ReaderPaul

I am enjoying this story, Preston. Thank you.

Well, I see that @Summerabbacat beat me to replying, and that is certainly fine with me, as this is not a reacting-to-chapter race. Candy's manipulation skills are far superior to Jack's. Wanda's skills are also superior at diplomacy and manipulation.

Wow, @Wombat Bill. Really good chapter. Some loose ends cleared up, some possibly created. In a few chapters, I will be interested in seeing what Hannah finds out from the Public Trustee and Guardian. The next chapter teaser-- That will be interesting. But will Justin call a psychologist, or will he call the parents of Lucas to set up a sleepover for Caleb and Lucas? I certainly look forward to seeing what @chris191070, @haines87, @quttzik, and @Summerabbacat have to say on this chapter and the teaser.

By the time I had a device I could use comment with, my fellow CAB groupies covered the items I was going to comment on. Well done, all. Good chapter, @Wombat Bill

@Summerabbacat, I can answer some of your questions about the prostate surgery. When I was researching my prostate cancer treatment, with the help of my cancer doctor, we spent nearly three hours discussing treatment options. With surgery, the side effects are almost almost always temporary reduction or total lack of bladder control, and temporary impotence (anywhere from two or three months to two years). If the surgery is inexpertly done, the side effects can be permanent. With the radiation, which I had, I had 43 treatments, ten minutes each, Monday through Friday except holidays, and also one day of no treatment when a special mirror in the machine broke. (The company which made the machine flew in a tech and another mirror and the machine was up the next day.) If a day was skipped for a holiday or the mirror problem, one more day of treatment was added at the end. My side effects were tiredness (sometimes extreme), having to sleep at least two more hors per day, and sometimes an almost orgasmic burning sensation when I would pee. Also, when I needed to pee, I had to go pee right then, or I would start to dribble. I would have about 60 seconds to three minutes maximum if I was standing and needed to pee. If I was sitting, I had a slightly longer time. There were two very minor side effects which the doctor had never seen before, but those were not troublesome. (My pubic hair changed color slightly, going from brown to dark red. I have red hair on both sides of the family. And the hair on my lower thighs and lower leg fell out, which the nurse said SHE wished she had that side effect.) A month after the radiation treatments ended, the minor side effects and the tiredness went away. I was told that the tiredness often lasts longer than a month, sometimes up to six months, after the treatment ends. Radiation often has the least side effects in the long run, at least in my part of the United States. Craig is right. Justin has to talk to a professional. Love Caleb and Gran! Another great chapter, @Wombat Bill. I wish I could give the chapter a Love, a Wow, a Fingers Crossed, and a Like Icon all at the same time. Very well done.

Right now, it seems that Dean is the closest thing to neutral of any of the group of friends. But friendship has many levels. Some friendship are mainly "surface" and suffer being rent asunder (and I'm using "rent" in the old-fashioned way of being torn or ripped apart) quickly and under many circumstances. Some friendships are long-term, and have grown slowly and sturdily under a variety of circumstances (Craig and Romel, for example). Some friendships are in-between, deeper than a casual friendship, but not as time-tested and firm as those which could be considered truly long-term or lifelong. (This paragraph is adapted from something a friend observed and stated in the past.) Edward is finding out that many of his friendships are the more casual types. Sometimes friendship partially depends on who is pulling from what direction, and why. Friendship can also depends on perceptions of events which may be true, or which may not be true, or may be a mixture of truth, falsehood, or perceptions of various proportions. Usually, each person in a friendship group has only a part of the truth available. When combined with someone's various personal personality peculiarities, problems may arise. Dean probably does not have any magic friendship fixing formula. But by listening, he may nudge Edward into something helpful. Edward also needs to remember that time and continual evidence of changed behavior sometimes is the only way for things to be resolved. Sorry, friends, for waxing so much philosophy on you. Justin also needs to remember (or be told, bluntly, if he does know know or realize) that holding on to a grudge eats away at the person holding it. Yes, he was hurt by Edward's actions. Yes, Edward was wrong to write the story such such minor changes. But -- Life moves on. Justin needs to realize that the world has more things to do than only scrutinize his family and him. @quttzik and @Summerabbacat and @chris191070 have all pointed out pieces of what is happening. Before there is any sort of final resolution, IF there is, more things will happen. Our @Wombat Bill will have more info for us, I am certain, as chapters go on.

It certainly took Edward long enough to get the message that his actions had hurt Justin, and, by extension, Justin's close friends. Ego can certainly get in the way of doing the right things. Gran's actions in wanting to see the manager reminded me of when I was working for a large corporation, and we heard a story of how the President of the Company had a mother in his home town who always wanted the store manager or the manager on duty to wait on her. However, in her case, the personnel of the store never dared to be rude in the slightest to her. Caleb and Gran are okay, but Justin and Craig need to get back to a better relationship outside of their mutual care for Caleb. Edward's actions reminded me of another writer who admitted to me that the first five paragraphs of a story published a couple of years ago were based on actual events. However, after that point events diverged so much that it could not possibly be confused with real life. There is a huge difference between five paragraphs and many chapters. Hopefully, Caleb and Lucas can explore friendship, whether they explore more than friendship or not. Good story, @Wombat Bill.

