Krista

Well he sort of is, at least riding the bench anyway. I wonder if that would be worse than outright quitting? I was a little bit selfish as a writer when it came to the dog... lol. I know I feature animals a lot in writing... sports and animals.. hmm. Jackson didn't have a pet for a reason as well. The dog was fun to write, how she came to be in his life... I wanted to tell her story, because at least out here it happens a lot. People dump these poor puppies and think they can survive, or that good people happen along and they get happy lives. That is not the case usually...

Oh no... I remember being rather cheeky when it came to comments back in the day. Mostly because I didn't know how to answer a lot of them, thinking I'd spoil too much. As you were witness to with this story, I think. *whistles* Yeah, this relationship if I'm recalling correctly did develop rather fast. There is a reason for that, a bit intentional and unintentional, but I felt it needed to be a bit more fast paced within the story. I didn't want it as up in the air, because there was some wasted time earlier in the writing... for them, not for the overall story. This is a dynamic I wish I was a bit more words into before tackling to be fair, for reasons.

Yeah, I remember thinking, is this going too far with this whole dynamic? Knowing how I wanted the story to go... Cindy never did that - mind you, this story is older than TBY. And aww. I don't know if Clinton has good bedside manners or not.

Exactly. Although, he is only on Chapter 6... my chapter 6 not this chapter 6.. of editing. So he'd have to scramble a bit. lol

Uhh... next Friday or Saturday, if I'm to continue being an Angel. 'bout Tuesday otherwise, we'll see.

I don't how much math is mathing and how much splitting is going to happen in the future, but please.. please.. please do not wish 40 chapters on me. There's 25 on my end... and I know you're one of the ones that discussed chapter length in my forum topic so you're well aware at some of these massive word counts to come... if all of those end up being split...

Aww, this made me teary-eyed a bit.

Aww.

Might be on to something....

It would be understandable if he does develop anxiety.

Yeah, two totally different mindsets with Trace and Lisa. They can look at the same person and see incredibly different things about the person they're looking at. It may honestly just come down to both of them knowing exactly who they are and how they want to treat the people around them. They both seem self-aware, for better and worse. They both have convictions anyway. It would be some sort of poetic justice, but I highly doubt Phil has it in him at this point of the story. Will he ever - is the lingering question. And, my former job had me dealing with Medical insurance companies, administrative duties, and people above me that thought they knew everything about everything. So, I found myself wondering if it was indeed an 'at conception," thing, or "learned behavior..." Either way... does little good wondering, doesn't make you feel better after having dealt with them. lol

Hopefully it doesn't get as bad as Disney and Stepmothers. Shew mercy. Mothers... I can't remember all their names, but some of my favorites are: Cora, Celia, Grace, Cindy, and the mother I wrote for the short story, "The Runner." If I ever get around to doing the other parts to that story, I think she has the potential to go down as my favorite to write mother. Y'all know if I was a true and honest rebellious sort that I'd post this whole story. I am honest in saying that I am my own worst enemy when it comes to that. Yes, Baseball, Softball, Swimming, and lesser market sports are so limited in what they offer. NIL money does help, if one can get it. We've seen some smaller sports be recognized... but he's far from that I'm thinking. And yeah, he describes himself as "average.." so.. that awareness might need to kick in a bit now.

That, and some he's not even entertained yet... coming on a lot quicker than he knows.

Yeah, who knew an asshole like Jonny Lundst Jr. showing up could be exactly what Joel needed in that moment? 😮 Although, Trace wasn't too, too far behind him and did the honest work getting him off that bridge. Distractions... something else the mind to focus on. We take that for granted sometimes, because they seem like invasive creatures when you're in better mindsets.

Yeah, I think it is safe to say that Joel does worry what Colt is thinking. Maybe at the peripheral level since there hasn't been a lot of time spent between them.

Reading all these comments about Colt have been interesting to me. I know most of it has to do with the limited space he's occupied with the story and being of similar age to Joel. I know there's a lot of weight in unknowns.

And... for better or worse you will stay in that same window for the next part. I knew going in, after the first part there would have to be a ton of transitional set-up for this story to build from. I don't think I have the skill that it would have taken to set up this transition within a few parts, then move on because I've been able to build the true foundation to this story. I decided to take a slower approach, mostly because I know if I tried to rush it, skip some of this... then it wouldn't feel real to me. Within my document space you guys are only in "Chapter 4" as well. Here it says 6. Splitting up the massive chapters 3 and 4 slowed it down even further, but those chapters were massive. "Chapter 5", which will be "Chapter 7," for y'all is also a bit long, I forget how long. "Chapter 6" is also a split chapter. So, I'm thinking that has something to do with it. Would it feel as slow if you guys were already well within a whole other portion of the writing... I honestly don't know. It was a fear of mine, splitting these larger parts up that it may mess with the pacing and add too much time to the timeline chapter-wise. I know you were just making an observation, I just wanted to explain what's happening a bit more behind the scenes. And yeah, if he was in the heart of the school year, then it would have been a rather messy situation. So, the calm of summer may be beneficial for him. It would have been an interesting write for me, I think. Still fully hiding from that speculation as well.

Jury is still out on if Colt telling them to shut up means anything other than them two being idiots and talking about Joel within earshot, or points to something deeper. Honestly, some people need to hear the words, "shut up," and they show it often. The twin inclusion in the dynamics was a breath of fresh air for me to write in these earlier chapters. Not a lot of time passed between Chapter 1 and to where we are now. The pace picks up when they're in the room, for sure. I would have a difficult time writing these earlier chapters if it was the Connley's and Joel, I think. And yeah, they both seemingly took it all in stride, at least surface level... the brownies may have saved Joel from looking down and seeing a missing Taco, for sure. I love that you included Lacey. You're also welcome. You can thank Wildthing for this story as well, it was his idea that I took on... without him giving me the green light, then I wouldn't have written this story at all. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far, I hope it holds out for you all the way. I really like the writing for the next part. I know I said that last time... and no it is not a ploy to keep everyone reading, but if it works... *whistles*

I'm lovely, he's the cheeky little thing... causing all the trouble and shenanigans. Me: Him:

Colt might also tell the twins to shut up, and call them idiots a lot throughout the day. But yeah, I think it is safe to say that Joel would be the topic of discussions that day - if not, then I'd have to wonder what else was going on in their lives to overshadow a whole new person coming into their lives on a seemingly mysterious and "permanent" way. More permanent than a "visitor," anyway. And, do the wimpy little burritos from Taco Bell really even count as Burritos? I think most fast-eating teenage guys could finish one off in two bites... after a bit of chewing, mind you. And I agree, what is Trace's problem? 😮 Rude... let the boy eat.

Aww, this was lovely. Yeah, Joel will need to settle himself in. Or try to... because he's out of options. At least it was one more option than he thought he had a couple chapters ago anyway. Right now, I think he could go either way. Close-in completely and focus primarily on an escape route, planning for a future to where he can be on his own. Or, he can adapt... but it all depends on how things go with the Connleys really. Something may happen that changes everything...

If there's a funeral, then I failed.