Anton_Cloche

Got to hand it to those Scottish men. It can be damned drafty on a cold night wearing a kilt. Depending on the size of your 'wee man', a proper sized sporran will keep it from poking out ... unless you need it to. Many a Scottish 'countryman' throughout history, (and to this day in an emergency) can undo his kilt and lay it flat as a sleeping mat, or as a blanket, as the standard (full) kilt uses wool fabric that is either 'single' takes 8 yards / 24 feet / 7.3m single width tartan (30"-32" wide), or 4 yards of double width (54"-60" wide). Now back to the great story so for. Bruce and Mark getting better (aquainted?). And Bruce learning first hand some 'heir'looms ate handed down generation to generation. 👀 Ooh!

And...? As I suspect MaryLoser will try to sneak in. Successful Opening Night of what is effectively a 'new' club for Colin and Armand.🍾 Great chapter Cal.

Wow this chapter (more to come i hope) brings back similar memories. In 1985 I was contracted to provide operations and management for a company with locations in White Plains, Port Chester, Rye and NYC, plus Darien CT. Initially I stayed at the YMCA in White Plains before finding better (?) accommodations but the trains and crowded subways brought similar situations for close contact (intentional or otherwise). As a young very closeted man, I was shocked and intrigued at the same time. Let's see how Bruce and Mark 'handle' this situation?

Sending her 'Thank You' on "a wing and a prayer". 👼🏼

A truly wonderful chapter Preston. David's travel back along the same route that took him from being born in a Bulgarian concentration camp to Denmark, his mother and freedom, now leads him back to get some closure in his life. Along the trip he reconnects to those he first enountered; to renew some important connections - Sophia Bang in Switzerland and the de Lavana del Varchi family in Italy, and to forgive others who were less helpful. In Belene, Bulgaria he finds "...a few remains of the concentration camp ... as a memorial for those who had been detained there". After a little searching, David locates the cemetery and "...among hundreds of crosses ... David found what he was looking for. ... Two graves side by side, his friend Johannes and his father…" My sadness is for the child David, born into imprisonment, protected by his father until he no longer could and died, and then by prison guard Johannes who befriended the young boy and helped him escape, to make his way to his mother on Denmark. The final two paragraphs are David's honouring those who died so he could live. As well as a prayer of thanks to God and remembrance of those to whom he owes so much. "I am David Fengel, Amen.” Thank you. 🇺🇦

A well told continuation of Anne Holm's original story of escape from a concentration camp.

Another interesting chapter Preston. So for David's journey has been enlightening, and for him, soothing his soul and perhaps those of others. I suspect something will happen to 'throw a spanner in the works'? Stay well.

So does a tall (6'1") guy from Greenwich CT - Mark - use his 'lofty' position to look down on 6' Bruce. ( a different type of 'mean' time?) Being of similar height (but not 'standing') do they look each other in the eye? Subway (tube/metro) can either be w great equalizer, or a caste divider.

Is Karl a little slow off the mark? I think 12+ years ago he would have figured out King escaped with David, to protect him and the dog's own freedom from a harsh farmer. David's journey south allows him to reconnect with Sophie in Switzerland and thank her while she's still alive. What's next for David, and will he be in harm's way when he gets to where the Concentration Camp was? 🤞🏼

Hmm LOTS to think about here Cal, (and 'leftovers' thoughts from previous chapter replies). Hope you're well. 🫂 This is an interesting chapter as things get busy, working to fit Colin and Armand's 'wants' into the plan, BUT also the realities of 'needs' list. First we see this as a 'Members Club' versus it's previous version, where any gaggle of girls could come in, mooch of other people's plates, and not pay for much of anything. Then there's construction (less of a reno ala 'Bar Rescue' and it's thug 'Enforcer'). The way Armand is 'handling' things says this fictional (made up) tale doesn't have to abide with Building Codes, Regulations or 'Members' comfort. "Airplane" bathroom for 1? Nobody likes those! This 'Club' even if open before July 26, 1990 would have to comply with current ADA. Other than my whining about details, I am looking forward to what comes next. Perhaps Armand and Colin find some homeless kids searching his trash bins / dumpster for food only to get trapped inside and need help! Perhaps an Arrow 🏹 will point the way to change A & C direction into feeding and housing these needy children? Putting a roof over their heads? Adopting? (Sorry, is that nudge too much?). 😉

Time for smoko and cuppa to warm up even a bit.