@Wombat Bill, HOW do you manage to come up with all these plausible plot permutations? Your imagination must be the proverbial "head and shoulders above" almost everyone else! Loved this chapter. Gran and Caleb make a great pair. And the teaser for the next chapter? Diabolically delicious distraction as we doggedly drag our imaginations for clues and possibilities!

@quttzik, I agree. Jack is obviously VERY stupid about minimum wage laws, and probably greedy, to boot. I don't know if he was deliberately ignorant (I suspect he was -- and that he did not inquire about all the differing laws on purpose so that he could claim to be unknowing). I do believe that Hannah has not just a plan, but multiple plans for pulling Jack up short in his greed. I look forward to her filling Julia and James in. Candy is also showing her ignorance, especially about sperm donors. I think Alex is getting a good education on just how hard circus life is. The teaser for the next chapter is intriguing. I look forward to it. Good chapter, @Wombat Bill.

I look forward to seeing how this is resolved. What did Wanda suggest? Enquiring minds want to know! I foresee at least another chapter, probably two or three, before this is resolved. The teaser: It could be relating to the situation with Francesco and Jack, or it could be relating to Craig and Romel or Craig and Edward, or even (though very unlikely) with Dante and Cook and/or Carol! Or even -- Gran and Justin! The teaser is incredibly open ended. It will be interesting which possibilities you go with, @Wombat Bill. There are several other possibilities I have not listed -- just some of the most likely. I am sure that @chris191070 or @Summerabbacat or @quttzik or @haines87 or someone else will have some interesting commentary.

Oh, my, things are going to hit the fan!

Alex is, at least partly, thinking with his dick.

Well! Alex joining the circus is a surprise! I can see that Alex will learn a lot about animals and working odd, not always scheduled hours. I think Francesco will have the most challenging time adjusting to the changes, will the possibility of Julia having a difficult time. Good chapter, @Wombat Bill

Well, I'm certainly glad Edward is alive. I am also glad he wasn't trying to commit suicide. Justin's attitude does not surprise me. It is regrettable, but not surprising. Edward did make a major error in his writing. A PSA of 14? The medical community where I live started watching mine closely when my PSA hit 6, let alone 10. (Prostate cancer runs in my family; dad died from it. He waited nine years between his last two DRE events (DRE = Digital Rectal Exam, if you are not familiar with the term). Al because he did not like a finger up the butt. By the time they found it, it had spread to his bones, blood, and back. All they could do was try to help him be comfortable. My prostate cancer was found early; I did not skip exams. It was totally treatable with radiation, and I only had four side effects: tired very easily, had to pee more, my pubic hair acquired a reddish tinge (red hair runs on BOTH side of my family), and the hair on my legs stropped growing until a couple of weeks after treatment ended. Edward needs to pay attention to Romel and see a urologist as quickly as possible. He will probably have to have a prostate biopsy (THAT was undignified, in my opinion, but necessary). My biopsy became very painful because the doctor was delayed almost an hour before my biopsy started, and the anesthetic was wearing off by the time for the last five punches of the machine. Romel MUST get Edward to the doctor as quickly as possible. My initial impression of Detective Vincenti is very good. Very good chapter, @Wombat Bill.

Well, I am reminded of one story website which can be accessed at more than one web address, and ends in dot org, that does not require some of the same quality that GA has, but does have some good stories, but including one category that I don't care for -- mpreg (male pregnancy). It is not just a gay or lesbian site; it also has straight as well as gay, and some stuff I personally just consider weird. Fortunately, @Wombat Bill is much more reasonable in what he writes.

@Summerabbacat, @chris191070, and @quttzik have all pointed out pieces of the puzzle. I would like to thank them for that. Craig and Romel have gone through so much together in their nursing careers. Sometimes their experiences give them a perspective that the rest of the group does not have. Justin's behavior was triggered by multiple things. I think he worries more about the public being reminded of the events concerning his father, but is also reminded of the events involving Jared. Often, however, the public takes less notice of individuals than individuals think they do. BUT, to the individual, any attention to something that individual does not want mentioned or remembered seems hyper-attentive to the one most directly affected. I also don't remember if it was stated that the Amateur Authors group was a gay group of authors or just a group of authors. Perhaps someone here can remind us.

Wow. Just -- wow. I hope Romel and the emergency crews can save Edward, but I don't know if it will happen or not. Justin is overreacting, but I can only blame him just a little. What Edward did was quite wrong. At the same time, Craig and Romel will be the real losers if Edward dies. What @quttzik said is so true -- "Some one needs to grow the F up. Revenge is never the way to go. And Craig is absolutely correct. Hate only causes grief for the person Hating." Looking forward to answers to whether Edward lives in the next chapter, @Wombat Bill

@Summerabbacat and @haines87 and @chris191070 and @quttzik, you are correct. Instead of @Summerabbacat having a super stressful year, I was having a very stressful three weeks when I read that chapter and the others around it. Justin is overreacting. If he makes a fuss where others can hear, other than Craig and Edward, what kinds of new trouble will be generated?

