Anton_Cloche

Louella "...holds a fairly important position as City Clerk?” “More like the City Cluck after tonight.” Choke a chicken, or is the sky falling? Seems Pops and Gramps have a long term ownership plan of Dev & Mac's Ft. Collins house: " Now that we were all inside the house, Pops gave us one final piece of advice. “Just store everything in the pantry as you take it off and we’ll take care of those things later, the next time Jacob and I return to the house". Maybe not the last time the "boys" return? Bill for this wonderful .

The 'boys' getting married will be a little easier than a job search for both of their separate Eng. qualifications, however, they need not have to search far to find jobs in their fields. The Fort Collins, Longmont and Boulder CO area is a development hub in Aviation, Aeronautical, Aerospace, Defense and 'Advanced Technologies' ('Manned and 'Unmanned Vehicles' and Systems). Lockheed-Martin alone employs over 10,000, and over two dozen other related firms compete for graduates, with 'incoming' initial compensation packages ranging from the mid-$80's to $115+. 😲 That's assuming Mac and Dev want to stay in Fort Collins, but not necessarily next to Louella da Vile, 'Karen' and wanna be HOA. Maybe it's time for her to move into a 'home' or 'retirement community' down south (God help those seniors). The 'boys' could then anonymously low-ball buy her house as an investment (maybe for financially challenged but deserving students?). Just spitballing. 💡?

Another great chapter @Bill W as Mac👨‍🎓 & Dev👨‍🎓 reach the pinnacle of their education (thus far) with their respective Dual Major Master's degrees. Suprised their Alma Mater chose to not give additional "weight / consideration" for those in "Dual Major" programs, when selecting Salutatorian and Valedictorian. Some universities / colleges have begun to do so after lawsuits were raised (or threat thereof) to "balance the scales". Especially when one considers many companies take achievements (degrees and honours such as those stated) combined with GPA into consideration when hiring. Forbes, Fortune and other business-oriented publications say the combination of those factors alone count highly in determining compensation. Nonetheless, Mac and Dev will succeed in whatever new ventures they undertake; individually and together as husband & husband. 🤵🤵. Bill.

It's hard to chase down bad guys, with a 'on the house' coffee in one hand and d'oh nut in the other. At a recent PD bachelor party of an officer, his 'colleagues' got him a custom made coffee cup holder for his uniform belt (next to 'Tazer' and gun). Accident waiting to happen?

Maybe not dead, but perhaps in limbo (purgatory?) or in suspension? Theodore doesn't exactly recall how his 'pack' died, but he did recall, when Jack spoke, this: “Horned demon?” Theodore asked, a buried memory jolting to the surface, only to die like a spark in the night.

Another great chapter Bill. As for the potential value of those cards, I think the boys are "counting their chickens before they hatch": "...one percent of hundreds of thousands of dollars...". Value of cards as always based on the player in question and his stats, rarity of the card (how few were printed, Rookie vs regular season), and condition of the card (flawless, pristine, autographed etc). The years that Johnny Logan collected his baseball cards before his tragic death, may not have enough exceptional players that would value their cards that high. But 🤞 there will be at least one or two, that will generate enough money so Mac and Dev's plan for a proper (and fitting) headstone / monument to honor Johnny can be realised. (closest I could find)

Thank you @Andre Delport for another wonderfully written chapter and visit to the ancestral Cameron home of Achnacarry. It made me long to return again to my family roots in Fort William in the West Highlands. (It's been years since my laat visit, long before Covid, and with your vivid descriptions it was truly a trip back in time 🤗). For some reason, when the Lochiel arrived 'dressed' as he was, I wondered if there was an announcement pending (🤔). Perhaps just my imagination getting sidetracked, as (in this story) it's too soon for talk of succession. The family visit to the graveside of Beth and Nicky, the children's wildflower bouquets and wee Jamie's conversation with his Mums brought a tear to my eyes. "Out of the mouths of babes" 💕 All best wishes Andre for a safe, healthy and Happy New Year.