Preston, an intriguing chapter to start off a new (?) story. This is an interesting premise on which to continue a previously told story. Disregarding the original was written in 1963, I am interested in the 'time frame / era' in which this continuation of 'I am David' takes place. (especially since you 'suggest' readers to read Anne Holm's original book). In her original story, 12-year old David escapes from a concentration camp (likely Soviet) in an unnamed East European country. During his months long journey to reach his mother Edith in Denmark, David travels through East Germany to get to West Berlin (and loses his companion dog 'King' who gives up his life so David can escape). This tells us David was in the 'camp' before November 1989. That sets your continuation 'correctly' somewhere in 2002? Or are we suspending 'space and time'? Conundrums in stories beg for answers to questions (at least for some readers). Looking forward to see how David's journey goes, and the 'troubles' that may await him along the way. Ooh

Good thing Dad had the dog secured in the back of the ute. Too many occasions where dogs (both 'working' and pets) met untimely (and oft time horrible) deaths involving farm vehicles. Dad let him off lightly as Dad should have had mechanical problem fixed when it happened to him. Especially with brakes failing on vehicles with people trapped or crushed. (Recall sad death of Star Trek Anton Yelchin 'Chekov' in 2016 when his Jeep Cherokee rolled backward, pinning him between a mailbox and a fence, where he could not be seen or heard by passing people or cars, trapped until he died).

Maybe George was upset you didn't sketch him? If he really wanted to play I suspect he would have butted you around. 🐐

For those who served, or continue to; For those with family or friends who served, past or present; For those who came back, but not completely; and for whom a 'Hero's Haven' would be some comfort; For those who never came back, and made the ultimate sacrifice; On this U.S. Memorial Day, Thank You for giving up your 'yesterdays' for our 'todays'. ~ ~ ~ For the Uvalde 21, let truth prevail.

The Washington Post's Inaugural Edition included a photo of President Abello standing next to a new senior Cabinet member, former Ambassador Margaret Cox, seen wearing a stylish broach given to her twenty years earlier by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Thank you Carlos for this wonderful conclusion of your latest CJ Abello story. Good to see most everyone survived and are moving on to "what's next". In this story, and throughout the entire CJ series (past, present and more to come in the future), you've woven the characters into CJ's life, in much the same way a rich colorful tapestry is created. Or as Oz might say relating it to Liston winery "Carefully blending all the ingredients into a memorable wine". And finally, in this story you've found a way to incorporate yourself into events, albeit in a 'smoke' (no mirrors) fashion. Not unlike another story-teller with some claim to fame:

Biker, Baker, Candlestick Maker?

At what (age?) do 'Ramblings' become a concern? I imagine being YOUNGER than another Mann gives @Carlos Hazday a tremendous advantage? AARP says retiring early gives you more longevity. So Carlos has at least 3 more decades of writing ahead of him. That takes him to just after CJ's 2nd term of being a Great President with OZ being a Great FGOTUS (correct acronym for 1st Gentleman) . 🧸 🙏🏼 🚸 👼🏼

Thanks for the new chapter Cal, with Armand and Colin returning home from Europe. It will be interesting, and fun, to see how what they encountered in Europe, (copious notes & pics), can work back at home. There are a few misspelled words, but they are not your 'typos'. Rather they are the work of 'Otto Korreckt' 🧐 and his 'Predictive Spelling' (which is "the bane of our existence" as writers, editors, journalists etc.). Looking forward to more of Colin and Armand's adventures. Take Care, Stay Well. 🫂 💔 🙏🏼 🚸 👼🏼 🧸 🇺🇦

Hard life sometimes on a farm, and often fathers tell children not to treat farm animals as pets. But a farm dog is so much more to a boy. It's a companion as a boy grows up. Goodbye Ben. Now go chase squirrels in heaven. More chapters please.

You can never push too hard, on the button, to get what you desire.

Because you need something to do before firing up your HOG and riding off to Sunday Brunch at Kennedy Café (or closer Denny's and IHOP)? As for "... delayed gratification" is there a pill for that?

SHIT! Sorry Carlos but WTF? Okay breathe! It's Fiction. But everything will be okay. Liebe is Okay. As big as Linc is, he would have a flack jacket on, so his back will be sore. CJ and Elpidio struggling over an old .38 is the issue. Close quarters ... I'm hoping the blood's not CJ's. Blood flowly freely often means a 'though and through wound, but the volume?? A penetrating wound from a small calibre hard tip bullet doesn't necessarily tear through causing more damage if it didn't hit bone or vital organs. Strangely I feel bad for Elpidio. His Mother's illness with her possibly near death obviously drove him over the edge, and his pride kept him from talking WITH CJ and Oz, and that probably cost him his life. Breathe... It'll be okay

Another very interesting chapter. Our young refugee Dane is growing in so many ways since he first arrived at the Hopkins. It hasn't been easy, indeed at times it was downright terrible for Karl (and those he came in contact with) with his inability to speak or read on English. With this trip 'home' for Christmas at the Hopkins, even in the face of 'The Blitz' almost nightly in London, I do hope you bring us up to date on all that happening with the family and friends. I especially hope that 5-year old Rosemary (Spencer?) That Karl rescued, and who George 'spirited' away from the hospital to keep her from being sent to the orphanage, is still okay.

That's a problem with the current crop of seat warmers. Regardless of their particular leanings, it seems to come down to T & A. ( especially for frats). Suggestions for Term Limits in both Legislative (12 years Max) and Judiciary (mandatory retirement at 70) always fail.