Krista

I will get you for that, Benji! I am 29 carrying 2. Also, howdy stranger, long time no see!

Honestly, all wild animals are better off in the wild, even if threatened with extinction. Only when numbers get so critical sending them to breeding reserves to keep the species alive would there be a need for captivity. Although, I'm unsure as to how Ringling dealt with their animals, the small time circuses don't have the money to provide the best living quarters, space, privacy, quiet, and such any animal would need, let alone one that has generational ties to wild animals. Breeding for exploitation only lasts when that animal is still productive - either in the shows or as breeding animals. When they become too old or too difficult to train, they're usually privately sold and the market just isn't appealing for these animals at all. But, in mass animal rescue operations don't typically go the smoothest and desperation by this circus may lead to some animals getting less than appealing homes as it is - anyone can be a "sanctuary.." So, if Ringling does do well by their animals, the thought of them living out their lives in nice enclosures, free of breeding, free of performing, etc then it is a good thing for them. For the circus as a whole, it is a loss since it has been around for ages on a cultural level and there is always a sadness for something so cultural and historical to come to an end, regardless of the history and questionable and horrendous practices by the industry as a whole that may or may not include them directly. Keep in mind though, Zoos and Sanctuaries do not help extinction. Zoological parks are for profit parks. When they breed animals it is, for the most part, for profit and publicity/advertising. These animals are mostly privately sold and not all the time to reputable zoos, but to private ownership, etc. So in a way they look better when you do an eye-test, but they may not be. Sanctuaries should not be in the practice of breeding at all. They are supposed to act as a rescue and safe haven for exploited and unwanted animals that has a poor market for them, limited space/resources, and animals that cannot make it in their natural habitats. But anywho, sorry to get off-topic a bit.

Thanks for reading! I needed to move along some plot points definitely. I think maybe Jackson and Luke aren't even aware of how close they've become with one another. All they feel is the distance and time apart while Jackson is training and Cindy has Luke on lock down. So maybe they'll start seeing that they're already.. "there.." instead of.. "are we ever going to get there..?" I think once they do, the relationship can grow even more significantly than it already has. Steps need to be made from them both for that to happen though. Hopefully it will. I think Matt has seen the error of his ways while being on the receiving end of Tony's disappointment and anger. Also, Matt has a lot more to lose than his older brother Aiden. Aiden already has a scholarship, he could just talk his way around a poor performance. Matt doesn't yet have the attention from scouts and such. Aiden was a bit of a bad older brother in leading Matt down the sabotage path. And yes, the only beneficiary was Pete, he got his win, and he got possibly his stiffest competition scratched out of finals... sigh... lol. Maybe they'll open their eyes and see that Pete has always been about Pete.. that's usually how cheaters are. They definitely don't need any favors. Luke does a bit of a mischievous and jealous and non-cindy-approved streak in him. It was always there.. stifled by her, so we might see more of that.

Thanks for reading! I wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall when Luke comes home after sneaking away after school to the meet. I doubt that phone call between Grace and Cindy went well either as Grace wasn't even aware of what Luke did until they got home late that night. I like that you guys think the relationship is genuine between the two despite all the changes and hardship and time apart they have endured as the story progressed. I'm worried that the story is lacking a bit of... romance between them, but the reviews have eased a lot of that fear.

Thanks for reading! I like the feedback on the meet itself. It was such a large portion of the chapter that I worried it would be a complete mess.. a bomb of words and confusion.. lol. So I'm glad it felt realistic and plausible. We don't have swimming here.. it is a completely independent, expensive, and distant sport. Why I tackled it, I have no idea... lol. Just wanted to get out of the.. "ball" sports I guess. Does Grace know? Maybe the, "I'll let you say goodbye," was a little bit telling. A bye between friends aren't as private and she was definitely giving them privacy by going back inside the house. Or maybe Grace has just come to realize that in the world of Teenagers - especially those Jackson and Luke's age.. they do want privacy and at the beginning she was more of a "Cindy" character and this is her way of change. Now.. I couldn't make it easy on you.. lol. The brothers got a big wake up call... I wouldn't doubt Tony saying, "one toe out of line and you're gone.." to be taken as a hollow threat.. lol. He's already shown that if you don't mesh with his program he will part ways with you.

Thanks for reading! Yeah, I have to agree, I think the old Jackson would have wanted to throttle the brothers, or at least jump in when Drae did.. lol as I think Drae is more over the two than Jackson, having known them for a lot longer. I think maybe Jackson and Luke are "meeting" one another in terms of where they are in life. Jackson needed to calm down and show some humility and Luke needed to break out from under expectations and being stifled by over protective parents... but we'll see how they continue to go about maneuvering around all the new things. And yes, I wouldn't want Cindzilla to come rampaging again so maybe Luke needs to be a little more sneaky in his rebellion for a bit.. lol.

Thanks for reading! I like that you hit on the fact that everyone seems to be figuring out Luke and Jackson in a way that maybe Luke and Jackson aren't even aware. I can't help imagining them thinking they have shared hidden glances or hidden affection and them be obvious to everyone but them. The look of people in some state of romantic feeling for one another do have a look about them. Let's just hope that maybe... Cindy stays in the dark a little while longer.. lol. The team dynamics - going in, I didn't think I would dive into it all that much, but then I found the whole set of new characters to be opportunities. I also don't like overly smooth transitions into new things, it just doesn't seem realistic for someone like Jackson with little formal training, with a "rookie" coach to come into a higher level of expectations and not have bumps in road. So I knew if I didn't want to annoy myself (and possibly y'all) I needed to have a less than smooth transition. I hope Tony showing Pete celebrating with new teammates and seemingly ignoring his "former team," shows the brothers that he has moved on and so should they... he definitely isn't coming back. Tony wouldn't have him back at this point.

