Parker Owens

Greg's actions are those of a young man who is having trouble facing up to the trouble he may have caused. His response was essentially petulant. Zander acted in a sense of self-preservation, too, but also to spare his relatives the pain of being surprised by the news. I agree that he might have called Andy and his parents first. That he chose not to probably illustrates how surprised and rattled he was. Thanks for the perceptive insights, and most of all, thank you for reading Andy's journal.

Thanks so very much for such a thoughtful and insightful review. Some responses: para. 1 - Amen, amen, amen! There are inclusive and welcoming denominations and congregations out there. Lots of them. They just never make the news. para. 2 - Zander's coach is one of the increasing numbers of mentors, teachers and advocates who understand their students need support and affirmation more than to be molded into images of themselves or their icons. para. 3 - sometimes students don't think about what will happen as a result of their actions. Greg clearly hasn't been doing that. Zander is a product of his family. We know him to be a wonderful boy, so it's not surprising his sibs and family are that way, too. para 4 - Monica and Andy are growing into their relationship with each other. Good that he feels confident enough to call her 'mom' and good that she feels happy he did so. As you say, Andy is slowly becoming more complete. Thanks again for this.

Thanks for the encouraging words. I really appreciate your reading this story. And it is a good story to see - we got a good look at what Andy still thinks about - what he's willing to put his neck out for to ask. As for Zander, he is part of a good, caring family - just shows where he comes from. And yes, Andy did finish the church sidewalk.

Zander is fortunate in many respects. First, he has Andy. Second, his coach is (like an increasing number of coaches) fair and understanding, at least as far as Zander's orientation goes. Third, Zander is part of a family that largely supports one another - they don't appear to be a quarrelsome bunch. Andy's conversation with the minister shows a lot about how far Andy has come. He won't tell the whole story, but he'll at least allude to it. We've all seen how Andy is growing, and it is wonderful to see. Thanks so much for your remarks and for keeping faith with Andy.

March 13 I don't know how to write about the last two days. Zander came home, and that’s fantastic. But a lot happened before and after that, and it's hard to decide what to write about first, because, right now, I am angry and scared and fidgety, and I can't sleep, all because of something that happened to Zander, and he had no control over it. I guess I'll start with the snow. I set the alarm for very early Sunday morning. Ordinarily, I would sleep in, but I knew I'd have to shovel out the

You've had a rough ride over fifty one chapters. Sorry about that. I'm glad you liked Valentine's Day; it was one of the great parts of this story to write. It's slow going, but life is like that - while I could have skipped parts of the journal, Andy's growth and emergence is exactly what I wanted to portray. I'm glad all these characters have grown on you. They have certainly inhabited me for a while. Your final question is music to my ears. Next chapter is tomorrow - I try to post twice a week. Thanks so much for your review and for your kindness in commenting. I especially thank you for reading Andy's journal.

"Without being maudlin." That is a very nice compliment, and I am very grateful. Andy has managed to survive with his secrets intact, while at the same time getting closer to Zander. What a Christmas. He has had a very rough ride, so it is good to see that he could reconnect with Zander so easily, as well as with Kaz and Terry. Thank you for your very kind words, and for continuing to read so far into Andy's story.

Excellent and succinct, as titled. I really liked this. Great how you made the transition to the final pair.

And what a perfect review! Thank you for your thoughtful response. Don't know what gave me a fit of the melancholies...

I would have expected David's mom to snoop, but the Pastor, too? That does not bode well, and is seriously icky, IMHO. If I had been present to David, I'd have argued that not all 'church people' are untrustworthy with teens, but in the case of Enos Johnson's church, their creepiness quotient went way up. Surely David's mother could think of a better way - should have thought of a better way to discuss spirituality with him than shoving a teen bible study down his throat sideways. Another barely discussed invasion is Erik's clear invasion of the relationship between David and Twoey. David recognizes the incursion, but he hasn't. Eve begun to meditate on what that might wan, or what he might want to do about it. Will jealousy hit the fan and splat all over their lives? Just wondering...needless to say, I want more, and soon.

