Parker Owens

Alas, I fear I must wait for next Thursday to post the penultimate chapter. I am very glad to hear this chapter communicated tension and excitement, even though so much of it was spent in the driver's seat of a car on the interstate highway. City traffic drives me nuts, so I had to think of Rick, whose frustration must have been triple of anything I've ever felt. Thanks so much for reading, and for your comments!

You're right - for Rick, that was the drive of a lifetime. His innate sense of direction may have helped, but driving in the city must have been an eye-opening experience, enough to set his heart racing. That is, if the prospect of rescuing Gus wasn't excitement enough. Thank you very much for reading and commenting!

You can be proud of Rick for many things - keeping that old van in good enough shape to make the journey; for his immediate (precipitous!) decision to drive to Chicago, forgetting money, clothes, or even the right car; and most of all for having changed in himself. Even a few months prior, Rick might have given into fatalism, and shrugged off the pain of losing Gus. Not anymore. I hope you have fun explaining your grin to everyone you meet today. That thought alone makes me smile. Thank you very much for reading, and for your comments.

I'm very happy the end for this chapter appealed to you. I confess I chuckled to myself as I wrote it. Thank you very much for reading, and for your comments.

You're very kind. Thank you so much.

Marta did some excellent thinking. Undoubtedly, she was inspired by the hope of seeing Jared once again. Zoltan and Magda must not only worry about losing control of Gus' star power; they may also be on the hook for the cancellations his injury may have caused. That must have concentrated their minds, too. To hear Gus call him a 'wonderful man' snuffed out any chance Zoltan's nasty words back in Eagle Lake could be thought of as true. That must have given Rick additional courage. The drive to Chicago must have been both tense and eternal for Rick; if that came through in this chapter, then I am pleased I accomplished setting the mood well. Thank you very much for your comments and for reading.

I loved your cheer for Rick. He did more than drive hundreds of miles to Chicago in pursuit of Gus; he traveled a distance from his old self, from his once-upon-a-time existence, to a something wholly better, wholly new. For a complete amateur, Rick has made quite an entrance. Thanks a million for reading and for your comments!

I’m struck by your comment “... Zoltan said "You do not have a choice.You will do as I say." It's like he still thinks of himself as Gus guardian....” is exactly right. Zoltan must think of himself as a kind of guardian; he and Magda have done a lot of guiding, parenting and providing over the years, along with the quite obvious exploitation. He has real trouble seeing Gus as an independent adult. The contract between them must reflect this, and it’s possible Gus has never had his own lawyer. Marta is definitely more than smitten with Jared; she must have given herself away to her parents somehow. They can’t possibly approve of Jared. As for Willy, he has plenty of his own problems now. How long he can stay out of bankruptcy is a matter of what assets he may still possess, and how fast he can sell them. Thanks again for reading and for your thoughts!

Gone. Gus was gone. Cedarcrest basked under the warm July sky, but the lodge stood empty. The Takács family had disappeared, and Gus with them. But where? They probably just went out for a shopping trip. They’ll be back any minute. No need to get bent out of shape. Rick walked over to the garage. A brief period of experimentation determined the doors were shut tight and locked. If they went shopping, they wouldn’t lock the garage, would they? With a sense of dread

I enjoyed the two time related poems, and the April 20 poem in particular: a silent entity of eternity is a wonderful line. Your grammar lesson made me smile. Like @Valkyrie my mouth waters at your berry poem. Your detour was excellent, as it drew me onward, deeper in to reading. Thanks for all of these!

I’m so glad you had fun with these. Arithmophobe is such a fun word, all the more so because spell check doesn’t recognize it. I never got to the Valle dei Templi when I was taken to Sicily as a child. Now that I’m older, I envy you. I’m very happy you liked April 15, as I wrestled with it for a while. If you could make sense of the grammar rubayat, then I can be pleased, for grammar was ever a difficulty for me.

