Parker Owens
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Everything posted by Parker Owens
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I read this and felt a dark weight on my shoulders. I hope writing this lets you share this weight with all of us, that it may become easier to bear. Your words are beautiful, even in sadness.
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Joel has to find a way to stop fighting and start living. Easy to say, hard to do: he has his anger at the ready and it’s an effective defense, even against Jax. How long will that defense last? Anger can manifest itself in ways that will permanently damage himself, or it can transform into despair. Trace and Celia - or Colt or Davin - would be seriously good friends by finding Joel someone safe he can talk to without covering up. The scene at the creek was delightful. It made a good contrast to Joel becoming a hot headed drunk.
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Thanks for this chapter. Some things are in sharper focus, other things, less so. Colt has a big mouth, that’s certain. Maybe Joel can learn to live his life on terms that make better sense to him in time: he is so very young yet to have a sense of time perspective, and you convey this well. I’ll be interested to see if Cody can actually come to the birthday celebration, or if the mother finds a way to deny that to the brothers. If she does, it would do a lot to sever what few ties remain between Joel and his parents. But that’s for another day.
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It’s interesting to see Ethan court Kris. This is a lovely, slow paced development of friendship, gathering itself into attraction. Kris may yet learn to believe enough in himself to allow himself the privilege of being loved and desired. Dean is a longer way off from that; he’s still afloat on a muddy, toxic tide of self hatred. I feel for Leah, who now has to decide if her own heart is best protected by withdrawing from Dean.
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Joel slowly allows some ties to bind him to the Conneleys, and even to Fletcher. Of course, taking the opportunity to be together with Davin is at least as much a tie as any of the others. What must be so hard for him is to continue to feel shame simply for being himself - and in this, Celia, Trace and Colt - even Davin - can only do so much to color those feelings differently.
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The Art Of Letting Go
Parker Owens commented on Jason Rimbaud's story chapter in The Art Of Letting Go
I have read this story chapter by chapter, often hoping Jason would find a way to hang on, yet recognizing that a final parting with Konstantin seemed inevitable. You write Jason as a character who is sometimes hard to like - and other times wholly sympathetic. In other words, he’s real, not perfect. In the end, I felt sad Jason endured such heartache, but I glad that he might have some avenues of hope. Thanks very much for writing and posting this story. -
School descriptions are spot on. There’s a small chance the dust up in the cafeteria will blow over, but I doubt it. Joel seems to be making some friends, and I surely hope they will be there for him when the time comes to need them. And Colt? The sooner he has a rational conversation with Trace, the better.
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Once again, you’ve written a poem to take my breath away. How often in the past few years have I felt bereft at the loss of someone I hold dear? You remind me of the truth in your last two stanzas: we go on, not forgetting, but carrying our memory in laughter, words and light. The wind brushes against my face, and I swear I can feel him— not gone, only farther down the road, waiting for me, patient, in the sun. And I can sing, and weep, and laugh and grieve all together. Thank you.
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I cringe for Liam as he tries to wrap himself around the practicalities of leaving Nurton Cross. I wish Mark could have been there, if only to tell Donna off. Her bias in this case clearly works against any kind of rehabilitation in the world Liam might achieve. And poor Ed. My heart breaks for him too.
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The Art Of Letting Go: Camera Phones & Weird Nights
Parker Owens commented on Jason Rimbaud's story chapter in The Art Of Letting Go: Camera Phones & Weird Nights
I enjoyed this. It comes across as unvarnished and true, and beautiful , too. Thanks for this. -
I’m struck by everything that’s good about this chapter: Trace and Celia remain committed to Joel, and if Trace really heard Joel on their horseback chat, then they might find a way to assuage at least a piece of Joel’s anxieties. Davin cares for Joel, too, and may yet help him overcome a different set of worries. Yet Joel is really the only one who can deal with the same lies no matter where he is, (a truly potent thought) and these are what truly cloud his horizon. I continue to hope Joel will return to baseball, and that Davin will take Joel camping.
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I so very much enjoyed this story! Thank you, thank you!
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School. Ghosts from Tempton, real and metaphorical. It’s a whole new set of expectations, and Joel wasn’t likely to handle it all. I hope he goes back to baseball, because it seemed to have been a good harbor for him. It remains to be seen which fictions he chooses to maintain, and which ones he decides to unlearn.
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Sorry you’ve been sick. But I have thought of you this week as I walk under the crescent moon
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You give me a glimpse of your life in this; the sounds, sights and scents which frame your days. For these I am grateful, as I am for that which sustains you. These are beautiful.
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I’m grateful for the chance to glimpse your morning walk. Like you, I could live or linger in those predawn hours underneath the stars. Thank you!
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Joel’s mother, Lisa, has a stone-cold heart in this confrontation, but I wonder if there aren’t a few hairline cracks appearing. At least Joel’s father has grown some cartilage that might one day evolve into a backbone. Maybe. But for now, Joel has shown himself to be the best one in that family - brave, classy and forgiving. He finally told Celia his truth, and revealed to her the fact of his family. I look forward to seeing Joel negotiate the new decisions thrust upon him.
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There’s plenty to cheer about in this chapter. Liam is honest, able to articulate his thoughts clearly, and advocate for himself. His growth and remorse are genuine and evident. The downside is that just as Liam is likely to be released, he realizes how much he needs Ed.
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Joel’s secret isn’t a secret anymore, and neither is Davin’s. Now if Joel can stop telling himself untruths, and Colt can stop sidestepping the truth with others, they can unlearn their lies. And maybe, just maybe, Joel can get another chance to kiss Davin.
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A Song Yet to Be Sung
Parker Owens commented on Jeff Burton's story chapter in A Song Yet to Be Sung
This story leaves me in knots; the characters you write are in even more tangled and intractable ones. Yet, you’ve given us real hope as Simon and Elijah slowly slowly tease the strands looser, and then more fully apart. You’re artful in your unwinding. Yet I hope the next chapter finds Simon and Elijah at greater peace. -
I enjoyed every line of this story. I surely hope we might hear more from these two men one day.
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Welcome back! Glad to see you here.
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Thank you for sharing your poem.
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What an existence for Gavin and Davin. Someone could make the case against the very distant parents for abandonment and neglect. Talk about parent who have learned to lie. I’m still waiting for Joel to slip up or be backed into a corner to release his own secret. I suppose that will take way more time, despite Davin’s gentle prodding.
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This is a story I have fallen for. It’s exquisite.
