Parker Owens

Icicles catch the morning’s first light, trapping pink, purple and yellow-green within their bent and bubbled walls beneath the eaves, bearing a moment’s purgatory before shifting, changing into day. ~~~ Upon the walk near my abode Dame Nature gifts of ice bestowed whereon with step most ill-advised I blithely trod apace, unslowed. It may now safely be surmised that I, by slickness so surprised,

It’s sad, but inevitable, that Sawyer couldn’t shift into a whole and healthy wolf. Instead, he has become a danger, a monster to be restrained. How long will Jimmy be able to hold him in check, support him and bear watching his agony every month? A day may come sooner than either knows that they both agree on the mercy of a bullet. As for a quick departure, Fergus isn’t likely to allow that. What a pity Fergus can’t take the bullet for Sawyer.

I guess it was too easy. @Valkyrie What tipped you off?

I very much enjoyed every chapter. Thanks for this happy tale.

I enjoyed this story a lot. Steve’s a very clever guy, setting up Ley like that. You made me interested in these characters, and over the space of a thousand words led me to care about what happens next. Thank you for this story!

I’m very happy you enjoyed the music festival. It wasn’t anything like what Joey anticipated, I hope. The Two Part Invention No 8 video is fascinating to me; it’s nice to know you enjoyed it too. In some ways, the day was like stringing an instrument, affixing strands which tightly bind one end of the body to the other; strings which resonate throughout. What Gus tells Rick of his earlier life must sound sympathetic notes in his heart. Gus got to spend the day sharing his own delight and knowledge in music with Rick, who won’t be able to help feeling somewhat awed. Thank you for reading and for your encouraging words.

I liked the chapter title. So many keepers here: Jeremy not letting Mason go; Joseph keeping Orson, and above all, Greg and Clay - and Avery- keeping Lee. Thanks for sharing hope with us in this.

Thank you for sharing your poetry.

Rick may have been tempted until he learned Gus had several metronomes at home already. Gus did not specify if his were hardwood or softwood, though.

Gus has his official internet page, but there appears to be much more to his story than the gloss that may be found there. He doesn't want to talk about it, not even with Rick, who seems very easy to talk to. I could not imagine Rick pressing the matter, not at that moment. Those dark clouds passed over Rick and Gus at the festival, but did not bring down rain and hail. It was a shadowed moment in a day that seemed otherwise filled with light. Whatever else may be brewing over the horizon, Rick seems completely oblivious to it. And why not? He hasn't had a better day in ages. Thanks for your insightful reading, and for your thoughts.

I enjoyed reading this. Thank you.

You whisper good words into Rick's ear. He needs to believe. Just now, he is simply enjoying the day, taking the delight as it comes. He cannot help but take heart from Gus' words: we're all together. Confidence grows from such seeds as these. I hope you found the festival entertaining! Many thanks for reading this chapter, and for your thoughts.

This is based on my experience of a folk music festival I attended many years ago now. I have no idea if it still occurs anymore. Rick is having one of the best days of his life. Much of that is down to being with Gus. He has gotten a rare chance to deepen a friendship with an attractive man. He will remember and absorb every detail Gus chose to share of his earlier life. Jared has been a very good mediator, perhaps by distracting Marta. Then again, Jared seems a little distracted himself. Thank you very, very much for reading, and for commenting.

I'm glad you enjoyed the description of the festival. I just hope it wasn't too overwhelming. My hope was to immerse the reader in the experience without seeming to be a pedagogue. I'm sure Jared would be happy to share another order of deep fried cheese curds with you. The day has witnessed Rick growing closer to Gus; he must have hung on every new detail Gus related. I was especially happy to read your last question, given that this slow-paced, gentle story has a dearth of cliffhangers. Thank you for reading and for your thoughts.

This chapter deepens Gus and his story, as if more instruments have been added to its orchestration. Eagle Lake is definitely a lovely interlude for him, and Rick has made it more so. You're right, Rick has been the silver lining to the cloud represented by that cast; not that Rick would admit that. As for a spot or two of jealousy, perhaps Rick might be forgiven; this is the most real fun he's had with an attractive man he's had in a long time. Marta and Jared have been fun to write; they don't seem to have any notion of what Rick might be feeling for Gus, wrapped up in themselves as they are. Thank you very much for reading, and for your thoughts!

I am very glad you enjoyed this chapter. Like you, Rick probably absorbed every new detail Gus revealed. As you said, there are similarities in these men's lives that give them more to share than one might initially think. Gus cannot have had an easy time forming friendships or relationships that have any enduring quality. Rick has also encountered this, though for very different reasons. To Gus, Rick must seem like a solid, reliable kind of man. Thank you for reading, and for your insightful comments.

A teensy bit jealous? Who, Rick? One can hardly blame him. After such a wonderful, unforgettable day with Gus, he probably wouldn't want to share. For once, Rick isn't taking the back seat to anyone. I very much liked your thought that every member of the expedition is learning something - Jared is discovering music, Marta is discovering that her brother isn't completely horrible, Joey that going to a music festival doesn't have to be a dull affair, while Rick and Gus learn about each other. I only hope that this chapter wasn't too didactic. It is sometimes difficult to restrain oneself in writing. Many thanks for reading!

It's not entirely unheard of for deeply talented musicians to begin their training and performing very, very early in life. Mozart was playing and composing by age six; Glenn Gould entered the Conservatory at age ten; Martha Argerich played in concert at 8 years old and Van Cliburn had a debut at Carnegie Hall at 14. Zoltan and Magda have probably been training, shaping and molding Gus since they took him under their wings. Undoubtedly, Gus must feel at least some kind of obligation. After all, he's doing child supervision and teaching for them during his convalescence. Your comments about his relationship to Helene are very perceptive. As for Rick, he is floating like a melody on the air just now, and you're right, he'll never regret it. He's certainly not thinking anything of Heinrich or Rita at this moment. Thank you very much for reading, and for your insights.

I'm glad that you found the chapter had good things to discover - I just hope it wasn't too didactic. Sometimes it's hard to sort out every new thing one wants readers to experience. You're quite right - everyone is having a grand day out; there really seems to be something for everyone. The bagpipers appear to be a hardy bunch, used to being a tribe of their own. Who knows? Perhaps Joey could grow up to be a talented piper, if his parents let him follow that interest. Thanks very much for reading!

There's a little box of pine on the Seven-twenty-nine, Bringing back a lost sheep to the fold; A strong tenor voice, inflected with a distinct mountain twang, sang out over the green grass. In the valley there are tears as the train of sorrow nears, The sun is gone, the world seems dark and cold. Underneath the solo, a fiddle and a guitar played low, at a leisurely tempo, unwinding the sorrowful tale. There his lonely mother wait

Fergus is doing what he knows, but what he knows continues to fracture his pack. Doris, Shayna, the general dispersion, are all symptom, not causes. But like a terrible disease, there will be no getting over Fergus.

Fun to see Ritch growing into his family responsibilities. And Malibu... Ritch will have plenty of places to fly to when he gets his wings. Thanks for another great chapter.

Your eye color conundrum resonates with me. Heaven knows I’ve screwed up some aspect of character continuity often enough only to be gently corrected by a kind beta reader. As for the oceans, well, cartography is changeable. I learned the oceans differently to those you named, so I must be showing my age.

Welcome! You’ve come to the right place to binge read. I’m glad you joined!

I must say, this is a beautiful scene you paint. Boone and Coy joined as naturally as they were meant to be: let no one put them asunder.