Parker Owens

Poetry can help me unburden my day. I'm glad it may be the same for you.

Thank you for reading this, and for your thoughts.

You are most welcome. I am very grateful you chose to break your rule in this instance. We live in very trying times, and it is no surprise that we might seem bereft of words, and without the usual stars to guide us. Thank you.

When the words refuse to shine but hide themselves behind a stratus shroud beyond all earthbound inquiry, their constellated meanings hidden, I cannot navigate the tossing seas, nor sight a sextant by their saraband about the poles, without a single syllable breaking cover, peeking out to reveal itself to eager eyes; so like a mariner without lodestar or cross staff, one must heave to, out of the wind and pray events blow not

That sheriff is a smart, observant man. Now that Coy saved Boone, I wonder what perils await the pair along trail. And if they ever get to the promised land of Larkspur, will it be what it was hyped up to to be? I liked this for the renewed friendship in Coy and Boone, which made me smile.

Monica is a character I enjoyed writing, and her voice came through in this vignette. Terry and Kaz are another pair whose growth and development haven’t entirely progressed in my mind to the point I can write their voices. That doesn’t mean I might not try someday, however. Thank you for your thoughts on this little snapshot.

Skinny and I started this as a collaboration after an extended correspondence. It took a very long time to finish without him. Alas, I’m not sure I dare start anything containing his characters again.

You’re most welcome! Thank you for taking up this story and for your very kind comments.

This put a smile on mine, that’s for sure.

Indeed, there are tons of question you pose. Your first two have definite echoes in the news. The third has no answer yet, as Rick hasn't seen anything that might inform his understanding. Isolde is unlikely to tell her secrets to anyone but Rick. I'm enjoying your speculation as to future movements in the story, but I will have to remain mum for the time being. Thank you very much for your interest in this story, and for your delightful questions.

I think you may have created a whole new category of warnings: the Rita Warning, letting readers know about the appearance of an obnoxious character ahead. As for the weather forecast, I'm keeping mum. Sorry about that. You wouldn't want me to spoil anything, would you? That exchange must have made Rick burn. But there are two difficulties in telling Bert off - the first is that Heinrich Senior actually buys the insurance and maintains the account, not Rick. He might complain to Senior, but something tells me the old man isn't likely to back him up. The second is that these people have all largely grown up together. They know each other's families and histories, and they are all part of the Eagle Lake community. Bert probably knew Rick back in grade school, or maybe was a few years older, but recognized him. Anyway, one is supposed to take this kind of banter in good part, or get known as a sorehead. Thank you so very much for reading Rick's story, and for your very apt observations.

Can I say you made me smile with this question? I wish I could say, but hate to spoil things...

Rita is a woman with a plan. Rick's curiosity is piqued, but like everyone else, he may get distracted by life's little details before he can figure anything out. I'm grateful you read this chapter - thanks for your thoughts.

For all the nice summer weather Rick has experienced in Eagle Lake, there sure appear to be quite a few storm warnings. Rita's account arrears can't help but annoy Rick - but mostly because Heinrich Senior will howl. I'm glad you don't think Rick is crazy for talking to a chicken. Rick may find it hard to believe in change; he has seen little reason for it. However, he appears to be considering significant variations on his historical theme. He may be unable to contemplate a wholesale replacement of his score. Thank you so much for reading this chapter, and for your impressions.

I'm glad Isolde could make you smile a little. Rick would not make a very good pet owner - he's out of the house so often and so irregularly. He is a good guy, and he reminds me that our world is full of people like him. That's cause for a smile, too. Your characterization of Rita fits Rick's experience of her. Thanks very much for your reflections, and for reading another chapter of Rick's story.

I hope that you are now drawing your own mental map of Eagle Lake, and maybe beginning to place imagined landmarks in it. If you start doing that, then Rick is definitely getting to you. Rick may not be sufficiently volatile for an explosive reaction; his chemistry may mean events produce some other result. But you're absolutely right that he is caught between his father and realtor, and getting crushed between them could be very painful. George is very fortunate to have someone as articulate as you to talk to. Thank you so much for your help, and for your comments!

I love these alternative monikers for Rita: The first makes me think of her as predatory, the second brings many interesting images to mind, based on the sounds of the words. Oh my, the urge to rhyme is taking over... Thanks a ton for reading!

Knowing that you smiled at reading this chapter today had me grinning. I'm glad you had a chance for some reflection, and that you feel the descriptions of Rick's life are true and believable. Rita has lots and lots of dots, and connecting them all may try poor Rick's patience. You have a point about her apparent cash position; right now, the Eagle Lake business community is giving her a pass, based on her look of success. It's easy to underestimate Rick - he's quiet, unobtrusive, friendly and certainly not self-promoting. If it isn't clear where things are leading, then you are definitely seeing things through Rick's lenses - he can't see what's in his future either. Thank you very much for reading, and for your observations.

You are not alone in this. Earlier, others have argued that she may not be as awful as she seems. From Rick's point of view, she is certainly a burden to bear, if not a caution to be avoided. Thanks for reading!

Rita seems to be rolling the dice, taking chances, and planning something significant. She must need her pennies for something else. Thanks for hanging on to this small-town tale.

Perhaps Rick is too controlled, too self-enclosed to explode. However, he's had years of practice dragging his feet and being passively resistant. Senior would have to aggravate Rick far beyond his enormous capacity for patience before he detonates. Thank you so very much for your thoughts, and for reading Rick's story.

Rita not paying up on her obligations has got Rick's brain working. If she'd paid up, he'd be thinking about going fishing, or listening to a certain pianist in the dark. Senior will be arriving, inevitably. Rick seems to have left that eventuality on the back burner for the moment. Thank you very much for reading, and for your thoughts.

That’s very true. Even cats listen fairly well. Thanks very much for your thoughts.

Rick parked the white Ernst and Son Plumbing and Heating van in an open slot on Main Street. Glancing around, he pulled out his cell phone. The screen showed a message from the online dating app. Feeling hot n horny. hbu? Mister SexyHunk had written again, following up with: I could cum cu. Who was SexyHunk? And was it worth finding out? Rick squirmed in the driver’s seat. His groin stirred. For an instant, he let himself imagine being with a man again, feeling the weight on

I’m grateful for your kindly thought about these lines which may have brought across the world and spanning miles perhaps the pleasantest of smiles.