Parker Owens

Lucky CJ; lucky Owen. A vacation romance with no aftereffects? Maybe CJ can be believed, maybe not. What does his caution say about his heart? What would it take for CJ to really give that most important part of himself away? If Owen isn't enough, then it sure as hell won't be a hot body or desire or considerateness or compatibility. Of course, this is why you tell stories, isn't it? Thanks for a great chapter; like it a lot.

March 15 – Wednesday Afternoon I have not enjoyed the past two days. Not at all. My stomach has been a nervous stew nearly every minute. For one thing, Monica and Garrett insisted that Zander and I split up at night. In fact, Zander has moved down the hall to Monica's little office and project room which Garrett pointed out to Ms. Chandler. Garrett explained that if Family Protective Services did another surprise inspection they would find Zander and me having separate rooms, and me with a pr

You know I think this is great...so tough to read, but exciting...thank you!

Thanks for these interviews. And I too ask Sasha to come back....

I wept at this - the image of words burning on their way back up - bile as harsh and vile as melancholy. You have written something very, very powerful.

Honest is good. Too much soul-purging unworthiness crap is not. If Ryan and Clayton can relate to the apprehensions each one has, fantastic. If they can explore each other without competition or fear, even better. That they feel comfortable enough with each other to agree that this is possible is already grand. Ryan and Clayton are already people I'd like to meet. Thanks for introducing us. As for Ben and Benoit, it sounds as if Ben could be in for a very rough ride. Great chapter, love how you are developing these characters.

Welcome, Dean. You've come to the right place for great reading, sound advice on writing, a caring community and civil discussion. Hope you enjoy your time here.

Oh David, when are you going to break down and admit you might actually be un-straight? You can still talk lax and baseball and running, and still be, well, um...gay. Come on, David.... Thanks for this chapter, SD, and for letting us see Mike more naturally. Chuck is going to be a wildcard...is he going to fall for Twoey, too?

You are probably right about Ms. Chandler being a little too heavily drawn. On the other hand, some places still have bullies and bigots in positions where they oughtn't to be. A certain county clerk in Kentucky comes to mind here. In any case, Ms. Chandler didn't want subtlety; hers was a blitzkrieg tactic. The problem was that it didn't work, and the repercussions for her might not be very pleasant. Perhaps she'll change her tune, or perhaps she's too wedded to her autocratic style of operating. The great difficulty in the US is that there are thousands upon thousands of agencies, and at least some of them have Ms. Chandlers in them. Thanks so much for your review, and for reading through 54 (!) chapters of Andy's story.

You are probably right about Ms. Chandler being a little too heavily drawn. On the other hand, some places still have bullies and bigots in positions where they oughtn't to be. A certain county clerk in Kentucky comes to mind here. In any case, Ms. Chandler didn't want subtlety; hers was a blitzkrieg tactic. The problem was that it didn't work, and the repercussions for her might not be very pleasant. Perhaps she'll change her tune, or perhaps she's too wedded to her autocratic style of operating. The great difficulty in the US is that there are thousands upon thousands of agencies, and at least some of them have Ms. Chandlers in them. Thanks so much for your review, and for reading through 54 (!) chapters of Andy's story.

You are probably right about Ms. Chandler being a little too heavily drawn. On the other hand, some places still have bullies and bigots in positions where they oughtn't to be. A certain county clerk in Kentucky comes to mind here. In any case, Ms. Chandler didn't want subtlety; hers was a blitzkrieg tactic. The problem was that it didn't work, and the repercussions for her might not be very pleasant. Perhaps she'll change her tune, or perhaps she's too wedded to her autocratic style of operating. The great difficulty in the US is that there are thousands upon thousands of agencies, and at least some of them have Ms. Chandlers in them. Thanks so much for your review, and for reading through 54 (!) chapters of Any's story.

Oh, man. How is anyone supposed to study now? Lovely to see discovery and sweet exploration, and so well described. Thanks.

Now it it's a wonderful thing to have Garrett the Lawyer for a guardian. Nice to know the Judge Harrison is at least moderately friendly, What's bad is that such bigoted loose cannons exist as bureaucratic functionaries everywhere, and apparently in Blackburn, too. Thank you for commenting and especially for reading this chapter in Andy's life.

Thanks for your comments and encouragement, Mike. I really appreciate it. The Stevensons are certainly united in their desire to send Ms. Chandler packing, certainly. All four of them. Notice how big a crowd there was at the lunch table on Tuesday? That's support for you. Andy will write about what happens in court on Friday...I am very glad you liked this chapter (I liked writing it, too - especially the 'I prefer the term "boyfriend," ' line). Thanks for continuing to read Andy's story.

