Parker Owens

Oh, I really liked this. Thanks for writing a great 'next day' chapter. Now they can be happy, maybe. Deleriously happy.

Very bad vibes coming off of this chapter. Too many things to go wrong. Mike in Syracuse must be going berserk right about now. I suspect he's going to drive down to Twoey's house so he can find David and smack him upside the head. And what is Twoey going to do? He doesn't need any danger, not now. Look Out.

Yes it's was absolutely Delicious. What a wonderful chapter in their lives. Thanks so much for telling it. And I have wrestled with rain suits and foul weather gear for years!

Still a sucker for SMBC.

So do I! Glad you are here!

You have written a sweet and lovely chapter in a wonderful story. The planets are aligning perfectly for Peter and Patrick, and it is wonderful to see happiness blossoming where there was so little before...pay out have portrayed that expertly.

I am glad you liked Andy's description of what must have been a crazy day. Everyone surely needs a Kaz in their lives. He's been a true friend to both Zander and Andy. I could not agree with you more. Delia Walker was an unexpected bonus. Not sure what 'slow clap' means in this context, so I will hope it will not involve me being run out of GA on a rail. Thanks for your commentary, but most importantly, thank you for reading Andy's journal.

As Jacob's mother says, things are changing quickly around us. People are looking at the Bible differently, and some Christians are taking the Bible back from fundamentalism. None too soon, either. Jacob's father is an archetype of a terrible, hurtful and ultimately non-Christlike faith. You have certainly shown us this in the father's refusal to really discuss his son's concerns (not browbeat him) and in the scars Jacob mentions. This is a good and affecting chapter. Looking for another, please!

What a devastating onslaught on David's part. Plainly, Pastor PF Johnson needs to go back to seminary. Maybe this go round he could wrap his mind around concepts like poetry and metaphor, which are key to understanding the Old Testament, along with careful study of archaeology and history. Of course, this so-called pastor's mind is far too warped to do any such thing. David would have gotten anyone's attention in this chapter (he got mine ), but I wonder how the Randy-Alex fight will play out, especially with Deena-the-Intimidator in the wings. What makes me very uneasy is how he has broken Twoey's heart; how he is using Chuck (however gently); and how absolutely clueless his father appears to be. I thoroughly enjoyed this chapter, loved how you developed the ongoing guerilla war between David2 and his antagonists, and I hope for more sometime in the next millisecond.

I am sorry you are dangling, but at least you aren't a participle...I am so glad you liked the interplay with Andy and Kaz. He has emerged as a real champion not only for his best friend Zander, but for Andy, especially. And while Kaz is probably too gentle to kill anyone, his reaction to Andy's hurt is genuine and heartfelt. For Andy, Kaz is speaking affirmation and love, not the humiliation and rejection he might have expected even six months earlier. Certainly Andy knew Kaz would be in his corner when he had to confront the unknown woman down the hall. Now as to the voodoo dolls, I think I hid them sufficiently well...at least until Tuesday...

So much going on! It's...just like a wedding, isn't it? This day, of all the days in Andy's journal is just packed...so much for Andy to recall and write down. I am sorry for having to stop where I did. You may consider my hide well and properly durned. Many thanks for commenting and especially for reading the story!

It isn't just Kaz who is supporting Andy so well these days; you are quite right in that so many people have banded together to love and support both Zander and Andy. But everyone should have a Kaz in their lives. I am glad you liked this chapter. I thank you for your patience, for your thoughtful comments, and especially for reading Andy's journal.

I do apologize for the suspense. There is important action here, though it may not seem so. More than anything, Kaz comes through as a real champion for Andy - he is his cheerleader, friend, and defender throughout this entry. When Andy strides down the corridor to meet this unknown woman, he has the confidence to confront her, regardless of who she is. Of course, no confrontation was necessary. Thanks so much for reading Andy's journal, and for your wonderful reviews.

I apologize for the suspense again...if I ever write another story, I'll have to do better. Everyone should have a Kaz in their lives. He trusts the big guy as Zander does, and he didn't flinch (much) when he was exposed inadvertently. The more confident Andy who strode down the hallway wasn't the same kid who showed up in Blackburn six months earlier. Thank you for your really thoughtful commentary, and thanks a million for reading Andy's journal.

You are so right - everyone needs a Kaz in their lives. His anger and solidarity at seeing what happened to Andy are completely sincere. Kaz has come to love his new friend. Delia Walker's appearance was certainly unexpected. No track meet this weekend (they do happen on weekends sometimes...). Thanks for your thoughtful comments and ideas. And more importantly, thank you for reading Andy's journal.

You may be right that waiting for a complete story lets one avoid delayed gratification. At least next week's chapters post quickly. I thank you for your many thoughtful ideas and comments. More importantly, I want to thank you for taking the time to read Andy's journal both now and in the past.

I am sorry I disappointed you. The story will draw to a close next week. I ask you to reserve judgment until then. Thank you for your honest feedback, which I appreciate.

The story has had a lot of winding road to get to this point. All of it has Andy annoyed and anxious as a hen in a foxhouse. At least everything updates more quickly next week...many thanks for your comments, and for reading Andy's journal.

I beg your forgiveness, Tim. There was so much to describe about this day - and Andy was so lucky to have Kaz looking after him. Thanks so much for reading Andy's journal, and for your thoughts.

Yes; at least the updates come fast and furious next week. This is a big event in Andy's journal, and it would have been way too long a chapter otherwise. At least Andy can write. Kaz was so good to him. Thanks for your reactions, and you have my apologies for the suspense. Most of all, thank you for reading!

So much to digest for Andy. Wedding day has been a big day, so far. Leave it to Kaz to play coach and psychologist all in one. Thanks for your comments - sorry about the suspense - and above all thank you for reading!

Loved this response to the prompt. Loved how Daniel let go and just went to learn to Dance. Loved his interaction with Pierre (great name choice!). Loved how Stefan is an incurable stuffed shirt - not the sweep-him-off-your feet love interest I expected. Love Joe comes to the rescue at the end. Can you guess I re-read this story several times? Wonderful story, and left me wanting to know more about Daniel and Joe.

April 1 – Saturday The room is getting chilly. There's not much heat here. Bare plank floors. No electricity, no toilet. There's a thin mattress I'm lying on. No big double bed – no chatter of a lively, overflowing household – no frantic wedding preparations – nothing but lonely quiet. It's not raining anymore. Hard to believe that Friday morning – just yesterday morning – I woke up to Kaz gently shaking my shoulder. I blinked, and wondered for a second where I was. "Come on, Andy, time for

Well, Andy is certainly anxious. In fact, he's anxious in a dozen different directions. Unfortunately, he is still internalizing so much. Old habits die hard. But unlike other anxious times, Andy now has family - real family he can count on. And the family was generally supportive and welcoming. Certainly Nonna Costanza is happy with her new grandson. Thank you for reading this chapter, and for your generous review.

Unbidden tears, hot scorching emotion rising to the surface. You evoke such images as I can imagine...both water springs and lava flows. Neither are controlled, and what is their source? Your unreasoned melancholy strikes at the heart of the structures we build around ourselves. What a great poem. Thank you.