Thank you very much for such a warm reply. I think you are right that the structure helps elicit thoughts so that can be considered and sorted. Today, I think that these must somehow speak to fears I sense intuitively. And thank you for your hugs, however wet, which I can always use.

You said it perfectly. D minor, with modulation only to another minor key. I wonder if I was channelling broody Beethoven or unhappy Schumann. Actually, I was riding a bus as I composed these, so either would have been a challenge. Thanks for your review, and for the musical metaphor.

For some very strange reason - moon, work, long bus ride, I don't know - I had an attack of he he menacholies as I composed these. The form lends itself to this, I think. But you are right, these three together are most powerfully sad. They are not about me, but as I might have or could still become. Perhaps fhey are more about my own fear than anything else Thank you for your review and your concern. - Parker

Don't worry, my friend. I'm okay. The form, or the moon, or the bus ride into town, or something got to me. I'm sorry to worry you; I tried to tell a tragedy in three verses. I could blame AC, he was my inspiration, kind of; but these were all mine.

Thanks, Val. Can't say what came over me; maybe the moon, maybe the form?

You have been through so much, and yet you know you are beloved, cared for and held up by a family wider than you can imagine. And this one, tiny, part of that family weeps for you and sends you blessings.

One. The boy I wanted to befriend came out to me. He thinks me safe and far too wise for love. Two. My face and body scare others away. I pray my heart and soul serve love's purpose better. Three. Lonely, old, never loved, all affection foregone, I glean passion's crumbs. I find no solace.

Oh dear, I'm sorry to be a trial in releasing chapters. But I do understand in that it is sometimes very frustrating to wait for the next chapter to reveal itself. It was both difficult and delightful to write Andy's slow development. gun, because it's what we all want for him - hard because the temptation is to hurry it along, when that isn't really how we grow at all. At least, that's how I saw it. And using the "m-word" with Monica revealed quite a lot. Thanks for your really nice and encouraging words, and for your continuing to read Andy's story.

I thank you for your very kind comments, especially after a multi-chapter binge. You may not recall this, but you were one of the he first to welcome me to GA. I appreciate that, and I appreciate your insights and thoughts about Stefan-Eric-Andy's life. It's hard enough just realizing the poor kid has had three different names in six months. The good part in all your observations is that Andy (for we must call him Andy now) has stayed put for the longest time since he fled Carlsberg. Many thanks to you for your reviews and most especially for your reading Andy's story.

For Eric, breaks are very, very hard to come by. He's had several already - he still has a warm place to sleep and an actual job for the moment - and he's no longer on the road. Perhaps that ought to be enough. But it does look like he got in over his head this time. Thanks a ton for reading Eric's journal, and for your review, which I really, really appreciate.

Tim said it perfectly, indeed. Andy's growth here is incremental, slow, and terribly significant in all the little things that happen. Others might not think much of their importance, but we can. And for the moment, Andy can know a taste of love, contentment and an almost-normal life. Thanks for your remarks and encouragement, and for reading the chapters of Andy's story.

This review speaks exactly what I have been trying to portray in this and the past few chapters. I thank you for saying this so succinctly. Andy emerging is one of the most wonderful things to imagine (and for me to write about). Maybe that's what I found compelling about this segment of his story; his becoming. Thanks for your piercing insight and for continuing to read the slow chapters of Andy's life.

I am so glad you liked this chapter. Kaz coaching Andy to see himself more clearly was a highlight in writing this for me. Lots of good things happening, yes, and he is doing them on his own. All the better. Thanks for reading another chapter in Andy's life.

It's like Andy is shedding an old skin and emerging all new. It's a slow thing to watch, as life usually happens slowly. But then one can look back and wonder if this was the same kid who wrote about deserving whatever bad happened to him. Thanks for your kind words, and for reading another chapter in Andy's life.

Andy was doomed...I love that. The inadvertent "mom" must have hit Monica like a ton of bricks. Would dearly have loved to have been watching her when it happened. I totally agree that Kaz is as good a teacher and coach as he could ever hope for. Many thanks for your review, and for reading another chapter in Andy's story.