@Summerabbacat, well written and reasonably thought out. However, as I remember the chapter where the ejaculation took place, the guys had sort-of agreed to be sperm donors, and did not specify the way in which the sperm would be obtained. However, with the help of Julia, at least some of the legal aspects have been mitigated. I have also been disappointed with Edward. When an author writes a story and labels it as fiction, it should be different enough that the story only slightly sounds like events it might have been based on. For example, instead of "having hanged himself." Edward could have had the character "slip on a wet rock in the exercise yard" and break his neck. Justin, however, needs to control himself, since he and Edward are involved with the same piece of property and their businesses help each other. Further, if he sues Edward, the whole thing will blown up all over the press, causing far more damage to all related parties than working out some kind of quiet agreement. Justin MUST control himself, or the story will have more publicity and the case will be squarely and loudly be brought even more into public eyes and ears. Still, @Wombat Bill, a very good chapter. One thing just blossomed in my brain, but I have to read a couple of other things first before mentioning it. I might well be wrong.

@Wombat Bill, I certainly agree with @Summerabbacat on writing multiple-meaning conversations constructed charmingly, comedically, and cheerfully convivial as we are perched on the tip of the neb of the verbal intercourse. Some persons have a gift of understated comedy, and you have the gift with understated, understood, and probably even -- at time -- over-the-top comedy. Oh, by the way -- I really liked the chapter. Concerning my reaction to the end of this chapter, I wanted to give a HaHa, a Wow, a Love, and a Like all at the same time. The chapter is that good.

@Summerabbacat -- I agree with your comments on swimming. Persons who are halfway decent swimmers tend to make swimming LOOK easier than it really can be. I am not a great swimmer. I took a swimming class in college and improved enough to know I am not great. I also learned more cautions relating to water, swimming, and diving. If I swim in a place I have not swum before, I listen carefully to those who know those waters, so that I do not make a mistake due to ignorance. I hope James can help Francesco learn to swim. @Wombat Bill -- any chance of that happening?

I'm not really surprised about Francesco's trust account. It sounds like the Public Trustee is somewhat like what is called (in my state) the Public Administrator, who administers funds and estates and trusts for those who have no capable or honest relatives to do that on behalf of someone else. The Public Administrator may take care of funds for minors, severely handicapped persons, or those whom a court has designated. Of course, once in a while you have an incompetent Public Administrator, and that takes a while to straighten out. I will be interested in seeing how James does with suggesting insurance companies not insure a circus with wild animals. I'm also glad Francesco gets to visit again with James and Alex and Hannah and Julia at their home. Great chapter, @Wombat Bill. I look forward to the analyses of my follow commenters.

@chris191070, I agree with your analysis. And, I think the visiting men started very shortly after his parents died. The teaser for the next chapter already has me eager to read the next chapter. Bureaucracy. Red tape. The paper shuffle. The government runaround. It seems to be everywhere. @Wombat Bill, you've spelled it out perfectly in the frustration James felt when he attempted to get Francesco an identity card. Another fascinating chapter, Wombat Bill. I hope @Summerabbacat and @quttzik and @haines87 chime in with commentary. I enjoy reading their comments and yours.

In the United States, the employer pays "unemployment tax" on behalf of his or her employees, which varies from state to state. (The amount of coverage varies from state to state, as well. Employers pay half of the Social Security Tax (approximately), and if someone is self-employed, they pay both halves. There is also a Medicare Tax (although it has a fancier title on pay stubs) which partly pays for medical care at and after age 65 and partly pays for medical care for disabled persons. In the USA employees would have to receive a pay stub if paid in cash, showing how much the employer had remitted for each person in taxes, etc. I am curious -- in Australia, do states handle unemployment taxes and payments, or does the federal government, or is it partly both? @Summerabbacat or @Wombat Bill, would one of you answer that? As the circus moves from state to state,, does it (at least in theory) have to comply with the tax and withholding laws in each individual state?

Somehow I'm not surprised that Jack doesn't report all the income. The more on cards and the less cash, the more income he has to report. I think that happens in a lot of other places as well, and I think that is part of the reason the USA has created a coin shortage twice in the last two years -- so that they can ultimately force any business to report every incoming cent. I think that Francesco is deliberately being shortchanged in his education so that Jack and company can make money off of him. Sooner or later all of this will be found out, directly or indirectly. Jack will not be happy. Probably Candy will not be happy either. Changing the subject, I hope Caleb is discovering a love of both gardening and cooking. I think Gran is a great motivator for Caleb. The teaser for next chapter makes me wonder if James is going to take Francesco swimming. But I can think of other possibilities, as well. @Wombat Bill -- this chapter seemed like only about 500 words. Well done!