Krista

ohhhh.. that sounds so fascinating. I used to watch a live "safari" where they equipped tour specialists with a film crew and filmed on location live. So it was 'like' you were on safari in the sense that, you got the toured experience and saw what the place had to offer that day. But, yeah nothing like actually being there.. the weather, smells, actual fear, and appreciation for all things there. I'm so jealous!

Yeah, this one does bother me. I wasn't going to post this snippet, because I don't know that I'll never revisit this idea. This is actually the second time I've attempted to write a "trip to Africa" story, because wildlife watching or going on safari in Africa is a dream of mine. I just don't think I can justify doing that yet... The issue with this story working against it the most is the fact that I've let so much time pass between writing this, then not touching it since. My writing style has changed slightly, and I have other ideas always floating around. Not knowing what exactly I wanted from this story hurts it too.

“What do you mean you can’t come down?” I asked as I held the phone up to my face as I ate a late dinner. Glancing around at my apartment, dark because I hadn’t turned on any lights after coming home. “I’m sorry Fin,” Brandon said as I placed my fork on my plate and pushed it away. It was delivery, Chinese, but it no longer held my attention. “We missed Christmas together,” I said and I grimaced at the sound of my voice. We had been doing this long-term relationship since graduating hi

Yeah, I think a lot of you were looking forward to Celia grabbing a handful of hair and dragging Lisa down the steps. Trace was prepared for the possibility. although, I don't know if grabbing her shirt would have held a determined Celia in place. She did go with words of advice though... doubt it did anything for Lisa, but she wasn't really there for her benefit. It probably did a lot for Joel, though.

Yeah, we're seeing the worst of Lisa Benton, consistent as that seems to be. It does make me think back with Joel, because by all accounts he had a very happy childhood and most of that was contributed to her. So she has it in her, she just decided to lead with the opposite. It will hurt Cody. It about ended Joel on the bridge. Trace and Celia have been rebuilding him since that night, he's been unwilling a bit, too scared and too wronged to feel the impact. There's still a lot of decisions he has to make, but at least one of the 'bigger' has come to pass. That's knowing where he stands with his parents, at least for certain his mother, and which roof he belongs under. And yeah, I would like to 'think' things have gotten a lot better about coming out. That the struggles and hardships from the ones back a few decades led to more understanding now. I only witnessed it. I felt the love for friends that were traumatized by it, but I didn't ever have to feel the impact of their struggles. There's a little bit of both of them in Joel. But here we are writing another somewhat-of-a-tragedy coming out story and it's not.. 'too dated' to function, unfortunately.

I was sooo bad at commenting and rewarding readers for too long. I wanted to start fresh with this story. I decided to approach it completely differently than my usual... habits? I lost so many of you guys for not paying attention, or being consistent with my chapter posting. It was more than a wake-up call. It put me firmly on the fence between leaving my writing at the end of, "The Best Year," or to make the attempt to continue and do things a lot more structured and differently. I didn't have a concrete story though, you can think @wildone for giving me this idea and allowing me freedom to run with it. If I can just get over all the new developing complexes that comes with changing my approach, that would be lovely. Oh, and not freaking out and posting the whole rest of the story all in one go. I do not think GA or Wildthing would forgive me if I did that, but know... it is a constant little devil on my shoulder.

I didn't know that, there's so many hidden functions with GA that I never find or frequent often enough to readily bring them up. I think in the writing we've also officially gone over half-way. I know I sped the pace up a bit with the last two-ish parts. So the story finally stood up and found its wee little legs. I've not sat down and wrote anything 'new' aside from a Character sheet and a first chapter (twice) for what I was hoping to be my next project. Let's also hope I don't fumble the hell out of this story in the second half.

I just noticed that we've went over 1,000 comments for this story. I am so thankful and beyond feeling blessed that y'all are taking the time out of your lives to read and comment on my little story.