Thanks for reading! Ahh the races, I was so worried that I would completely bomb on trying to write those scenes. It is definitely something I am not used to. I thought about binge watching swim competitions where ever I could find them... but then I figured I'd just end up distracted. So I'm glad that you liked those scenes in particular, definitely out of my comfort zone. All the sports I know anything about has a ball of some sort in it.. haha.

Thanks for reading! Lol, I should have put a disclaimer - "Cats, Dogs, and small children may harass you whilst trying to read this in one sitting..." It was a bit of lengthy project - usually my Anthologies hit that mark, not a chapter.. lol. I like characters that are in a state of.. tension and gaining confidence/comfort in their decisions and relationships. It is nice to see good progress and work still left to go. Maybe after a few meets, Jackson will realize he is a good swimmer and won't be trying to over compensate so much. It would help if those spoiled brothers weren't trying to sabotage him so much. I actually switched schools early on in elementary school from a small town... a bit older campus.. to a freshly built one with tons more students and advancements - it overwhelmed me and really stuck with me. So I know how Jackson would have felt stepping into a Campus that seemingly had everything that his did not..

Thanks for reading! I think they do deserve happiness, for sure. Also, I really want to get into how I want Luke to be a rebel a little bit. And of course how Cindy will react.

Thanks for reading! It definitely is sometimes, but then something clicks with the story and you can go on and on. At first in this chapter, I believe I could manage only a page before I was like, "I'm not feeling it," but towards the closing 5 or so pages it just seemed to come to me better. There have been some... longer chapters, with this story. Now that I've tweaked how I want the story to go, it may lend itself to longer chapters. I know I have a lot to cover and such, so we'll see. I hopefully won't take as long though, mercy. lol. I'm glad you liked the chapter - I really was up in the air about how it would be received.

Thank you for reading. I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the story so far!

Thanks for reading! Yeah, both guys are still growing and Luke did get a crash course in relationships by watching Simon and Charlie. A small bit of jealousy with both Jackson and Luke on seeing how free the other guys were... which is normal, I feel. I wonder how Cindy is going to react to rebel Luke.. lol. I'm sure that is something she hasn't had much practice with so far.

Hey, thanks for reading! Pete is the swimmer that left the team. If Paul popped up, I'm sorry! But no, there's only one swimmer.

Happy Birthday!

Thanks for reading! Thank you! I hoped it did, sometimes with a lengthy chapter like that.. or an.. "out of the norm" sort of chapter, it can really stress a person out on whether or not it flows and then flows with the rest of the story. So I'm glad you liked the chapter!

Thanks for reading - I must say this - when I read this review I felt completely touched by it. So I really want to thank you for that Graeme. I guess the "sorry" at the end of the chapter wasn't necessarily because of the length, but the length and the writing process I went through to get it there. This chapter drained me, it drained me writing, reading, and working on editing/beta-ing with the Canadian Wonder. So I didn't see it as being legitimately on par with the rest of the story. So I just wanted to thank you, for resetting my confidence with this review.

Happy Birthday!

Wednesday, I had to keep telling myself that it was only Wednesday. That Friday after school I’ll be rushing to meet Tony and the swim team to go to our first meet. Toby’s party seemed so far away now that we were all focused on school shit. The girls had cheerleading, they will be getting into their own competitions soon. Toby and Derek were busy every Friday night until December, Cindy was still keeping Luke locked away, and I had swimming. Swimming was completely different now too. Not on

Happy Birthday Matt!

That's how I get you, every time, Steve. I make where whatever you do you can't wriggle out of punishments. Not my fault you keep falling for it.

Well, I started a story around the first of the year last year and it still isn't finished. So I plan to finish that one to be sure. After that, I'll likely start a new story, but at a leisurely pace. I need to work on not being completely burned out with the whole putting words to paper thing. I do have a couple of Anthologies started that never made it to the deadline that I could also work up and complete. As far as that goes, I guess my resolution is to finish what I start.

Thanks for the 29 + Carrying 2 Birthday wishes everyone! Clochettte, cute little ballerina banner. Thanks! LBO: I do like cats! I miss having a little fur ball curled up in my lap, but the cats tend to not like loud screams and grabby little hands, so I've held off on adopting any. Maybe one of these days since the kids are getting older and we'll find a nice tolerant cat. Cole: Message received, lol! I've been writing. Slow and steady, this chapter has given me a bit of a fit, but I think that is all in my head and doesn't really have anything to do with the actual characters or plot I have lined out.. lol. Valkyrie: Thanks for the cake! It is pretty. At first I thought they were NERD candies, which I used to like, but haven't had in forever then realized the frosting was a bit too large to be nerd candies.. lol. All in all, I had a nice birthday: The husband remembered, got the kids all rounded up and on the birthday mission, and etc. Although it always so cold here during my birthday, maybe one day we'll all head out and find some sunny island beach somewhere to celebrate.

Happy Birthday!

Thanks for reading! Although I think it would be.. easier, in theory to tell Heather and Ally - the outcome could be far worse I think. Friends don't always think the same way, so I have to agree with you and being apprehensive for Jackson and Luke telling them. It couldn't definitely not solve anything and make a mess of things. Cindy is Cindy. I wonder if she'll change? Hmm... The Swimming takes center stage next part. If I ever find free time to get it to paper.. lol.. bah busy. I'm glad you're liking the story so far though!