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Parker Owens

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Everything posted by Parker Owens

  1. Thank you for your review! Winter will arrive sooner or late, but right now, Eric is enjoying summer, or as much of it as he can manage under the circumstances. He's beginning to live. Perhaps worry is in his nature. Our lifeguard friend is still going to have to bide his time before he appears in our sights again.
  2. Defiance, I am so glad you reviewed. The idea of an exit plan is simultaneously one of the best ideas and worst ideas for Eric. You're absolutely right, he needs one. But for the past four weeks+ he's actually begun to live, if only a little. Not sure he could actually formulate a catastrophe strategy even if he recognized the need. That he's thinking about winter shows some foresight, but even that is kind of wondery - dreamy...
  3. Eric has a lot to worry about; the end of summer may just sneak up on him. It is high summer, and the work just keeps coming. Eustace clearly thinks Eric is a good kid, and is mentoring him kindly. This has probably been the best month or so of his life - or at least of the past decade of it.
  4. Parker Owens

    A Journal

    Thank you for beginning this story. I hope you continue to enjoy what you read, though it is sometimes hard going. Stefan's father is clearly a tyrant and a brute. Poor Stefan hasn't a chance against him.
  5. Yeah, it is confusing, I will admit, but there's a reason for it. Honest. And yes, Ambrose is being very persistent and subtle, isn't he? Summer won't last forever, you're absolutely right about that. Hay can be a great insulator, though.
  6. Parker Owens

    Yeudos

    Big smiles. Love it, SD. Simple, elegant, and joyful.
  7. These are two different voices speaking. The lifeguard, in italics speaks to us first. Eric, who swims by night, second. I apologize for the confusion; the first voice speaks to us occasionally. Does that help?
  8. I think Alone Again is heartbreaking. The joy and anticipation in My Door completely dissipates. I love this pairing. Thank you.
  9. Eric has a lot to learn about the mechanics of living a 'normal' life, doesn't he? Ambrose's nature appears to be associated with ferreting out answers to life's persistent questions. And the midnight swim? Yeah, I liked that a lot, too.
  10. Parker Owens

    Alone 4

    So now I'm angry, upset and yearning for Matt to figure out something so that he doesn't have to live by his ass or his mouth. Are Dan and Andrew really that bad by comparison? What a terrible, terrible thing to happen to Matt.
  11. Late July means swim camp. Every year, it’s held at a state university campus for a week. Every year for three years, my parents have sent me. This summer wasn’t any different. It was a break from lifeguarding, and a chance to get coaching from of the best people in the state. Also a chance to size up the competition for next winter. Also a chance to look at hot boys. Whatever had stayed mostly quiet for almost two months was going to get woken up again. The ‘rising Juniors and Seniors’ (th
  12. Parker Owens

    Chapter 3

    Tall thunderheads loom in the distance. Who is the mysterious and intimidating Pamchenko? Who is he to Shane? And then Jason will also reap the whirlwind called Denise. Jason appears to be holding firm in wanting to care for Shane, but can that hold? Now waiting for more!
  13. Parker Owens

    Alone 3

    Your storytelling is excellent; I'm drawn into this unfortunate tale. Matt can't bring himself to trust the very people who would be far kinder, far more generous than any of his customers, and that's enough to make one cry. That he can defend himself is a bright spot in the darkness.
  14. Parker Owens

    Alone 2

    I feel the sadness you describe for Matt. His pain at his loss is as real as if his mother and father had died in a tragic accident; and indeed, this is a tragedy, and so unnecessary. Matt chose survival over suicide, thankfully. Survival can make you do things that deaden the soul, and he's realizing that. How fortunate he was to meet Dan and Andrew.
  15. This is a great chapter, though there are bits and pieces that could coalesce into trouble. That's what makes it great. How will David deal with Kathy, or will she deal with him? How will Twoey react to knowing - or remembering - what really happened? How will David deal with his feelings for Twoey? And will David's visits to Twoey's mom draw the ire and fire of "Tommy's mother?" Nice to see David actually dancing with Lanni, being nice to Kathy, and living as the great guY everyone thinks him to be. Thanks for this lovely chapter. I'm with David, and can't wait for Twoey to move out of ICU.
  16. This is a beautiful verse. You capture the need to remember those who served and what they died for. I will keep this one for Rememberance day
  17. Parker Owens

    Alone 1

    Interesting beginning, and very dramatic. Like Tim, I hope this is not autobiographical.
  18. Parker Owens

    Quiet Days

    Eric needs many good days, and many god dreams to convince him that the world is a good and safe place to be in. Eustace, in just being who he appears to be, is doing just that. It's also true that Eric would have to have a whole lot of trouble believing in any lasting good. But Eric's development is likely to be slow and incremental. Kind of like the long hot days of summer, really. They appear endless, but suddenly, bam, it's over. Thank you so much for reviewing the chapter, and for sticking with the story thus far.
  19. I continue to rend my heart over Mark and the lonely emptiness he must feel to observe his life like this. Carl will go home and try to make things right with his wife, but what will become of him? Nothing that won't involve a great deal of pain. And again, Mark. Single, and unable to approach friendship without the lenses of Carl to look at it through. Sad, lyrical, beautifully written. This story is a true gem. Thank you.
  20. Parker Owens

    Quiet Days

    Thank you for your very kind words. This July is one of slow discovery for Eric. Mostly gentle (fireworks excepted), incremental progress. A lot like real life, honestly. One day, someone will look at Eric and remark how much he's changed, but perhaps he won't notice while it's happening. Writing about how Eustace and Eric work together (and live together, in a way) was great fun for me. I hope you will continue to enjoy the story!
  21. Parker Owens

    Quiet Days

    You perceive rightly that the speed of the chapter, and of Eric's life has shifted to s-l-o-w. He's going to work very hard and try to do those things that make him feel successful. Best of all Eustace seems to be the right man for that job. At Eustace's age, he might come to rely on Eric, but be too stubborn himself to admit it. Eric is going to go through much that is new to him, I think. Thanks so much for a very, very insightful and interesting review.
  22. Parker Owens

    Quiet Days

    Definitely one slow peg at a time. You have said it beautifully, as usual Tim. Eric has a long way to go before joy can peek in around the corner, I think.
  23. Parker Owens

    Quiet Days

    July 17 - Sunday "I forgot to tell you. I saw Toby in town on Friday." Eustace spoke those words almost a week ago – Monday – while we were cutting some brushy growth along a fence line. Inwardly, I tensed. On the outside, I shrugged and waited. "Said to tell you he was sorry," the old man went on. "Don't know about what, but I've passed the message on." Sorry. What the hell would Toby be sorry about? My own stupidity? What happened wasn't his fault, not really. I shrugged again. "Thanks.
  24. Tim - lovely, evocative poem. It really paints the scene beautifully. My only sorrow is that it is getting too cold outside to swim today! Thank you for this new chapter.
  25. Parker Owens

    Interrogation

    Eric's life so far would certainly point to traps, pitfalls and problems just about anywhere. He's used to it. Perhaps the longer he can stay with Eustace, the less apprehension he will feel. The Andersons are so numerous that there's still plenty of cover, as long as nobody looks too closely. And you are right in that Eric will have to avoid getting trapped in questions. He's a pretty good dodger, though. Many thanks for your perceptive comments and review. More is coming soon!
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