MrM

Love can turn the worst afternoon of your life into the best in just a couple of slow blinks of the eye.

Those scratches can’t be hidden for long.

“To be honest...I wanted to hit something. Actually, I wanted to DESTROY something! But not an inanimate object. No...that wasn't good enough. I wanted to hit something that would be HURT by it. Something that SCREAMS! Something that CRIES! Something that BLEEDS! It made me wonder...is this what my father feels like when he's beating the living hit out me every day?” …and so it begins for Zack. The father innoculates the son who then innoculates his own son and then his son in a pattern of abuse that lasts generations. The Hate becomes almost like a genetic virus passed down one beating at a time. Hopefully, Zack’s heroic spirit will be able to break the pattern and stop the hurting that has gone on for far, far too long.

That last part…so tragic in its beauty. Should Zack have died that night, at least he would have been able to feel love before the end. That’s every bit as evocative an idea as Justin and Taryn’s ability to make every time the first time. Comsie was a master at making unforgettable images like that.

Hot as lava! Nobody did it better than Comsie! ❤️

Friday Well…I guess I’ve made my decision. I’m sorry Billy… He finally said the words…the Three Little Words right to my face today on the front lawn at school. I’d noticed he was acting particularly nervous today when we first met at lunch. He asked if we could go outside on the lawn to finish lunch. So we went. He lead us to a nice spot that was quiet, but not too quiet. I knew something must be up because he was breathing hard and had this permanent blush on his cheeks.

I like the idea of Zack knowing where his father sleeps at night…

Thursday The more I think about it, the more I’m afraid. Stevie’s example, yesterday, had done its damage. It was obvious Jason and Karl went after Stevie because he looked ‘gay’. The things they said, as they were working him over, were clearly homophobic! With THAT kind of hatred roaming around school, how can I responsibly commit to any kind of gay relationship without risk of being Outed? The risk is real! These guys are out of control! How could I possibly put myself, m

Like I said, I will push on even though Comsie may be gone.

Wednesday Ok, something is seriously going on with Stevie! He came into school with a BLACK EYE today! “Dude! Who the hell did that to you?” I asked him when I first saw him this morning. “None of your business! Just…stay out of it, ok?” Stevie growled! “Bullshit! Is someone picking on you, Stevie? Tell me!” I begged. “I SAID forget it, Brandon!” Stevie almost shouted at me and then pushed passed me, kind of, roughly! Ok, now I’m really worried! Is someone beat

Beautiful! How I wish I could have had a ‘Brody’ in my life. He would have been my only escape too.

Attempted murder now. They have a saying in Texas about what certain people need. . .

So the psychopath is also an adulterer. Is there no end to this man’s evil?

I knew it would come to something broken or dislocated!

Zack has enormous courage to return home under the circumstances. I would probably have never returned. A park bench or a jail cell would be better than what awaits Zack at home with that psychopath. One considers that Zack loves his mother and would not want to desert her, but even so…there comes a time when enough is enough.

What a bright spirit you are, Comsie… Keep shining for us here on this poor old tired earth. We need that light.

There are no words that I can say about what I’d want to do to Zack’s father that wouldn’t get me banned from GA forever. My hatred is complete.

That’s quite a belt buckle! 😝

Oh Comsie….I hope those memories of abuse and the dagger-words that went with them are quiet for you now. RIP my dear friend. No more pain.

§ § Saturday, December 9, 1989 “Ungh…Wha-what was that strange language you were speaking at my parent’s grave Tuesday night…ooo? It certainly wasn’t…uhhh…Romanian!” I asked of Vlad as I sat between his legs on the floor with my back to him while he remained in his wing chair. With wicked skill he gently massaged my shoulders and neck with those powerful, bone-crushing hands of his. “Verzpertillio.” Vlad said this strangely lisping word nonchalantly, like it was nothing. “Verzzp

§ § Tuesday, December 5, 1989 The funeral and wake for my parents had been emotional, as to be expected. I had to go alone, since, of course both events had been during the day. Vlad could not attend with me, though later he would join me that night so that he could also pay his own respects. By night we had taken an evening flight up to Portland and then drove down to Newport where the cemetery was. It felt strange being in my hometown again. Without my folks, it didn’t seem li

More to come in the next couple of days. ♥️

§ § Friday, December 1, 1989 His face, even though it is no longer disguised, I still find handsome and kind…at least to me. Yes, I suppose Vlad Țepeș Dracula is a monster, but he is a kindly one…at least to me. As fearful as I should be at the prospect of there being real vampires and him being a ‘lord’ of them, his words to me that night rang true to me somehow: “Yes, William. But, be not afraid! Not of me. Never of me…” In any case, that dreadful night on Halloween

I’ll start out. This involves my most precious web link: Behind that link lies Comsie’s review and endorsement for my Brandon Smiling project. Our private email and chats from this point forward were always special things. I’d always get a thrill when I’d see a new Comsie email come into my inbox! We mostly just talked about Imagine Magazine and some other projects, but I got to know a lot about Comsie in those emails. I was going through them just the other day, remembering him. We had kicked off a wonderful long-distance friendship this way. What amazes me about how Comsie was is the fact he seemed to be able to hold this kind of friendship with so many folks! He gave everyone he could time with him to, just, be friends with him and be enthusiastic about everything! He was a wellspring of enthusiasm and positive energy! He rarely had a cross word for anyone and lived, especially, to encourage other authors with their creativity! His blogged writing tips here at GA are solid gold for any author wanting to really stretch their wings! If his insights into writing are gold then his insights into life and love, especially in the gay context, are diamonds! His wise life advice always built me up. He was most wise and shared that life-wisdom with the generosity that he shared everything else about him! He shared himself so much to the point that it was painful sometimes, but it was a sweet pain. He loved his work and he loved his fans just as much. Comsie will always be with us in his writings, but for those of us that got to know him at all, he will be forever in our hearts! Remembering him will be easy…forgetting him - impossible! Until we meet again, Comsie! I’ll see you on the other side.

Comsie had this tradition of asking a question for folks to answer to be posted on Imagine Magazine. After discussing this with some close friends of Comsie’s, we’ve decided to not only keep Imagine Magazine going in his memory, but to continue these questions. The next issue of Imagine Magazine being planned is going to be a memorial issue. For that issue, I have one simple question: Do you have a special memory of Comicality that you’d like to share? It can be a special email, DM, story comment, chat, or forum post. Anything at all that you and Comsie shared that makes you remember him fondly. He was a man that touched a lot of lives and he was generous with his time and attention. I expect there may be quite a few memories out there worth being shared. For Comsie, let’s hear them!