Hmm. It would be rather boring if no drama came from Davin stealing that wee little kiss. And yeah, I don't think Joel was ready for a kiss. He had his world shrinking around him and he didn't know if that was for the better or not. So, the kiss was the final straw, I'd imagine, a final knock against frayed nerves. If anything, Davin is probably lucky there wasn't a knee-jerk not-thinking swing in his direction. Like me when I think there's a bug buzzing by my ear, no one will survive within swinging distance of all that mess. But, at least Joel did notice Davin's state of undress. Even gave him a helping hand.

She may surprise us and tell him to get a job, a roof over his head, and a future after messing up... would I have written that dynamic that way? No. But, if you're going to play pretend at being an adult... and you mess up... you should stop the pretend part.

Oh goodness... that's quite the body count.. 😮

I absolutely cannot stand people who use their children as leverage after a relationship falls apart. It is disgusting. It isn't fair to the children. It causes friction and long-term damage, not only to the parent leveraged against, but to that entire side of the family - so the kids may lose half of the support network they should still have. I'm sorry you had to go through that, especially as a man. It could feel like a very powerless and scary position with no good outcome. I'm glad you fought for your girls.

If I had Joel stay after the first chapter, I very much would have liked to really flesh out the Weasel dynamic with his parents. And yeah, I would have gone the route of oopsie baby with him, for sure. I don't know if I would have been motivated enough to write in such an atmosphere though. And, we wouldn't have Trace, Celia, Davin, Gavin, Lacey, Colt... and more... 😮 And... who could Joel possibly have found common ground with... I am a romance writer after all... we'd have to find the guy someone.

Hopefully he'll stay steadfast in what he wants. For Joel's sake and his.

I was always surprised at how perceptive all my children were, even when they were a lot younger than Cody. They do notice things. Their minds are sharp enough to work through and piece things together without us knowing. So, the bits and pieces and then putting it all together theory also is rather plausible. He's likely very determined to get to the truth of all this since it rattled and upended his entire world, the only difference being he's still living with the people that did that to him...

Yeah, parents need to be as united, unconditional, and seemingly open and fair as both Trace and Celia are. They're so centered. All kids born deserve parents such as them, I'm thinking. We're seeing them parent Joel through a traumatic event and his own personal hell, they're doing him some good and letting him decompress and come to his own with their support. They seem fair and a bit firm with Lacey. Colt is rebelling on them a bit, but it doesn't seem like they've been unfair or anything. Maybe Colt can take his own advice and tell them what he wants/feels. I'm sure they have their bad days and bad moments. I also think they're the types of parents that will look backwards and learn and not double down though.

Also, I cannot remember the last time I had a donut myself...

I wish I knew the context of this... if I were a cat, I'd be on my 10th life.

Maybe I'll write a happy, happy, happy story... from start to finish. Y'all better read it though. I say that knowing how Ellis starts out... and will end.. lol. --- And, @Lee Wilson I don't know how I feel about all this... I'm supposed to be the scary one. How the turns have tabled... I have one whole story with a character killing off another. It is a short story that people were angry with me over, because I didn't give them a part two. It was on my 'to-do' list, but got lost in the shuffle of things.

Yikes.. 😮 I don't think she's that unhinged. lol.

Yeah... unconditional caring and neighborly niceties seems to have fallen to the wayside.

It may also resonate with those of you who had people in your lives that you knew you absolutely couldn't come out to? Not that Celia was that sort of person, but the 'fear' and reasoning that Joel used was very similar to that? I wouldn't know. I had my secrets from people, but they weren't so... fear based/life altering. But yeah, the release of that after a good outcome, or at least now living in the knowledge of where you stand with people.. has to lift a weight or shift it. He's no longer tiptoeing along a cliff's edge though, at least with her.

Oh... I also forgot to mention that Trace did ball up Celia's shirt into his fist. Gives you a hint that maybe... just maybe... Celia has a bit of a feisty streak in her and if Lisa overstepped she would have found out... lol. I wonder how close you were to getting your dust scattering wrestling match out on the front lawn...

I think if Lisa found out she "raised" 2 out of 3 she'd have to be heavily medicated or sauced up, or both.