Thanks for your detailed and insightful review. The moment Andy publicly claims Zander as his own stands out as one of the high points in this story, if you ask me. And definitely, don't mess with Terry. Ms. Chandler is a bully, and a blowhard who is used to getting her way. The vast majority of CPS personnel are caring, compassionate individuals, often overworked and underpaid. Unfortunately, a small number of bigots and persons with other agendas to pursue remain. Some, unfortunately, find themselves in charge. Sift through the news, and we find them. Mercifully, not many. Monica began the relevancy challenge you spoke of, but Garrett cut her off. I expect he wants to nail Ms. Chandler in a courtroom, where it will stick. She may know this, which is why she tried bullying and bluster. She clearly doesn't know the Stevensons at all. Garrett is as confident as you are of putting Ms. Chandler in her place in law, but Andy is clearly rattled. Maybe that was the point. Thanks a ton for all of your remarks, and for reading this much more of Andy's journal.

I am glad you liked this chapter. Andy stood up to Bruce; Stefan would never have done that. What a change! Ms. Chandler has clearly run into more trouble than she thought she would. Again, the contrast with Stefan could not be clearer - Stefan would have cringed to Ms. Chandler, then would have taken a beating from Dad. But the urge to run remains, though he has not acted on it. Thanks for your review and for continuing to read Andy's journal.

Family Services (what a doublespeak here) certainly threw Andy a sinker, slider, knuckler and curve all in one nasty pitch. He was at least as surprised as you were. Andy hasn't run from it, yet, though. He knows he is loved right where he is, even though the whole experience left him decidedly anxious. Thanks for your review, and hope you'll continue reading Andy's story.

I regret to say there are far too many "bigoted yahoos" (quoting an earlier reviewer) who are functionaries in our county and municipal governments. Every now and then, one of them surfaces. It's only when one of us makes a stink about it that it ever makes the news. Doubt this instance will make headlines, but Garrett certainly isn't going to quietly accept Ms. Chandler's demands, either. I'm glad you felt some of Andy's anxiety, and that you thought the chapter was a good one. More importantly, I thank you for continuing to read Andy's story.

Andy was probably as scared as he's ever been, but it shows how far he's come that he would stand in the way of danger for Zander. Ms. Chandler was something else again. But you're right of course - less than a year before, Andy (then Stefan) would have meekly submitted to anything she demanded. Not anymore. He resisted his urge to run, but that doesn't mean it hasn't occurred to him, or that it won't again. Thank you very much for your insight. Yes, the fire may anneal, if it doesn't destroy him first. Glad you continue to read Andy's story.

Andy was even more surprised than you were, if that's any consolation. And what a pity CPS (or FPS, as Andy's county calls it) is a threat at all. I'm glad you thought this a good chapter - thanks so much for your remarks and your continuing to read the story.

Andy was certainly tougher in this instance than he has been before. He did not run or cringe, though he flinched inwardly. Garrett was exactly who we all hoped he would be. He can be a tough lawyer if necessary. The law is such that Garrett cannot be both his guardian and his lawyer simultaneously, which is why he must have a second one. This is not uncommon in many states. Running may not be an option for Andy, but it unquestionably occurred to him, and probably will again. Harassment at school Andy might have handled. This was a complete and unhappy surprise. Terry defused the cafeteria situation particularly well, no? We will hear more from Andy about what happens in court on Friday...thanks for your penetrating review, and for reading in Andy's journal.

I suspect Garrett was just as rattled as Andy, but put on his best lawyer's front. As for Ms. Chandler, I can only agree with your excellent comments. You say much that is true. The sad part is that our layers of municipal government are sometime populated with bigoted yahoos. They even get their hands on some levers of power. We've seen this here and there in the news. Doubt this will make the headlines, but such things do happen, and yahoos get away with outrages perpetrated on the legally unprepared. Don't expect Garrett falls into that latter category. Thanks for your excellent and informative review, and for continuing to read Andy's story.

Poor Andy - and the Stevensons - were just as surprised as you. This is worse than the crap he was used to at school in Carlsberg, and what he expected in school that day. Sorry about the cliffhanger, but I respectfully decline the 'gifted writer' tag, which is reserved for demigods like yourself. Andy writes about what happened on Friday...many thanks for your review, and for continuing to keep faith with Andy.

I apologize for leaving you at the cliff edge. Andy got just as blindsided as you did. He expected harassment in school, but not this. At least Garrett did his lawyer's best to keep Andy safe. But now he has to go to court...thanks for your review, and for continuing to read Andy's journal.

Yeah. Shit. Felix had to have ratted Dorian out, had to have been the mole, had to have been playing him like a dime-store fiddle. And that's got to hurt.