Parker Owens
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Everything posted by Parker Owens
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Gus’ story is one of resilience and travail. He has made beautiful music despite this, and Rick helped to bring it out when he needed it most. I hope you could hear some of that too. Many thanks for your thoughts!
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Cadet Second Class • III
Parker Owens commented on Carlos Hazday's story chapter in Cadet Second Class • III
This was a great chapter. Ritch stood out in many ways, not least for standing up to someone larger and heavier than himself. That, and following protocol under pressure, which makes him a further candidate for promotion. Watch out: could CJ appoint his brother as Chair of the Joint Chiefs? Better still was the emergence of Ritch as a mentor; and the “Wing” has a nice ring to it. -
It has been too long without the faces of friends and loved ones.
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It will take Rick time to learn to listen to the perfect; he’s dwelt with his flaws for so long. As for Rita and her ring, that will have to wait a bit. Thanks very much for reading and commenting!
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Like Rick, you appear to have eschewed the lure of social media. Facebook can obliterate large portions of some people’s days, so I hear. I am delighted you are listening to Gus and concentrating on the perfect and not the flaws. Rick is definitely off the marriage hook, it seems. Thanks very much for reading, and for your comments.
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I will not peer into Rita’s mind just now. It’s not pretty. I doubt very much she has a clue about Rick’s history with College Hill, or anyone else’s, for that matter. To her, College Hill is prime real estate waiting to be parceled, developed and sold. It’s a unique space, and the town evolved around it. Something powerful would be needed to sow doubts in the mind of Eagle Lake’s legislators in the state capital that this is a viable project with the clear backing of the local voters. Thanks for your comments and for reading!
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Javier is a generous soul and a very good man indeed. Wally is lucky to have encountered him. Thanks for reading!
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Rick is not appreciating the small town gossip on this day. Everyone has assumed there is a Rick-and-Rita, and now believe their assumptions are confirmed. Irene's nose is certainly out of joint, but she's not explaining why. Your guess isn't a bad one, though. Heinrich Senior will be distressed (to put it mildly), but he's not at all internet or social-media savvy. The old man is likely to burn up the phone lines or even get on a plane. God help Rick if his father actually has to spend money on this situation. You are wonderful to contribute speculations and possibilities here, but I fear I must leave you to wait until your questions can be resolved, alas. You are very kind to keep reading!
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Rita's plans slipped out a little early. Walter was a good sleuth in this case. I wish I could answer your questions, but many of them will be resolved ... soon. You are very kind to be so trusting in my navigational abilities. Poor Rick is already unmoored, and you're quite right: he can't dodge Jerry forever; even he can see that he can't keep hiding. But can he emerge on his own terms? I'm very grateful for all your thoughts and questions. Now I will go into hiding myself for a week...
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The rumor of Rick’s engagement is out and all over town. Probably it will overpower the truth for a long while. Not only has Rick’s concerto shifted to a minor key, but there are definitely some sour dissonant notes playing, even as Jerry remains a steadfast friend. Rick needs to plan a response to Walter’s news, but his work is unlikely to grant him any respite. Thanks for reading!
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Knowing Rita's plans in advance of the meeting may not be enough. After all, Rick isn't much of a drummer, and he has his own work to accomplish. However, Walter can at least count on Rick's unswerving support. Rick is moving beyond the possibility of coming out, and instead thinking about how it might happen. Though he hasn't come to a conclusion in his deliberations, he's asking questions like what words could I use? He'll figure it out, if events allow him that much latitude. I think you're right, however: Jerry is not going to let the hickey matter drop, and Rick's usual practice of avoidance won't work forever. Thanks for reading and for your comments!
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I'm glad the title made sense for you. I had a number of possibilities in mind. She clearly wants everyone on the School Board to believe she is a committed Eagle Laker, and tying herself to Rick and Heinrich Senior would do that very nicely. That belief would cement support for her blockbuster project. For the first time, Rick is beginning to wonder less about the impossibility of coming out, and thinking more about the mechanics of how to do it. What words could he use? were his thoughts. I think what you say may be right: the community loves Rick more than he understands. That may be why Rita figured out he was a good target. Many thanks for your thoughts and for reading!
