Parker Owens

I know this feeling, and the overwhelming tidal wave of work and preparation and...you've captured the desire for peace and the blessing of Christmastide well.

This is an awesome chapter. James and Casey thrown together, helping Sam. Sam sees how much a network of people care for him. Mary stands by him. And maybe Casey gets some clarity about how he might feel after getting pretty much double-dumped. James hasn't told us how he feels about that, but I'm looking forward to finding out. Thanks, and looking for more...

Matty gets ever more insatiable. I feel for whoever Matty winds up with when he's older. He'd better be a triathlete. Agree with CG that Matty could very easily be disappointed with David if he ever gets to bed him. And how horrible for David would that be (let alone for poor Twoey). Finally, Twoey speaks, so perhaps he'll get a better chance to explore - and remember - what really happened with Danny. That's probably the direction in which healing will eventually lie. David spending a day with Kathy and Nels is an opportunity for us to know Nels better; an opportunity for David to avoid too many of Kathy's strong-arm tactics; an opportunity to go shopping. If he really wants to annoy her, he could ditch her or ignore her in the mall. Ouch. This is another great chapter in series of splendid episodes.

This is so full of hurt and hope. It's beautiful.

Well done. You help me capture what you feel and sense at that moment. Will be looking for more from you.

Oh, these were grand. I specially liked the bit about cold feet! These can cast one into the outer darkness quickly Then there's the dark woods surprise! The end is exactly what I hoped for, but wondered if you would deny me. Thanks for these.

Thanks for your insightful reading and for your speculations about the future. What we know about Andy is that he is slowly transforming, perhaps despite his experiences, and his shyness, He is likely to remain wary about revealing himself, of course, but his friends and acquaintances are all edging closer. For the time being, the need to stay warm and fed will be of paramount importance to Andy. You can bet that Zander and Kaz and Terry will be looking for him to appear. Thanks for continuing to read Andy's.

The imagery and language of this is so evocative, so gently melancholy, and yet so brutally honest. It is a magnificent poem.

I read this, and feel the anger, the pain and the horror. I read this and want to hold your younger self and comfort you. I read this and wish it had been different. I read this and celebrate the goodness in your life, the kids you love you and honor you now. I am humbled and blessed by your writing.

Welcome. It is good to have someone look over what you write first. Enjoy your time here. People are generally very nice.

Thank you for managing this much. It does get better. I am sorry for the unhappiness and pain you suffered, doubly sorry I caused you the pain of recollection. Again, thank you for reading.

Thank you for your review and for reading the story. I'm glad you thought of it as a gift, for in part, that's exactly what it was. While unlovely at the beginning, Andy has lived a slowly improving life. But nothing is ever quick with this cautious, wary kid, who has every reason not to trust the world. But at least he has a reason to pray, now. Thanks again.

Take it as you can, the story is there still...hang in there.

Andy and Zander, too, are special people. And maybe this mark a moment when goodness reasserts itself in Andy's life. It was wonderful to write, and I hope it was just as good to read. It might have been better to wrap this and put it under your tree, but then you'd have had to wait for it. In ay event, Andy is so wary, so ready to be hurt, that He's going to take things slowly and carefully. Thank you so much for all your kind words, and for reading this story.

I agree with Ozymandias, in that I think Alex might hurt Robbie at some point. He really doesn't seem to get Robbie at all. Still, what can one expect from someone who can command sexual attention?

Whoosh. If Toph isn't careful, Gary's gonna worm his way inside his cynical invisibility cloak, and pierce his armor completely. I appreciate how you are letting things happen naturally, at a good pace, without rushing into things. Really like the narrative voice of Toph. Will it change at all if he becomes more comfortable in his situation? Wonderful story, and will be looking for added chapters. Please sir, may I have some more?

Probably Andy's t-shirt was 'mostly' dry as a result of being dressed in layers: coat, flannel shirt, t-shirt. At least, that's how I figured it. Moreover, I imagined Mrs. Stevenson might have felt kind of funny stripping a stranger completely. And thanks for making the point! I appreciate good questions like these, and appreciate your reading the story even more.

Even though it is December for Andy, maybe the ice is beginning to thaw just a little. At any rate this could mark a place where something really good reasserts itself in Andy's life. God knows he deserves it. Thanks for reading to this point, and for reviewing. Prepare to curl up with the upcoming chapter in the next week...

Thank you for your comment. Very glad you liked it....keep reading...

Thank you for your comment. Very glad you liked it....keep reading...

You are very kind in your remarks. Andy has had a moment in his life - a few days - when goodness and kindness has reasserted itself. We see him looking beyond his own survival. The story has to end, but I confess that Andy and the other characters have come to inhabit me, too. Anyway, thank you so much for your review, and for reading so far into the story.

Amen. Amen. There is a homeless family, a runaway teen, someone who needs our love and companionship near every one of us today. You have spoken very eloquently of this need. Thank you.

A to Z will be complete before winter (at least here where I live) is over, my friend. No, I cannot give anything away, but I do not wish you to be saddened either. I can only pray your further indulgence, and beg you to continue reading. For Andy, this moment must surely mark a milestone where goodness and joy reassertion themselves in his life. But nothing happens quickly, not really. Thanks for your review, and for your continued reading of this story.

Thank you for your encouraging words. This was a chapter worth writing for. If you sniffled, well, so did I when the words made it to the page. Andy is rediscovering happiness, perhaps, and that was a real joy to write about. And the heck of it is, such episodes as homeless kids hiding in churches are quite real and true. One such instance happened a few years ago in my town. Anyway, thank you so much for continuing to read this, and for your kind review.

Thank you so much for your kind words and for your review. I really do appreciate your thoughts, and I am glad I didn't split this chapter in two. Andy still has a long road ahead of him, but this chapter surely marks a place where goodness reasserted itself in his life. Thanks for sticking with the story to this point.