MikeL

Jake is a continuation of C James' short story Three for Jake which was released in the Winter 2007 anthology. I would encourage you to read Three for Jake first if you have not already read it. That said, Jake is a very different story for C James to write and deals with a subject I have not seen on GA previously. I had the pleasure of proofreading Jake for CJ, and can promise the supporters of GA that they have a real treat in store for them. Enjoy the story.

Why doesn't everyone pick one name for everything and stick with it?

I remember visiting American friends living in Scotland about 10 years ago. We took four large jars of Peter Pan crunchy peanut butter for their children. I wonder if you can get through airport security with that now.

Vic, you might want to try fish oil pills, too. I suffered with an arthritic shoulder for several years before I started them. It took three or four months, but since then (about two years now) I have had no pain. It's also good for preventing clogged arteries. I remember my mother giving me a tablespoon of cod liver oil every day. I guess this is similar, but without the aftertaste.

Cammy, take note!

Jim likes much more than pizza. That's why he is making a clandestine trip to Italy...not for pizza, but for his "special client". I'm thinking Officer Gonzalez is one sharp detective.

Always!

Happy Birthday, Ash!

Gee...someone voted for me. I bet English is not his/her first language.

Very interesting...a goat that speaks sheep.

With a good photography program, like PhotoScape or Photoshop, it's easy to lighten the picture and see just how good you look.

On the matter of Dirk and Jim's relationship, most respondents to the poll disagree with you. Is "special cigar" a double entendre, implying they are indeed gay lovers? The police usually refrain from bugging attorneys' cars. That could violate attorney client privilege. An exception would be made if the attorney was suspected of a crime. At this point, the police probably agree with me that Dirk and Jim's relationship is of a more personal in nature. I think we do have an antagonist and she is very duplicious.

This is fiction.

Actually, Pompeii, Capri, Sorrento, Torre del Greco, and the Blue Grotto are all on the Bay of Naples. The Naples airport would be the closest one to all those attractions. If you've never been to those amazing places, start making your plans now.

Good chapter...lots of fun with Trevor and Joel. Hmmm...cliffhanger or not? Dirk almost told Jim about a crime, which by now seems to be a central factor in the story. I take it Jim is about to head to Naples to talk with Trevor, although it is not clear what he will say. Do those constitute cliffhangers, those unresolved, nagging little questions? Not your typical peering into the abyss sort of cliffhangers...that's true. But the irresolution gives us pause on the matter of issuing a certificate. We must reserve our decision for now. Sorry, goat. On another matter, I will be surprised if Dirk and Jim are not lovers. Surely, it's rare that a civil attorney would have a typical client as a house guest.

Look at the poll again and check the last response to the last question.

I agree with Menzo. It's a great story. It's your story. Publish it where you feel appreciated. Most of all, keep writing. Did you know this story inspired a question in a poll related to another story?

Wikipedia has a rather thorough discussion of the term Hispanic. It comes form the Latin word Hispania which referred to the Iberian peninsula. Latin also referred to the area that is now Portugal as Lusitania. The meaning of Hispanic has changed over the years with the expansion of the Spanish Empire and the subsequent expansion of the US. Hispanic can now refer to anyone from Spain or any other Spanish-speaking country. I tend to think in terms of: Hispanic = Spain; Latino = anyone from Mexico, Central or South America , including Brazil; Chicano = I don't know what other than people who call themselves that. It can be confusing and the Census Bureau changes its definition of Hispanic every time it takes a census. I used to hear the term "Latin Lover" frequently and understood it to mean a playboy from Spain, Portugal, France, or Italy (four of the six countries with languages derived directly from Latin) or from any Latin American country.

If someone called me skinny, I would not be insulted.

Thanks, Tomas. I guess I will stick with (remain stuck with) Ma Bell.

I see so many ads for Magic Jack these days (I've got to quit watching Fox News). I was just wondering if anyone had any experience using it to replace your phone company. If you have, is it good? What are the pros and cons? Thanks in advance.

Great pictures, John and Lacey! Lacey, I want to know who took the pictures and with what camera.

Go August!

I think we may have a mystery on top of a mystery, or "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma" as Winston Churchill once said of the Soviet Union. We may not know where this is heading, but in order to see if there is any consensus among readers, please respond to the poll.

And August.