Parker Owens

Yet imagine being Eric. The fright of anything to do with the police, even the Ambrose that he knows, remains very real. Eustace thinks he knows Eric better than his son does, and Eustace is right. However, the old man also senses the mystery about Eric, and perhaps he, like Ambrose, wants to get answers to questions Eric has no intention of being present to answer. It is heartening as an observer to see Eustace stand up for Eric, but that's not enough to keep him from running. Thank you very much for your comments, and for reading the journal.

I read each poem, and they compelled me to read them over and over before I could comment. The first one plays cinematic images in my head, one quick, brutal scene after another. But the second, perfectly placed beneath the first, is the calm pool after the rapids, the sunlit afternoon after the night time storms. These are paired brilliantly.

@Butcher56: Eric has only just begun to figure out that his father might not have always been right. The lessons learned from mental and physical abuse can take a very long time to unlearn. This is certainly true for Stefan / Eric. Ambrose is definitely curious; perhaps it is natural with him. Thank you for your kind and interesting comments.

You speak a great and potent truth here. I could not agree more.

Thank you so much for writing this. I appreciate how well you characterized these. I think it is the trochaic meter that helps reinforce their uncompromising feeling. Definitely, I felt a bleakness, and an emptiness as these were written. I suspect winter may have been the culprit. Again, many thanks.

Thank you for this very generous comment. Definitely wonderful to wake up to. An old solstice carol played in my head as I wrote it.

You are very kind in your remarks. Your thoughts about Age are quite poetic in themselves. Thank you for the note about Unborn. I am happy the twist worked out.

"Lief" is such a handy word sometimes. I'm glad it is in your lexicon. The long, late-running winter surely played a part in bringing Age to paper. Too much snow at the wrong time of year will do that. I am glad Unborn worked out for you. Thank you for your kind words and comments.

I hesitated to post Unborn because I wondered if it would put some readers off before getting to that moment. I have so many scraps with the unborn in my notes and on my desk and dresser... I am sure it is the late and long winter that makes me feel Age so much. We travel together down that road. Thank you very much for reading these and for your comments.

Eric is drawn to Toby; it’s the effect of a friendly smile, perhaps. He’s known so few of them. Ambrose is certainly interested in this new boy who is working on the farm. That’s natural; he’s clearly watching out for his aging parent. Thanks for continuing to read the journal and for your thoughts.

@Butcher56: Eric is glad for the job, the shelter, and the chance to eat, surely. And from Eustace, he is getting something he’s never experienced before: trust. The respect Eustace shows Eric may be worth more than any of these. Thanks for reading the journal, and for your comments.

Eric / Stephan has enough money to eat a little, and that's good. He's definitely wary, but still very unsure of how to make his way. Running is the one thing he knows he must do. I am glad the journal is drawing you in. Thank you for reading!

Age I'm weary of death, and he of me, though soon in his arms I'm sure to be; I'll shudder and shake in his cold, cold clutch where it's winter eternally. I've never been fond of skulls and such and black fashion clothes don't thrill me much, a rainbow of color I'd lief as take when stillness my heart must touch. Though sleep has its charms, I'll stay awake recalling to mind that cheerful ache I woke to each morning, content with joy, for embraces I'd not forsake. But

Yes, guilty as charged. I’m a teacher. We all teach, to some degree or another. Stefan taught me a great deal as I wrote his story.

Stefan had managed to escape by the luck of misperception and mistaken identity. For once, luck is on his side. He has endured so much. Yet he is still on the run, still hunted. Thank you for reading and commenting.

Thank you for beginning the journal Stefan wrote. It is not an easy read, but one that too many kids might understand too well these days. I hope you continue to read and comment as you are moved to do so. Thanks again.

You are certainly correct about that.

Poor Cameron. He's had the worst luck of all. Devin is being an ass; he knows something is wrong, but how to make it right? Being a pain to Kevin is hardly going to work. But I suppose teens learn the hard way, don't they?

This pair of love poems will lead me to my heart’s meditation tonight. They are beautiful. They reflect love that can shine everywhere, for everyone. Thank you.

I’m enjoying this story. It says so much to so many about things that cannot be repeated enough. And to watch Jimmy and Drake slowly slide toward each other is delightful.

Galen is healing, at least to some extent. As much as it hurt him (and those of us readers, too) to say it, perhaps he needed to work some things out beyond the confines of the farm. He actually could talk to the flirtatious and aggressive Ben, though he averted any description of how he came to be the way he is. But Galen is a long way from being nearly incapacitated as he was when he and Josh went to NYC. Ben repelled him, but so does the idea of a real, honest relationship with Josh. He can't talk about it with Josh, even though they love each other. Perhaps Eddie can help, or point Galen to more resources. Galen feels broken; it will take a very long time to feel anything close to whole again. He can hardly be blamed for feeling frustrated and impatient. Great chapter - it makes clear that there are no easy routes, no easy answers.

Color me gobsmacked and utterly surprised to see Predator Prey featured this week. Thank you @spikey582 for such a kind and generous review. @Mikiesboy , @Carlos Hazday , @northie , and @Valkyrie , I appreciate your wonderful words about this story. I am deeply humbled, but grinned all through my first class of the day...

I could no more be a waiter than I could qualify for the Olympics - and I can do the math. Great story! Hope he gets to see the customer in a different venue...

Oh my... lovely idea...

You have my prayers and best thoughts.