"No sooner had I collapsed than my phone dinged. A message: Home safe ❤️ A heart. Tonight had changed so much. The guy who sent that text wasn’t Ryan Fucking McConnell. Not the Jock-Boy Crush. And no longer the shell of someone weighed down by everyone else’s expectations. We didn’t have a name for it yet, but what I did have was Ryan. Free of Madison. Free of self-destruction. Just Ryan. With a heart emoji". 💓 ❤️ 🧡 💛 💙 💚 💜 Thank you @Jeff Burton for this story of highschool angst that is perhaps summed up by:

I'm betting @Jason Rimbaud's mom frequently told him: "Chew your food, don't just inhale it." Or he graduated from Evelyn Woods Speed Reading course. Speaking of uptight old bi...ddy, want to better where Francine parks her broom after flying in, or is her stiff spine and upright stance a give away? With any luck it's an equally old 'corn broom', with bristles so dry they'd burst into flames if she stands near bonfire (of the vanities?).

My mouth moved, but the words weren’t mine. “So,” I said, voice calm, curious, almost amused, “even if I turned out to be a test-tube baby from a lab experiment gone wrong — and maybe some kind of ... — that’d still be okay?” The pressure eased. My vision cleared. …Well, (said faintly inside my head), that went better than expected. Instructions: Read carefully and with purpose or you WILL miss all the key points in this spell-binding, riveting, thriller from @Jeff Burton. From the first sentence on the first page to last sentence, you will be caught up in this can't put down (if it was in print 🤞?) book.

Back to back 🏆 is one thing (well two actually), but then the challenge is can you 3peat for the 👑? But no pressure. 😅 (Caleb can be your 'coach'. 😳.)

Preston / @quokka, you will be greatly missed. Thank You for the untold hours, days, months and years of adventures, mysteries, virtual travelogs, education, enjoyment etc. you through your stories have provided. Taking time to reflect on your "writing hobby" as you put it, shows us: · 12+ Years of effort · 78 (published) Stories, · 3,167,064 Words But only 110 Reviews and 7,969 Comments? In my humble opinion you were short- changed mate, despite giving pleasure to your readers. (But many authors are, so you're in good company). It no doubt took time for you to reach this decision, and perhaps even struggled with continuing to contribute when you could, but whether it would be up to your own personal standards. As a reader, and an editor, I will miss your unique substance and style. I'd hope that, (like some of 'my' authors), perhaps you have a treasure trove of unpublished stories that didn't quite "make the initial roster", but to further that footy reference, they'd still be playable. Sadly that doesn't appear to be the case. The one thing 'we' and future readers can do is go back and revisit your stories, but more importantly, revisit the PEOPLE you created for us to get to know along the way. I won't say farewell, but godspeed. Best Wishes to you Preston for a healthy, peaceful, safe and Happy New Year in 2026 and all the years ahead. And a well deserved hug. Ps: apologies for additional edits, but that's what editors are known for, even if seldom fess up 😉.)

During the car chase reenactment, as Josh and his other self (Caleb) in 'The Void' communicated about the "passphrase" or "numbers", who should have it and when, an "Aha" ran through my mind. Was this like trying to open a safe deposit box but missing the 2nd key? Or part of a Fibonacci Sequence, but missing numbers? Is this how we get to Book II - "Decrypted"? Enough to open the cover, but no access to the index page let alone chapter one? @Jeff Burton, when Josh called out "Dad", it was heart-rending, for both parts of Josh - in the car and in the 'Void'. Later, back at 'Spook Central' as things progressed, the question of what (or more appropriately WHO) is Cerberus AND behind 'clean-up' Operation Chimera' begins to come into focus, and it's not Walter Greene! IMHO that becomes clearer when the two 'keys' are ripped out of Lindsey's workstation after "Hello Caleb" and "I know what you are" pops up on screen. As for your comments about Book II, (an estimated ETA?), and your very valid comments about the stress writing puts on all authors, (including outstanding ones like yourself); as an editor I can suggest it's time for a break. Of course knowing the muse(s) will continue to whisper in your ear. For what it worth, a suggestion I give authors is to work on other projects. Perhaps a mini-novella or two. But as I say to authors, create a 'story board' for Book II, with chapter outlines just in case (easier to fill in the blanks). So Thank You Jeff, oh and finally, "...when it feels like stuff is falling on my head everything I'm writing suffers because the noise in my head is too loud and I just stop writing", that's a good time to stop juggling chain saws, rabid wolverines and hand grenades, because one of those things can drop in your lap. 😲 Have a safe, healthy, peaceful and Happy New Year. 🤗

With Eleanor sitting prim, proper and pretty in the passenger ejection seat. !

