ReaderPaul

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.

I agree with @ColumbusGuy. In chapter 4 of "There's a Devil in the Dark," Charlie Boone!", the business was Third Planet Inquires, Inc. and TPI was referred to at times during the rest of the story. Only over a year old and a name change already? Or have they slipped into an alternate universe without realizing it, @Geron Kees?

@chris191070, I hope you are recovering well. @Wombat Bill, good chapter. James needs to let up somewhat on trying to make Francesco into an "ideal" look. Caleb has an advantage over Francesco in dealing with the non-circus world. He has been in it. and Gran has been very good to him. I think he has also been good for Gran. I have had friends and acquaintances in religions which do not celebrate holidays. @quttzik, you did miss a lot growing up.

Interesting. On my android phone, Chapter Four was showing as up already posted. But I cannot access it now. And posting notification has disappeared. I have a hunch that Kiernan needs to use his talent so that the person cannot look at them. But we shall see. Adrian might be able to use his electrical powers to short circuit that suit. Kip might be able to pick up the guy and shake him up. Pacha, Pip, and Frit may be able to shield the group somewhat from the intruder. And I bet Geron already has something else figured out about this situation. Very good chapter.

I don't have any hard and firm ideas yet, but thoughts are expanding into my skull. This may be something which Kiernan can help with, and Pacha. I look forward to more ideas before the Great Reveal.

@quokka, good chapter.

Oh, boy, @Geron Kees -- THAT is a change! RICKY being the sensitive one and pointing out Pyewacket's name. Usually one of the others is pointing out Ricky's lack of discretion. And Kiernan Willman! Wonderful! Hopefully, Pyewacket did not follow him. Uncle Bob teleporting, and Kip flying! Has Charlie manifested another talent yet? Or Adrian? And I remember Max's comment to Ricky, in the rescue of Pacha and company, last chapter, about being a magic mechanic -- Something to the effect that, (paraphrasing) -- "The more magic you understand, the more you'll eventually be able to do yourself." Now, Uncle Bob needs to go to Engris, Lyrgris, Lollipop, and Pacha's ship, so he will have been there and can teleport the guys there eventually, as his abilities grow. The offices at Third Planet Inquiries are cool!

Virginia needs to pay more attention to Desmond, instead of making him feel like a service animal. Even those who love each other can make the other feel very low down, sometimes without meaning to do so. (Adapted from something a friend said recently.) Some of what was not revealed in this chapter, @Wombat Bill, I look forward to seeing revealed in future chapters. What did Caleb and Gran do while Justin and Craig were away? What are the details about the upcoming resort? It sounds like Carol and Desmond both have some of the proverbial sour grapes in their proverbial mouths and stomach. And the next chapter teaser -- how I look forward to that one, Wombat Bill! This was a good chapter.

@Summerabbacat, your inner entertainer and imaginative improvisation elf are now exposed! I bow to the vintage of verbal tautology and terrific word-play shown. @chris191070 has reminded me of some of the things which would happen in retail, especially near holidays, when stockrooms were full-to-overflowing with merchandise -- usually. Over the years, we became much better at organization, and could find things quickly. Eventually, electronic location techniques were developed. But some customers were not convinced. When a customer would ask, "Is there any of {item zyxqwertyuiop in the stockroom," we learned in such a case to go back to the stockroom and stay a sufficient time to look well, either coming back with the item requested, or having stayed long enough to satisfy the Doubting Thomas or Desperate Diane that we had actually looked -- even if the stockroom shelves were empty! And Chris, I worked in a restaurant with some really good cooks. Some of the shortcuts used to be speedy without sacrificing quality are truly works of art. Two of the cooks I knew were not technically chefs, but were truly talented. @quttzik -- Raj and Juanito indeed have some difficult discussions to do.

@chris191070, I agree with you. Good to see Edward and Justin talking again, and Juanito and Raj definitely need to talk. Edward's surgery went well, but there will be some once-in-a-while twinges of pain for him, unless he is extraordinarily lucky. But the fact that it went well will work wonders with him. @quttzik, I agree about the teaser at this point. On the teaser, the naughty Christmas elf is probably Justin, but it COULD be Dante or even Jonathan. After all, Jonathan has been loosening up lately. And Cook and Carol could cause and conceive something, in the future if not in the immediate close coming up and converging commencement of events. By the way, is Carol young enough to get pregnant by Dante? Or Cook? That would shake things up! I hope Caleb has not waited too long, such that Lucas has another boyfriend already. @Summerabbacat, your prophetic perceptions have often been proved prescient. I look forward to your comments. @Wombat Bill -- how do you keep coming up with such remarkable paragraphs and passages in your chapters? I am going to need to come of with suitable synonyms for "Well done."

Well, @Summerabbacat, in my opinion, Rani makes Brett look kind, caring, and thoughtful!

@quttzik and @Summerabbacat have brought up some good points. Brett is trying my patience. At this point he seems to have the sensitivity of a drugged armadillo. He brings the term "clueless" to a new low on this happening. Yet, there is a spark of hope in there -- somewhere -- if it can be dug out. He is not ANTI Raj -- but needs to learn, somehow, how not to act like a nearly blind rhinoceros in a glassware shop with narrow and twisting aisles. Raj and Juanito have a lot of talking to do. Transitioning, whether in whole or in part, has to be done carefully, for the mental health of all concerned. Rani is worse than a bitch. Bitches can sometimes be lived with. But she is even more a control freak. Whatever happens without her pulling the puppet strings is, to her way of thinking in many things, terrible -- unless it advances something SHE wants. I disagree with Justin. Sometimes the best thing one can do for a partner is to keep a secret to yourself, especially if no one is likely to discover the secret at this point. Craig and Romel are correct to stress to Raj that they are not experts on gender transition. I must slow down. I had to correct six spelling errors in the first sentence of this paragraph. Related to my stroke last year, I'm reasonably sure. Edward is gradually returning to his wise counselor role. Good to see. @Wombat Bill, amazing and good chapter. I also look forward to seeing what @haines87 and @chris191070 have to say.

Unfortunately, @Summerabbacat and @chris191070, you are at least 95 percent correct. Some of the most anti-gay and anti-trans persons I know are cisgender women. Quite a few cisgender males, even some with strong religious belief, are much closer to acceptance of gay relations and transgender persons than cisgender females. Even some women who are not religious at all are anti trans and/or anti-gay. I wish it were not so. I even know one -- male -- Baptist -- pastor who is anti gay, but for some reason is very accepting of transgender person. I haven't got that figured out yet.

What worries me about Raj and Juanito's relationship is the last sentence of the chapter. Will Juanito still feel as much love for Raj when she has a vagina? I have a friend who went to Canada and became a woman. She said that the hardest part of her transition was when her prostate gland was removed, as part of the process of making room for a vagina. She also said of the 150 people at the facility where we both worked, only two of us treated her as the same person with different clothing and different hair style. Even though she had a legal name change, one female insisted on calling her by her previous male first name. I predict Edward, Romel, and Craig will have the easiest time of accepting Raj if she decides to have surgery to become female. Of the friends, Rani will probably have the worst time of it. I will be interested in the comments of @Summerabbacat, @chris191070, and @haines87 on the idea of Raj transitioning fully to a woman. Good chapter, @Wombat Bill. Edit: I see @Summerabbacat has already replied. Well said!

I knew it was a dream, but Caleb needs to work on his speech and talking skills with the same sex. There is still a potential relationship there, but Caleb can't play it TOO cool.

Good chapter, @Wombat Bill. I wonder if Francesco and Caleb might eventually become friends? Perhaps they and Lucas might all form a friendship.