Parker Owens

I love this chapter. You know this, but I'll say it anyhow.

Long ago, I understood Patrick was gay. Even so, his coming out to CJ brought a lump to my throat. More and more, CJ is in demand, as an icon of what people want him to be - you are good at showing us the human being behind all that. Thanks for a great chapter.

Interesting. Wonder how their blind meeting will go? I'd be. Very anxious, too.

On the whole, Alek's coming out to his teammates was a qualified success. You provide us with real piece-of-work bigots as foils for the better people on the team. It is a great pity Liam became the target and got assaulted. But Alek will take care of that guy on the ice, quite possibly in the corner or behind the goal. The bigot with the big mouth should beware. And now Alek can take Liam home in the meantime.

Thank you for reassurance that I am not to worry. Your questions are haunting to anyone; and the wish for more time grabs me by the collar.

First of all, I apologize for being so slow to respond. Thank you for your kind and very gracious thoughts at the end of this difficult story. You are right that Graham's public proposal is declaration enough that Scott has found real redemption in love and friendship. He's human. Thanks for sticking with this tale to its last chapter. And I hope you enjoyed a quick glimpse of two old friends at the beach...

Thanks so much for your reading and commentary. As I said in another response, I think 'The Maker' can be read in a number of ways, as it contains many metaphors. To me, it also says much about how we can hurt or bless our relationships, as we are makers to each other. Again, thanks for reading.

Gary, I am completely undone by this generous and extended commentary. I thank you for taking the time to read this small collection at length. 'Trees' was the last one written, and came directly from a walk in the early spring woods, as you might guess. The sadness you talk about in 'Prelude and Fugue' is sometimes quite palpable. I wonder if that is what makes me a pack rat. 'Overtime' very nearly stayed in the notebook; yet its harsh glare fit the theme too well to leave it there. 'Housefire' held many deep and personal metaphors and memories. If they came through at all, then well and good. 'The Maker' also held ideas - and perhaps it tells us how much good and harm we can do to one another, as makers to each other. You were so very kind to react to these, and I am very, very grateful.

So many have said this is beautiful. They are right. The word, the touch, the caress, the gentling of love is vivid and palpable, like an impressionist masterpiece.

And this is so very sad. Hugs.

I love the dialogue, the prayer and response in this. It is a very powerful poem.

The hurt rings out like many harsh, discordant bells; you cry for certainty in a chaotic place in this poem. Your pain makes me so unhappy, brother.

Another wide-ranging chapter, with a lot to digest. Loved the description of the wedding as well as CJ's big bro explanation. But it was also touching when Ritchie asked if he could use the term 'abuelo.' It would have melted stonier hearts than mine. Love how Ozzie is really a part of the family - Brett and Cesar must feel enormously happy and content to see their family extend and grow.

A great chapter. I am sure I heard music playing in the background. Liam and Alex may have made the right choices indeed. Beautifully done.

The peace you write about is slippery and multilayered. What peace is there in restless nights, or fevered hearts or lonely spirits? I stand with you, support you, embrace you as my brother and give you what little peace I have.

The moment of pure light, of radiant brightness, and then the grey again. You make this come alive in its sadness and pain.

Terribly sad and melancholy. Pitched perfectly in a minor key.

Oh, that seriously hurts. Now Zane doesn't know if the boy who occupies his every waking thought is unattainable, and whether he has screwed up a friendship over it, and whether he's been dumped, duped or played - by either Dex or Karli. Ouch.

Great start. Great hook, and you leave us wanting more. I sure as heck do, anyhow....

Puzzles of all sorts - jigsaws, spatial puzzles, mathematical teasers - they challenge and prod the solver. And what of us, we who don't seem to fit the standard cutouts? Do we get pounded into place, or will we be allowed to be a non-standard part of the picture? I like the metaphor you propose. It is powerful and real. Beautifully done.

Very lovely. Wonderfully anxious and then Nate puts Cam out of his misery. Great chapter.

Trepidation is the perfect word...it captures the come again, go again, trembling hesitation, along with the prescience of knowing what will happen. Thanks for reading these.

I do, and I thank you for your support and kindness. Unlatching the door seemed like a very powerful image, too much so to resist...sort of like that itch.

Then perhaps you were there with me; for my own eyes couldn't hold back...

It is like an unraveling, an unwinding. It is so very hard to be there. Thanks for your comment and kindness.