@Jeff Burton thank you for this chapter; setting things up for ... As the accident / chase recreation proceeds, Josh's mind snaps back to the exact time end events occurring, and remembers his Dad, Garrett say: “The filename is the passphrase.” So, think of your phone dial / keypad. Numeric AND Alphabetic. Sometimes the mind has an easier time when words become numbers, or vice versa for security reasons. For example, back in the early 1960's, telephone number prefixs. (3 numbers in U.S.) were spoken, as in 'TAlbot 8', which would translate into the number sequence as 8282688. 6787331 becomes 'Opus Dei' So Josh thinking the passphrase is numbers, could also be a word or phrase. Ooh. 🧐 🔎

Veil, since you asked so nicely, probably because they're so heavenly, (and devilishly 😈 delicious), and You're (wait for it) Veilcome. 🤣

Theo will get a rise out of it, everytime he walks by a Cinnabon bakery with fresh hot cinnamon buns glazed with cream icing. Hmm ! 😋

Wow @Bill W thank you for another really good and informative chapter. Not only do we have more action of Mac and Devin trying to solve the mystery of campus break-ins and thefts, this time as great horned owl flying detectives, but we also see their detailed search into young Johnny Logan, the boy whose baseball cards Mac and Devin discovered. In their research we learn about Johnny's tragic 1969 farming accident that took his young life after falling off bales of hay. They discover a newspaper obituary and story about Johnny, his family, 3 older and one younger sisters, a younger brother James and even nephews and nieces. They learn the address of the family farm and see a picture of Johnny. So now they can contact Johnny's surviving family members. They also discover that a fund-raising was held to help the family pay for Johnny's funeral. Mac and Devin discuss visiting the cemetary where Johnny is buried and Mac mentions: "I want to visit Johnny’s grave sometime. I want to see if it has a nice marker, and if it doesn’t, then maybe we can use some of the money from the baseball cards to have one placed there.” Mac and Devin continue to show empathy for others, even those they never had a chance to meet. Looking forward to the next chapters , of what could best be described as a modern version of The Hardy Boys. 🤗

@Laura S. Fox "I hope you're enjoying your holidays and that you'll enjoy this little treat!" "Little" may be the understatement of all time. Theo is no mere pup. And Vince's taut body is most likely up to the challenge. Jack on the other hand is about to become a "fieldmouse" on a spit. Or perhaps more appropriately given all that heat from the fire - the marshmallow in a smore?

Glad you're back (still alive and kickin) @Justin4Fun. Hope you had enjoyable Holidays (🎄🕯️) and sending you Best Wishes for a Safe, Healthy, Peaceful and Happy New Year in 2026. Back to the question @drpaladin and @centexhairysub raised about "Sorcerer's stink" and what sorcerers smell like? Probably not bacon (unless burnt), but consider dozen's of "Pigs at the trough" (in photos or characterized in cartoons as politicians, because of "pork barreling"), ergo sorcerers smell like ash from cheap cigars, stale whiskey, broken promises, and rotten 🍅, 🎃, sour 🍇? IDK.

