop." The elf laughed. "Uncle Max is really good at it, too. It kind of runs in our family." Kippy's jaw dropped. "You're related to Max?" "Sure. There's actually a couple of greats before the uncle, but my dad is the great, great a few times grandson of Max's brother, Jakos." "I don't see how that can happen," Charlie said, frowning. "I mean the time frame thing, not that you're related to Max...." Now is Jakos pronounced JACK-oss, JAKE-oss, Jack-OS, Jay-KOSS, or something else? Actually, as long-lived as elves are, Max would have several brothers and sisters running around.

A review can make me more likely to read a story. As for the star ratings, my time is so limited that a three star rating is not likely to get a read from me, unless I have already read other stories I really liked by that author. One author who posts here from time to time -- I wrote in more than one chapter comment that his stories needed more dialogue. Another reader chimed in and agreed. Two stories later, he started adding more dialogue, and the over all quality of his stories improved. Another author wrote good stories, but needed an editor. If an author writes a good story, but sucks at spelling and has weird grammar, that would be fair game for a review. To the admins, such as @Myr, @Cia, and others -- You do a very good work through this site, especially when one considers the many factors pushing, pulling, drawing, and repelling everything on the site.

I also voted for the email option. But I could have gone for the "while viewing other stories option." The email option, it seems to me, would allow me to read the stories later, if I didn't have time to read the suggested stories for a day or three.

@Myr, would we be able to opt out if we change our minds later? However, I do like the idea.

So this is the full version of the short story you published in October elsewhere. @drsawzall I just tripped over this, and today realized this will fill in many of the questions I had in the short story version. Thanks!

How could they tell if the boys were virgins?

@AC Benus -- what is that comic panel from? What strip?

My bedroom is much colder in winter than the rest of my home, I often go commando under my sleep pants. The freedom is great, but so is the warmth from the sleep pants without being confining.

Yes. That is what is called the horizontal fly or an H-Fly. I bought my first H-Fly at a Jockey Outlet store in about 1990. It was much more comfortable and efficient than any underwear a fly I had worn up to that time. I'm not sure who had the H-Fly first. I found out about the existence of such about 1990 at a Jockey store.

Something I have not yet seen a comment on-- quoting from this chapter: "See you tomorrow, Amy," Kippy said brightly. Amy was making an effort not to smile too much now. "Would you like any calls forwarded to your phone, Charlie?" "If it's family, yes. Just about anyone else, take a message and we'll get back to them." So, in a future story, I can see Amy saying to one of the parents who calls TPI, "So, how long have the boys owned their shipping company?" and the parent says, "Huh?" And then the guys have to explain a LOT -- especially if it is Kip's mother who is asked that question. But that might not happen, since the parents would probably call one of the guys directly on their cell. Thoughts on that, @Geron Kees? Many of the largest companies are mostly self-insured. If you are making billions, it is often less expensive to form a sub-company to oversee claims up to, say, five or ten million dollars, and then have a re-insurance company for losses over that amount. The premiums for the re-insurance company would thus be much less, since the majority of losses would be less than that. And, @wenmale64, I also prefer cheddar cheese -- mild cheddar.

I prefer the Jockey Pouch or Fruit of the Loom H-Fly because of the H-Fly on both -- the slot is in the middle, horizontal, and big enough to be useful. Most of the diagonal-fly types have too narrow a slot for simple use. Other brands have an H-Fly, if you search the Internet, but at high prices. I can get the Jockey and Fruit-of-the-Loom brands less than 5 miles from my home.

Fascinating. Good chapter, @Wombat Bill.

Gary, you are right. The books drowned me in details, and some others were also drowned by all the minutiae. While it all fit together, some compactness would have been helpful at times when I was working 60 to 80 hours a week.

I can hardly wait for Juanita to meet Caleb! That pair ought to be fascinating to Juanita! Starting well, @Wombat Bill.

A great end to the story, @Wombat Bill. I agree with @quttzik -- Caleb FINALLY invited Lucas over. @chris191070 concisely summed things up. @Summerabbacat examined the details. I noticed that no one commented on Craig's disallowance and denial of an alcoholic beverage for Lucas. This was wise on his part, even though the teens probably wished it were otherwise. In the United States, giving alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age can have very serious repercussions for the one who permits, allows, or provides it. Before I was a teenager, I participated in some pissing contests among guys in the very rural area where I grew up. The rule was basically, "Guys can pee outside if there are not any females present." There were about four of us approximately the same age who would see who could do the highest stream, the longest stream, the most distance, or whatever. But there is too much population no, in most places, to do that. If you were to do a side story, Wombat Bill, about the potential relationship of Lucas and Caleb, I would certainly read it. You might be able to do that in three or four chapters. In your next book related to this series, will you devote some of the storyline to the transition to Raj, and see how much or how little transition happens?

Good chapter, @Wombat Bill @chris191070 -- Years ago, in the 1970s I had a friend who had prostate surgery, before they had developed the good techniques they have now. His surgeon DID NOT tell him to refrain from sex for several weeks, as was the practice then, and his wife was horny and persuaded him to have sex a week after that major surgery. It tore some tissues which had been cut, and he had to take another week from work, and then wait a minimum of two months before intercourse. I must go to bed. It is almost 4 a.m. here in the Midwestern United States.. I will read the next chapter tomorrow. Family obligations have kept me from almost all my reading and commenting. I am glad Juanito is listening to Edward, at least.

I did not see Kiernan introduced, either. Nor Ronja. But I am sure more introductions took place after the last line of the story. (Edit: I just remembered, Kiernan was introduced to Amy in a previous chapter.) Nicholaas indirectly introduced himself, by the story of the skates. And the rest he mentioned might give Amy a clue, as well. Geron, I'd give this story 7 stars out of 5, were it possible. When will you post "The Caped-Crusader Caper" here? Hopefully within a month?

So, @Geron Kees, for a welcome Valentine's Day Charlie Boone tale, are the guys going to the wedding of Nicholaas and Ronja? That would be a great story to take place at an undisclosed place near the North Pole? Or in Twombly? I can imagine the fun with the guest list including Pacha, Mike, Bobby, and Kontus, as well as Kiernan, Casper, Ragel, Frit and Pip and Max, Keerby and Sheeria, Mrs. P, Keri and Kiley, and if the wedding was in Twombly, Mayor Snorkum could perform the ceremony! and of course, Uncle Bob, Horace, Amy, Auggie, Charlie, Kippy, Adrian, and Rick, and Kiernan!!

So if Wizard Jackin is the brother of Robin Hood, does that make him Jackin Hood? This is somewhat reminding me of the tale where the guys ended up in the special world created mostly by Nicholaas, in a considerably previous Charlie Boone tale.