I really struggled with April 16th, but April 15 was lots of fun to write. I’m happy you enjoyed #18, as grammar has never been my strong suit. Thanks so much for reading, and for your responses!

I’m glad you’re here, @foxkidsgayboy. It’s a great community here. Welcome!

You are incredibly kind in your comments. I’m very grateful you have found this story interesting enough to allow for a binge read. I’m glad Rick and Gus have come to hold a place in your heart. Just now, however, Gus is missing. That’s the problem just now... thanks again for reading!

Thank you very much for reading these. I had a feeling April 15 would appeal to you.

April 13th If bodies are temples, as they say, then mine must be an ancient ruin, all its arcane rituals lost and forgotten; the altars moss-covered and toppled, no stone left upon stone where they stood. April 14th Like fire which races through a forest green Consuming all that in its path may grow, Or waters which the meadows overflow, And all the fens and thickets in between where nature st

This is a poem so beautiful, it made me my heart beat faster; it made me smile and tear. Each line, each image, unfolded like a new flower. Thank you.

Rick is no longer letting fate or fortune call the shots; neither is he bowing to expectations anymore. He wants everyone to know who he is, and they’ll just have to live with it. Zoltan certainly appears to have decamped with family and Gus in tow. As you point out, Zoltan has interfered - bulldozed? - with Gus’ life before. He may not even deign to acknowledge Rick to Gus. He can merely point out how the specialist in Chicago is waiting to inspect the broken bone. I’m very grateful for your thoughts and that you have been reading the story!

Wow. You've made it sound like a multi-dimensional cliffhanger. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. It was surprisingly hard to write Rita as being more than one-dimensional. Could she ever be rehabilitated? Now that question will pester me. Willy will soon be unable to recognize his own life, considering the changes that must come upon him soon. His old family name will echo amongst his peers with that hollow sound of the object lesson: avoid the fate of the Kohlers. That idiot Willy brought it on himself. You pose some fun and interesting questions. For now, Rick has no answers, and only one overriding question: Gus, where are you? Thanks very much for reading, and for your awesome comments.

Now I’m itching to know what Ritch has up his sleeve. I really enjoyed this chapter, and anticipate his participation in the rodeo events.

Thanks so much for your lovely comment. I only hope my supply of Kodachrome lasts the whole month.

I liked numbers 11 and 12; I can relate to both. Number 13 gave me pause; it must have been quite a conversation. Number 8, Snowglobe, is apt for portraying the way I have felt for much of the past year. Thanks very much for this week!

You’re very welcome. Rick has always been a wonderful man, but he has rarely allowed himself to see this. Gus opened a whole new door for him. Now if only Rick can talk to Gus without his controlling manager... thank you very much for your thoughts and for your comments!

There are many things Zoltan may have said to Gus that might have turned him away from Rick. The man didn't call, but Rick was awfully busy the day of the meeting. Also, Gus lost his phone in Butternut Lake, and probably hasn't had the chance to replace it. Calling Rick would have meant trying to borrow a phone from one of the Takacses - an unlikely proposition - or to use the house landline, which Zoltan is apparently watching carefully. If Zoltan knew of Rita's social media post, he might have told Gus about her possible engagement to Rick, though I agree with you also that Gus would have known better. In any case, the Takacses are now gone, and Gus with them. The sun may have gone behind a cloud in Eagle Lake... thank you for reading and for your response.

Rick has discovered that the door to his cage was open all along; and now he feels the sun, and it's good. He is such a nice man, isn't he? And by not gloating, he probably made Rita squirm all the more. You're quite right: he is entitled to gloat. In any event, Rita will be left picking up the shattered remnants of her dream, and by her bitter words, she indicated that this probably isn't the first time. If Willy is trying to get released from his contract and his engagement, I'd expect her to take him and what's left of his family money to the cleaners. I'm glad you liked the Drain Surgeon bit, and the part about Walter's bet. Honestly, I think Walter and his wife were both right: Rick is gay and choosy. Thanks very much for all your comments and help!