Parker Owens

The past is now chasing him, predator to prey. Ending the threat is beyond him, for now - Marquez is powerful and very frightening. Many thanks for your comments, and for reading the story to this point.

Kenny is a scary dude, even though he isn't seven feet tall, or built like ten linebackers. It's what Kenny represents, and the power behind that which is truly frightening. Marquez and Kenny feel an interest in Wally, a sort of interest that can kill quickly or slowly, but certainly. I will not lead you further down the path of speculation, but I will thank you for having mapped out the options pretty well. Your impatience tells me I might have done a passable job at this chapter, then. Many thanks for reading the story, and for your comments today.

Many good things have happened to Wally by now - he's been Oscar and Javi's guest, he's learned again how to work and be satisfied in that work aboard the Feigenbaum - he made some real friends aboard ship, too. But you are right, in that redemption is not yet truly begun. Just now, all his energy is directed to making that bike go as fast as it can. Many thanks for continuing to read the story, and for your comments and thoughts.

What an interesting way of thinking about TP - as an employee, or perhaps a franchisee, or even an agent. In any case, Marquez and Kenny feel a certain interest in Wally, and that could be quite lethal. At least Wally can see that much. Running scared - bolting, in fact - is just what prey would do in the face of a predator. The question now is just how determined and hungry this predator might be, and how fast can it give chase? And if Wally is caught in the predator's jaws, then will karma be appeased? Many thanks for your comments and thoughts, and for your support in reading the story.

Yes, the relative security and calm is broken. Wally feels compelled to flee, and hope he is not tracked down again. Kenny is no joke, apparently, and nobody to be taken lightly. Wally knows this much, at least. As for your excellent questions, I fear they must lie unanswered for a time. Sorry about that Many thanks for your thoughts and remarks!

The next day was difficult. Very difficult. He spent the morning with Javier again, feeling unreasonably embarrassed with every passing minute. It had only been a daydream. What he imagined in the shower the day before wasn't real. But the daydream affected the way he interacted with Javier, making him more careful, more reserved than ever. That morning, they worked on the pool pump. Honestly, he had no idea what was wrong with it, but he helped Javier disconnect it and lift it out of its well

Hugs first, reactions second. Your images of increasing slope, polished, slippery surfaces, have the power to frighten. Certainly, that's how this makes me feel...scared and powerless.

Drip, drop, drip, drop, go the enticing little bits of information. You provide us with small puzzle pieces to begin fitting together...where are all the edges? Where are the like colors? You do it well enough that I don't notice at first. But will teaching truly be so horrible? I know I shall have to be patient to discover all that I am supposed to know, but drat it, I want to know now!

So John has agreed to teach. That may be more than he bargained for, but turning down money like that is hard, very hard. But at least it may concentrate his mind a little on something outside his own misery.

A dawn in the making? Keller and Tobyn seem to have worked a miracle in Logan, and that may speak louder than anything they can say at any meeting. But what is the meaning of that painting? I am all eyes and ears to know...but will not speculate!

Tak! Perfect in your timing, and tone. Loved how Lucas remained Joel's point of focus when anger threatened to derail everything. A wonderful vignette.

Then you have crowned my day. Thank you!

This was a fun chapter, and the title fits perfectly. Maybe Nicolas will turn out to be human after all....nah.

Was thinking about Barenboim, and then about Debussy...and came to the realization that Debussy played for and knew Liszt, who was (reportedly) blessed by Beethoven. What a chain of acquaintance.... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0FbQZCsYXVg

Thank you Gary. The task seems simple, but X is hard to do without using work arounds. Learned a lot of new words for this poem! It seemed only right this one should go to our very own...

That it took you several times to recognize the form means something went right. Glad you liked it!

It is how you are seen indeed. And the pleasure of writing this was mine. Thank you!

To an Abecedarian Poet At once brother and friend, compassion for all whose desperate destitution on Earth now frames your greatest gift to all of us who hail you as a comrade in life's winding journey; Kindness lives at your house; makes itself resident, no temporary guest, or tired transient pilgrim; Questions, reflections and sharp-drawn observations trip from your trusty, honest pen; unmixed, vivid words, poetic and prosaic, xenial catalysts you share, brave and zestful.

So much to think about in this hour of music and discussion. I was especially taken by the comment on the connection and translation of language in to music....

And so we have the compleat fairy tale, and a charming one ye've given us. Silver and Goram get to be united happily ever after. And don't think ye for a moment that we canna see Demeter and Persephone looking on. I congratulate thee on a most marvelous tale!

And Javi has absolutely got coffee down to an art form! Wally / TP could not ignore the interior voice any longer, calling him on the sandcastle of rage and alienation he's built. It all got washed away on a sunny afternoon at the beach. But what is left? And what will he put in its place? Many reviewers have said that he wants what Javi and Oscar have, and what they represent. Possibly that's so. He can dream of Javi, but he knows that's got to be wrong. That hasn't stopped him before, of course. Many thanks for your comments, and for taking time to read and respond to the chapter. I appreciate it!

I so enjoyed listening to your Guaraldi Trio selection - it is easy to forget how much great music he made; Charlie Brown seemed to put a fence around him. Anyway, thanks a ton - I loved it!

Well. Bradley wasn't terribly subtle, was he? But he made his point. It is to be hoped that he didn't make it so well that Grandfather Kennedy doesn't find a way to use the whole scene against both his parents and his grandson. A black belt can bring one man to his knees; a determined lawyer can do much more damage. But CJ was the one who acted with considerable restraint, to his credit and his fathers' pride.

I was especially struck by the juxtaposition of music an visual images in the second selection. Each phrase considered, measured, like a move on the chessboard; and all in the wintertime of our lives....a poem in a few deft images. And did the camera foreshorten the length of the performer's fingers, or is there hope for stubby fingered musicians after all?

You are apologizing for giving me a long chapter in a story I can't wait to read? Thanks for a long chapter! I very much enjoyed it. How wonderfully you paint the excitement and butterflies of competition into this picture. I loved that Luke rebelled enough to go see Jackson's first meet. How marvelously you wove Jackson's efforts into something that won us over - even if he did not win his race. You made this story all the more credible in doing so. And what Aiden and Matt did to Drae and Jackson would be enough to destroy a team's unity and cohesion for an entire season, or more. This is further evidence of how damaging Pete's cheating really was, incidentally. Finally, this chapter, more than earlier text, really shows how much Jackson and Luke are no longer in hiding; they are only coming to realize this. Before they know it, Cindy will be the only one who refuses to acknowledge what is plain to everyone else. Many thanks for this new episode.