Parker Owens

I shan't mind a whit; there is the real poetry I'm trying to learn, and the doggerel you're used to seeing from me. Both have their places. And I am very glad you liked this poem.

Do not make the road sign blush, his brain is nearly turned to mush. I thank you for your kind salute, you've made my day, ya big galoot.

I am so very happy you liked what happened in this chapter. Yes, finally. And now that 'finally' has happened, something new can arise in Andy's life; something good and happy and wonderful. And it's about time, isn't it? Thanks so much for reading and for your kind review.

Thank you. The images and senses drove what I came out on the paper (really. paper!). The body remembers a lot for us; reminds us of what we felt, touched, yearned for. And the metre is fun - yes it's counting, and my fingers are getting calloused from ticking off syllables. Thanks for the challenge and your encouragement.

Thank you for sticking with the story to this point. Perhaps it was luck, or maybe not - Andy had been in that barn before, and knew it. More fun was that coincidence you mentioned. Glad Garrett Stevenson has a sense of humor, yes? Thanks so much for your reviews, and for reading Andy's story.

Thank you Tim. Your encouragement means so much to me. Like a tricky math problem, writing poetry leaves me wondering if I really got it 'right.' But unlike Calculus, there's no way to check your answer!

Thank you, Gary. And you're right, of course. One of the best sensations in the world...thanks and cheers to you, too.

Math is a language, too. What a pity do many of who teach math refuse to teach language first and foremost. Plus, it's just fun to play.

Warmth and comfort, arms so gentle wrapped around my torso; scent familiar, transcendental, fills my spirit; more so Fanning memory's glowing embers, flick'ring dim lit rapture. And the body still remembers all consuming capture.

I love each of these in their turn; Sadness completely describes how I feel some days; Life reminds me of how blind I am; and California - I read it and hear your laugh, and feel inexpressibly sad at the price you paid. Thank you.

You have certainly found plenty of places in the text where Andy tells us how much he does NOT want to think about Uncle Ray. Clearly he's a big factor in his running from Carlsberg in the first place. Andy's hope is in the patience and love the Stevensons are showing to him. If he can heal even a little that would be a big step forward.

Look out David! Sounds like he's going to wind up being another layer in a new sandwich, to me. With Mike coming to visit, Twoey will perhaps cool his ardor for David, too, which will leave him vulnerable to Matty, his brother, and all his friends. Unless, of course, the evil mother character chooses to act, somehow. Interesting to see David's relationship with Biggy evolve, and thank you for seeing David interact with Tommy - both things I have missed, and wanted to see more of. Thanks for this chapter! More soon, right?

Lovely poems, both, Drew. I am no poet or historian, but I love the images these evoke. I am especially drawn to the second of these two, as I encounter winter spiders in my home constantly.

Oh, god, Tim, I got bushwhacked by this. So sad, so melancholy. I ache with the grief and the unhappiness left for me to live with.

Yet we also know that Uncle Ray and Andy's father haunt his dreams and his consciousness, frequently and consistently. You are right to be curious. Thank you for your perceptive reading and review.

I am glad you see Monica as doing her best in an odd (read: difficult) situation. Andy is bound to be very different from her other two sons. And how to parent in a few weeks what she's tried to instill in Zander over a lifetime? I this she must go to bed knowing the mistakes she made in a give day, and shake her head. She might lose sleep over it - we know she checks on the boys now and then. I hope that she is doing everything in love - at least, I think she is. Many thanks for your perceptive remarks and for keeping faith with Andy and Zanderf.

That you love this story makes me so very happy. It inhabits me still. I worked hard at this chapter, so I am glad it came off. You are most welcome, and I thank you for keeping faith with Andy and Zander.

I am very happy you have come to love the story as much as I have. As Andy learns to be more open, he gives himself the chance to heal, however long that might take. Unlearning his instinct to hide, which you point out so very well, will surely take time. That Zander loves him, and that Monica and Garrett will let the boys be in love, surely has helped - even as the parents insist on keeping them healthy. On the one hand, Monica is kind of rough in her persistence; on the other, she is a living example of the kind of honesty Andy can expect and learn. Poor Monica is doing her best, but she'll make mistakes. Andy's running has to be improving with al the encouragement Kaz has been giving him. Encouraging coaching is always better than the baiting or goading that sometimes passes for coaching these days. Sorry, my own personal axe just got ground, there. Thanks for your perceptive remarks and for keeping faith with Andy and Zander.

I am glad you thought so much of this chapter; it went through a lot of rewriting I am glad you smiled. Monica is clearly flawed, clearly trying to adjust to a brand new member of the family who happens to be in lover with her teenage son. She is indeed a stubborn mom. I hope the tensions you perceived don't exhaust you, too. Thanks for reading with Andy and keeping faith with him and Zander.

Slowly, slowly the healing begins. Monica is like every parent who has to accept and deal with their children's sexuality. Not every parent also gets to question their child's prospective partner. You very adroitly point out a big stormcloud still looming over Andy; he must think about exactly what you have mentioned. Thank you for your insight, and for continuing to read with Andy!

Andy was probably too numb or battered or scared to face anything in his dreams until now. Dr. O'Shea has been good for Andy to this point. Monica trying to explain gay sex must mirror the experience of any straight parent trying to come to grips with wanting to love and protect their children, but being unable to speak from experience. Add on the layer of unfamiliarity with Andy, and, well...I tried to feel both her embarrassment and Andy's. I hope it worked. Kaz is unquestionably persistent. He and Terry must get along because they share that trait. I am so very glad you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for your comments and for keeping faith with Andy.

That Andy can talk about his life with Dr. O'Shea more and more freely could mean he might actually have a chance to heal. Anger and frustration can loosen someone's tongue; Zander didn't mean to come out, but he sure wasn't going to back down, either. Thanks for this review, and for keeping faith with Andy.

I am glad you sense the tension; there are unresolved issues for Andy, but they will take time to surface and be handled. Thanks for your kind comments and for reading Andy's story.

February 19 The busy-ness hasn’t really let up. Living with a family – especially a family with Zander in it – is exhilarating and exhausting. For one thing, the appointment schedule has been unceasing. How Mrs. Stevenson (I’m still getting used to calling her Monica, like she wants me to) managed to keep it all up, I have no idea. That is, until I discovered she’s been taking time off from work to take me to all these things, and to show up for meetings. I feel bad that she’s had to do that,

That was sweet and fun. Thanks for a great first chapter.