Miss Direction was Cassandra's nickname in highschool, where she was listed in yearbook as "Most likely to". If alphabet agencies want to recreate accident, (for the record, "Accident Scene Recreation" does NOT involve live participants. Also given "toys" in CIA & FBI labs, they can do it VIRTUALLY); But if they insist, then Cassandra drives Cadillac CT5 with 'Snake Eyes' FBI Director riding shotgun. 😮🔥 Walter can drive "chase" vehicle to nudge them along. Ps: WAIT. A reaction within milliseconds of posting comments can only mean ... @Jeff Burton IS AI Cerberus. Ay, Ay, AI 🤯

What a wonderful true story! When that visit to Santa at the mall took place in 1999, those boys, then 14 and six, are now on the cusp of 40 and 32, and as @ricky said (on 5.26.2011), the 'teenager' with children of his own. Perhaps the '6 yo' as well. @ricky may well be on the way to being "great grandpa"😮. Sadly the 'Mall 🎅' is becoming a thing of the past, along with the Malls. But hopefully the lessons learned will be passed on; the best being this of Ricky's: "I firmly believe that kids should learn from their mistakes, not suffer from them. I always tried to be creative in my disciplines lest I become predictable. And it's a challenge to find the right balance, consistency and diversity. My rules remained constant and few. And we never yelled, Yell today, yell forever. Whispering makes them lean in, quiet down so they can hear you plainly. That makes them calm down a bit too. Otherwise a would quietly tell them to go in their room until they calmed down and could talk about it without anger. And when they hit their teens, sometimes that meant they were restricted to the house and I went to MY room until I calmed down before we talked. Dealing with things when you're angry can make you say things you wish you hadn't. So I didn't. And honesty was key, always". Words to remember, and live by. With Christmas 2025 just past, and numerous challenges literally laying only days away, my wish for everyone is a Safe, Peaceful, Healthy and Happy New Year. With respect, understanding, empathy, and helping hands, most especially for the millions of children in need. 🙏 🫂

Bill, don't worry about nodding off while multi-tasking, especially when you weren't feeling your best. When brought to your attention you fixed it promptly.* Mac, Devin and family continue to amaze us, not only in terms of morphing when needed to "save the day", but also for the empathy they continue to show. This continues to be a terrific story, one that will surely touch reader's hearts. I hope you had a good Christmas Day with loved ones. I also want to wish you a Healthy, Peaceful and Happy New Year in 2026. Please do keep writing, as you do it so well. Stay Well and Take Care. Best regards, 🤗 * (Much better than someone who nods off in important meetings, funerals etc., can't admit mistakes, and throws others under a big, beautiful bus rather than apologize). Ps: With the baseball playing cards yet again part of the story, and considering how Mac and Dev were helped by Atsa in finding the original storage box, would it be possible to have Pops bring some good news from the Navaho hataalii that he figured a way to help Atsa change into a "good skinwalker" and live? Just asking 🤞

Dah, Dah, DAAH 😵? PUHLEEZE 🙏 @Jeff Burton, don't leave us hanging off this cliff (like Cruise in MI but with no resin left in his waist bag). Give us something hopeful as the night before Christmas Eve looms LARGE 🙏. Give JOSH (and us) a Christmas Miracle. Book II, can be all about Walter (Mitty?), putting the pieces in the puzzle and making it fit together. But this: “We recreate the moments leading up to the crash,” Walter said. “Same conditions. Same vehicles. Same sensory inputs.” Walter didn’t hesitate. “Because if we’re doing a reenactment that close to a classified ignition point,” he said calmly, dialing, “the chase vehicle should probably be bulletproof.” (or fully autonomous GM vehicles, or WayMo, and NO JOSH INSIDE !) And put Josh in an airbag, bubble-wrapped and FIREPROOF track suit ! OR just use the 3 full-size simulators (cockpit AND vehicles), Spook Central has at GWB Center Labs. !! Let Dr. Leah Morgan and Rodney's team put Josh back together again. Better, Faster, Stronger. Let Team Kincaid - Greg, Dan, Claire, James and Adam - find a way to safely put ALL 3 pieces of Josh back together in a cohesive 16 year old boy; a new son for the Kincaid family, and not like... We've been good all year 🎅 ...

Or waiting for the final touchdown and stuffing one through the uprights for the point after conversion. (More than one person has said that football goal posts resemble someone lying on their back with their legs spread wide in the air). 😲 In other team related news Joel, after joining the Warhawks baseball team ("please welcome our newest player, wearing number ZEEROH, Joel Benton"), Joel adds a few new shirts to his closet (mild to "in your face"), ones , reminders of Tempton: