Krista

Yeah, his parents were a little late in having their "the straw that broke the camel's back" moment with Jackson. I don't know if parenting works in the, "better late than never," theory. At this stage of the story I think the only character people weren't annoyed by was Luke who sat innocently off to the side. I remember this story being such a refreshing take for me to write. I had just came from, "Are You Christian," and, "Standing in Shadows," back when I was silly and wrote multiple stories all in one go and thinking that's a sane thing to do. Christian and Cory were very Luke-ish. Christian was a bit more cheeky, but Cory didn't. Jackson was my getting away character, I really liked writing along and seeing how much patience I pushed with his antics.

Kind of like puppy's first obedience training?

Lol, you're taking a different approach to Jackson than a lot of people. I think by chapter three most readers wanted to put Jackson in a permanent time-out corner.

Yeah, the 'we' is very much intentional, there. The "my house" not so much, but it fits her personality so much that I'll chalk it up to a happy accident. Here in the south, if we live in the dwelling we say, "my house," or "my property" when speaking to someone else. Mind you, the use of it against someone you're in the process of kicking out of it, specifically family, it would be rather an ugly way to state it no matter what.

Sounds like a horrible combo of adjectives for one to live with.

Oversight oopsie on my part. I don't think he's slipped his last name into any conversation yet. I can either edit it here, or go back and slip it into chapter 1 and pretend it never happened.

I have a joke lined right up for that, but I can't say it. We've only just met them at this stage.

You would think I'd remember, seeing as how I'm slowly reading my way through editing this whole thing. My mind is still firmly in the ending chapters of this story, so I forget small things. Yeah, Lisa's mother is still alive and living in Utah, if I'm remembering correctly. The farm was Phil's parents, who are no longer living. Thank you for remembering my story better than I have... lol.

Every summer and winter I read stories such as this, pets, kids, mobility challenged adults, elderly... it gives me so much rage.

Compassion is getting him off the bridge after realizing it was more than just bullies and a broken down truck. He had to be observant in that moment as well, because very easily, compassionate people may never have noticed the true distress of and entire picture of the moment. At least, that's what I pictured when I wrote the first chapter. Realistically most people live in their own worlds, Trace doesn't, or didn't in this instance at least. The rest of it, I'll have to hush right up about.

You always have a way of commenting that sounds poetic to me. I'm glad you noticed Trace through all this as well.

Back to the ranch. Back to hushing now. lol. Yes, I most definitely will develop a complex with not being able to respond to some of these theories in the off chance I ruin the reading. Thank you for your comment.

A wuss and a weinie? Damn go easy.

Same. Our liquor laws are so weird here. It used to be a law that you absolutely could not sell it on a Sunday. It may be in the books, but not enforced. Restaurants could sell it, but not grocery stories, variety stores, or any other merchant. They couldn't obtain a liquor selling license either. They have to be privately owned with the license attached. It is still that way where I live. In other places I see that it can be sold anywhere, Dollar General all the way to CVS and other medicine/drug stores and I just think that's a bit strange to see picking up a prescription and seeing the liquor section off in the corner... lol Then I go to a different state and damn near every touristy place has: A Candy shop neighboring a cheap-clothing shop, neighboring a cannabis/marijuana vape shop, in some semblance of that order every couple of miles. I don't know where the connection in those three things comes into play... but when you notice it, you can't unsee it.

I honestly can't remember which grandparent gave them that farm and land. So, woopsies. I don't know who got to marry into that house or who inherited it. lol... it is no secret who owns it now though. And yes, I absolutely cannot stand when families bicker over property and some thinking they're more entitled to it for such and such reason, and lord over everyone else because of that mentality.

I can see all of that as unexpected reactions to what is playing out in front of them. Now, I'm just going to hush. I must come to terms that I know and y'all don't. I hate the feeling. I don't know how people live with themselves. I feel like I should be Oprah and be like "You get a spoiler!" and, "You get a spoiler!" but, unlike a brand new car, there's no fun in that.

Through the writing I was on the fence about this dynamic. It is interesting to see the takes people are making as regards to at least Phil, because he not the vocal and most in the forefront of this whole thing. The man doesn't like conflict, I think that's safe for me to say, as he showed that with Lisa and Trace, and somewhat with Joel. I guess the weight of that is where the dynamic becomes a bit muddled. I've only ever wanted to take one person by the shoulders and shake them, tell them to wake up and see what they're about to give up on. It isn't something I like seeing in people, but I understand how someone can feel powerless and in doing so, ruin their chances at being on the right side of something.

My family has been in the same state since my ancestors came from England, more or less. I've seen the good and bad, how people feel they need to fly away to escape, those who are so rooted here that the place fell off the map tomorrow, they'd still try to stay. I am one of those people, I love this place, it isn't perfect, but it is home. I got teary-eyed when I read this. I personally never had a stable father figure in my life, he's still alive just not here. I wouldn't be able to imagine what losing both parents at sixteen would feel like. I'm glad you had your aunt that still hovers protectively over you, and that through other people who knew your mother, can imagine her love for you because of her. It is difficult to know how people are going to respond about anything, especially these days. My mother has always been on the fence about homosexuality. Then I bring in two guys that needed a place to live after their families threw them out. I saw her struggle, but then she realized that the boys needed her and a roof over their heads. She struggled with going to their weddings later on down the road, but she went, told them she loved them and wished them happiness. They playfully tease her about all of that, she asks about them often and invites them over for family functions. There was no huge flip with her, she still struggles, but she always takes people at face value. If they are good people they're good people. Of course I hear things I don't want to hear, from people that I always expected. I have been so nicely surprised over the years as well, from people I never thought would ever be accepting, say they're perfectly fine.

I agree. Joel was already given their worst, so more of that wouldn't be as punching as it was the day prior... just added weight. The good is getting his belongings and seeing things for what they are. I had to give up on someone once. It wasn't a family member, a romantic relationship, after I went through something very impacting. So, I just imagine Joel's experience being somewhat on a larger scale than that experience since it was family that did that to him, where as I had family that kept me sane through it.

I picture him as tall, but not Trace Adkins tall. I didn't know he was 6'6". I'm well above average height for a woman at 6'3" though, so I pictured Trace Connley to be more around my height, if not just over 6'1"ish.. but I tend to not put a ton of weight in exact height measurement when I write, so if you see him as a towering giant at 6'6" go right ahead.

Thank you! Although you may have missed the contest, you're not that far behind in reading what's posted so far... decided to write the rest of it before posting the next chapter. Took me a bit. That and it ballooning to over 250k in words when at most I was aiming for 30k. I am my own worst enemy sometimes.

Yes, at least through the worst of it Trace was there to help him. Although, it was Trace's idea to go in the first place. But, Joel needed his things. There was a life he built in that house and practical things like shoes, clothes... I don't know if it is a good thing for Trace to have taken Joel back there, no one has really said much about it. The comments from Chapter 3, pointed towards that being a terrible idea. So much so that I was like.. "oh goodness what have I done?" And kinda dreaded this chapter, because I knew how it went. lol.

You do make an interesting point on Phil and Lisa's dynamics. That although he seems pushed around by her, and he seems weaker for it, that her blindly disowning her son, ostracizing him to the detriment of their entire family makes her a lot weaker than him. I honestly don't understand how people live in such emotions, it has to be tiring.

First: Incubator. 😮 I'd be entirely lost trying to write a story based in a City. I would base it solely on an experience I lived for like half a year before I bolted. I've been to New York for like a week and that nearly did me in. Wildthing keeps trying to sell me on Calgary. Atlanta is hell on earth to drive through. I've been to D.C, Orlando, I was in Chicago for like a day and was lost the entire time, which is why I was only in there a day... I legitimately found and exit and took it and didn't look back, but I'm counting that anyway. So, it is all small town stories for me. You can't go wrong with fields, sparse populations, trees, maybe cows... cornfields? And yes, idiots like John Lundst Jr. it is easy to see differences in small towns. A good example is when I was in high school we had four foreign exchange students at one time. They were so amazed at how quiet and empty our hometown was, and cheaper, and the food portions... but everyone knew who they were instantly, because they stood out. In an urban area they would have blended in a lot quicker. They loved their stay here though, all four of them were athletic in sports that my school sucked at, so they became instantly famous because they were different, and they helped win us a few more games in those various sports.