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Rick never had a Facebook profile, but I'm sure he'd agree with your decision now. It's so easy to fall for the combination of words and images one flicks through in a fraction of a moment. Extrapolations and connections mean people jump to conclusions. The hope is that Heinrich Senior is even less web-savvy than his son. This means Rick will have to call his father first, before word filters back to Arizona. Knowing Rick, he'll put it off until he absolutely, positively has to. Thanks a million for your thoughts!
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Rita has been quietly schmoozing the School Board for a while, it seems. Now we know the reason why. She and any investors in her plan stand to make quite a lot of money. And, of course, Eagle Lake will change quite a lot as a result. All Rita has to do is sell everyone on the project. Her very public pursuit of Rick must have been part of the plan, as you suggest. Everyone knows Rick, and respects his work. Irene is surely being cranky about something, though exactly what must remain unknown for now. For the moment, Rick needs to put other issues on the back burner to deal with responding to Walter's news. That is, if his work will let him do that. Many thanks for reading!
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Events are certainly moving more quickly, like a storm building up over the lake on a summer afternoon. Rick has to figure out how to respond, even while the everyday demands of his work continue. Really, he'd prefer to be in a canoe with Gus, rather than trying to counter Rita's plans or deal with Heinrich Senior. As his experience has shown, Rick rarely gets what he wants. Thanks very much for reading!
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Rick's rut is about to get untenably mucky and messy. He's going to have to find a new road or get hopelessly stuck. Right now, he'd prefer to be back in a canoe with Gus, instead of dealing with the unpleasant prospect of seeing College Hill developed. Thanks for reading!
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It's a pity Irene has her nose out of joint about something. Walter's news is something she would have broadcast across town in a matter of an hour or so. Rita's big project would mean immense change for everyone in Eagle Lake, and a great deal of money for those connected to it. I'm not sure what part of their anatomies the School Board are thinking with. As for Jerry and his questions, I doubt he will allow them to go unanswered for very long. Many thanks for reading!
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Rick winced as he backed the company van into a slot in Jahnke’s lot. Without its muffler, the old beast had roared along the quiet morning streets of Eagle Lake. Every time he stepped on the gas, he’d cringed. It was a relief to shut the engine off. Yet even with the racket and his mounting embarrassment, Rick wore a smile. He sat behind the wheel, letting his ears readjust. He’d paddled over to Cedarcrest the previous night. At the end of the dock, he and Gus watched the stars, kissed,
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Finally, some peace for people we’ve come to love. Perhaps Jimmy’s bite is more healing than anything; maybe there is hope when they wake in the morning. They’re going to need it.
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Thank you.
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Thanks for reading Andy’s journal a second and third time through. I’d be shocked at anyone showing commercial interest in his story, though it’s sometimes fun to think about who could be cast in various roles. Thanks again.
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Thank you for two delightful limericks. They made me smile.
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Cadet Second Class • II
Parker Owens commented on Carlos Hazday's story chapter in Cadet Second Class • II
I enjoyed this chapter. Ritch goes on adventures and enjoys experiences I can only dream of. Thank you for bringing them to life, and allowing your readers to participate too. I was glad to see Joel return - as Ritch's roommate! And the conversation with Miranda was especially well done. Still, I think the best part was seeing the snapshots of Ritch during his two weeks' leave. Like @dughlas, I can imagine Ritch at the dig with his aunt, and making new friends. -
You're very kind in your comments. I'm so glad you are reading Rick's story. The rumors have been more or less continuous since the previous winter. No wonder Rick is tired of them. Instead of having a long, long work day, he'd much rather have spent the day with Gus, or at least dreaming about the man. That probably made the day seem even longer than it already was. Small wonder that Rick leapt at the chance to do some, erm, stargazing on the Cedarcrest dock. As for Rita, she has been blissfully absent from Rick's life for the past few days and chapters. However, Eagle Lake is a small town, so she is likely to turn up again sooner or later. Thanks again!
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Thank you for taking me on your walk today.
