craftingmom

I thought since Kayden rides a horse in the sequel it might be nice to explore how he learns to ride...

That was one of the first ones I wrote. (they aren't posted necessarily in the order I wrote them, just in as close to sequential as possible). It's short, but it brings back into focus all of Kayden's fears. Thanks for the review, Robin!

Hehe, yes, very much so! I appreciate your comments on my writing. Thank you so very much. Thanks for reviewing!

After having to live without my tablet for a week, I'm realizing just how much I really, really love it. My old tablet had been slowly dying--constantly rebooting randomly, freezing, etc. So my husband bought me a new Galaxy tab 4 for Christmas, and I had it all set up with my Kindle, Moon pro, Handwrite apps, etc. until I tripped over my daughter's shoes in the foyer on new year's eve and the tablet went flying down the stairs, cracking open. *sigh* It still worked but fortunately my husband had bought the 2 year warranty so we returned it to the store and they gave us a refund in a gift card form to then go back to the electronics counter to just purchase a new one. Of course, they didn't have any in stock. It had to be ordered. Seven days without my tablet and I'm realizing just how much I really relied on it. Reading books on my phone is just a pain in the butt. Plus, I realized just how much I relied on the Handwrite App. At night, as I'm falling asleep, ideas for stories (current or future) often hit me as I'm drifting off. I've been using the handwrite app to quickly open and jot down the idea. It's nice because I don't have to try to type anything, just scribble it with my finger. I can do it quickly and easily, and then I can actually fall asleep without worrying whether I'll forget the idea. Not having that for a week was painful--trying to write on a notebook in the dark is not easy (it's the way I used to do it before I had a tablet, but it's not easy). Then of course I got to thinking about how much things have changed since I was a kid. I was the first one in my house to even get a computer --a Commodore 128, woohoo! --because I wanted to be able to save the stories I typed. Before that I was typing on an electric typewriter. My kids look at me like I'm nuts when I tell them that. Oh, yeah, and portable phones? Huge clunky things that plugged into your car. And guess what? They only made phone calls! I do have to say that of my whole family growing up (mom, dad, and sister), I'm the only one who embraced technology wholeheartedly. Oh, I remember getting our first microwave and, hell, cable TV--more than 5 channels--yay! But my parents and even my sister (who is two years younger), even now still seem to rebel against new technology. They do know computer basics of course. They do have cell phones, albeit, the basic ones with a slide keyboard for texting, but not the touchscreens, internet, apps, etc. (Oh, heck, when my mom started texting it was like woohoo, she's entered the 21st century. I still get middle of the night phone calls for tech support from her because something didn't work right on her laptop (which she uses only for storing pictures and emails). I think my four year old nephew knows more about tablets than my sister, since he stays at my house Wed thru Sat while I babysit him. ( He gets higher scores on Doodle Jump than I do!) I struggle because my sister is so against him playing on a phone/tablet or watching any TV. And I certainly understand too much of anything is bad, of course, but to avoid it all together? He's growing up in a rapidly changing, technology based world. In this day and age, it's almost imperative to give him the opportunity to explore and learn through tablets, phones, computers, etc, as much as it is to run and play at the play grounds and playing with cars, puzzles, etc. Sorry, that's my little ramble today, as I finally had my tablet back last night (and had to jot down two ideas on the handwrite app while drifting to sleep!), that I thought about how much things have changed since I was a kid. Probably why I find that song 19 Something by Mark Wills so dang funny.

Chapter 5 Avery woke Monday morning feeling more tired than he'd felt in a long time. He didn't know if it was the headache and chills that had plagued him all weekend, or if it was the fact that his father had hardly let him sleep. It seemed every time he finally fell asleep, his door was creaking open and his father was patting his back heavily. Avery gasped at the pain shooting through his spine "Just want to make sure you aren't missing your mom too much," he'd whispered in his ear wi

Yeah, I think Elementary schools are a little better about it as they usually have a smaller population. As they get into middle and high school, with larger numbers of students, I think things slip by. And Avery would have been in 6th grade (middle school here, anyway) shortly after his mother left when the abuse started, so he's one of those that managed to slip through the system.

You are very perceptive as to what might be coming! hehe

He's not really a teacher. He's helping as a teacher's aide as a way of exploring careers. (my college did this, had us take a 2 week practicum working with a teacher to see if we wanted to continue studies to become a teacher.) So he's helping the physics teacher for the few weeks in December since his interest is science. As for his mom, because the story is from Avery and Matt's POV, you really won't find out much about his mom. There is some resolution to this at the end, though. But basically, she left because she met and fell in love with another man. So while Carl (avery's dad) still adored her, she had fallen out of love with him, and eventually left with the other man--but had planned to come back for Avery after settling in with him.

I think most would agree with you about dealing with Avery's father.

Hehe, that would have been nice, but yeah, a bit out of character for Avery right now.

Thank you! Hopefully after this one is finished being posted, Blood of the Neko will be done and ready to go!

Yes, it was! And yeah, it's definitely a kleenex kind of story, even when writing it.

That line made me shiver... it really showed how easy it would be for Matt to just put aside his suspicions and dismiss Avery as a moody goth kid, and how reasonable willful ignorance can seem - not to mention that it's probably the exact thought that's gone through people's heads in real life situations like these. It's good that Matt's settling in well, but hopefully he doesn't get too complacent... Loved the chapter, as usual Yeah, I think that's what happens way too often. Glad you are enjoying the story! Thanks for the review!

No problem. I know I get anxious waiting for updates on stories so I always try to make sure I only post a story if it's finished. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Chapter 4 "So, Avery," his dad's voice slid over him from behind him as he made his father's dinner of hamburger helper. Avery tensed as his father's hand crept to his neck, gripping it tightly. Wisely, he put the spatula down and turned off the stove before anything could splatter. "Y-yes?" he stammered. His dad's grip slid up his head to tighten in his hair before he yanked his head back. "I hear you're still grieving over your mother." Oh, fuck, of course the school had called his da

I really loved this story! I loved how Nik finally got himself together to really go after what he really wanted--to be with Sacha. I'd love to see a sequel. Great Job! As always, I love all your works!

Well, at least there is now someone looking a bit more at the antisocial little Avery. It may be a while before he actually makes connections. (After All there are 17 chapters, we are no where near the end yet)

Yes, he is, and unfortunately you are right. It is realistic. Thanks for reading (and reviewing!)

Yes, it is. Avery may have to suffer a bit more, but he now has someone really looking at him and thinking about him. thanks for reviewing.

Thank you!

Chapter 3 "He's cute," giggled the blonde in front of him. "I wonder if he has a girlfriend," her friend next to her whispered conspiratorially. "Who cares, she's not here now." "Very true." "I bet I can get him to go out with me within the next week." Avery idly listened to the chatter of the girls sitting in front of him in Physics class. His forehead rested on his arms on his desk as he drifted with the incessant chatter. He vaguely remembered Mr. Sikes saying that there would be

I feel exactly the same way. And I think that's why I felt the need to write it, for all the Averys out there who don't have their happy ending. thanks for reading (I know it's tough) and reviewing!

Well... I can say they will get better, eventually, but not that things won't get worse first... Hope you hang in there for it. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Thank you. It is tough, but I guess I feel the same about it being a story of all the "Averys" out there who are lost and forgotten.

It is a tough story, and I thank you for your reviews and thoughts on it. I also got your PM, thank you so much for taking the time to let me know what you thought.