Will Hawkins

Mrs Lee's chickens are the perfect ending for this chapter. Yes, the dark clouds of Senior, the empressarios and Rita hang in the horizon, but the graceful piano duet and the loving that followed are capped off perfectly by the contrast of a chicken hunt. I am constantly overwhelmed at your mastery of your craft. The writing so expresses the subtleties of the relationship between Gus and Rick and its growth. I am sorry only that my words fail to express my enchantment.

Hearing about the problems in various Central American countries, makes ne very glad I chose Brazil for my Ex.pat days. True Belesaro is no better than the dictators mentioned in this story, I live so far out in the Brazilian 'outback' (to borrow a term from my Ozie friends) that the politics of Brazilia do not bother us at all. Even my Teacher's Retirement plus Social Security when translated into Brazilian Reis is a comfortable retirement. And I already mentioned the Government supported health care. Yes, I sometimes miss a good USA hamburger, but I an probably in much netter health for not having them close by. I have a family of 6 big black ducks who would miss the cracked corn I feed them, and another of a very aggressive hummingbird, his mate and a half-grown youngster to keep me company. It is like the concert pieces for the Left Hand that you inserted the web sites for, peaceful and yet full of meaning. I am just waiting for the conclusion of your story to write a recommendation for others to read it, You, in your writing, are a poet of the computer keyboard, just as Gus is a genius on the piano keyboard. Mister Will

There are some people who are going to have to do some explaning I believe. The aggressiveness of the ICE man was uncalled for and this is a hospital where Gus was undergoing treatment … well, we shal see.

Since I have been living in Brazil I have discovered two things I like very much about the country: 1. The warm weather is very kind to my old bones and 2. The public health system. Brazil has universal free health care, the only things you pay for are some prescription medications and those are always charged at the 'generic' rate. Whet you go to a clinic you just have to fill out a one page form and show an ID card that says you are a permanent resident, there is even a rule that says elderly patients are moved ahead of the waiting line (for which I qualify). I have been to a clinic once for a mild case of 'the shits', I was in a bed within 10 minutes with a drip for fluid replacement, and except for the two men arguing politics (in Portuguese) in the room next door, spent a relaxing four days before I was wheeled out of the door and loaded into our car to go home. I have also had some dental work done, just cleaning and polishing because, thank you Lord, my teeth are immune to decay. So here I am 89years old, with all my teeth, all my hair, moderately good vision, and retaining most of my brain power.

I hope I am not as cruel as his managing family has been, Zoltan and his spouse? are intrested only in making money from Gus' performances

The only thing I remember from Music Man is 75 1/2 trombones (one of the horn players slid the slide out too far and it fell out (and if you blieve that …)

“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.” A slight correction to your quotation

I am fascinated by the titles you pick for the chapter names. You must be an experienced musician to know all those and use them orrectly

It is terrible to enjoy a chapter such s this, but always seeing storm clouds building on the horizon.

just as an aside: when doe the cast come off Gus's arm. I am so afraid of the long reconditioning he will be going through and he will really need Rick's support if he is prevented from going on tour to start to regain his position on the concert stage. And poor Rick is going to have to face his father and Willie too, as well as having most of the funds withdrawn from the business.

My God! How many straws does it take to break a man's back? Senior, Rita, and now Willy.

I still have a wary feeling about Senior and Rita, that would make a duo to scare Godzilla.

According to my very limited research Baritones, Euphoniums, and Tubas, but not the trumpet (an earlier war alert horn) were invented just to provide depth to the sound of either marching or mounted military bands, so all three horns are related. This at about the same time as Tympani were added to mounted bands (Can you imagine a horse with a tympanium hanging on each side of the saddle?) and the Bass Drum was incorporated into the marching band. Gee, I did not know I knew so much history about bands and I don't even play an instrument. But in high school I was the tallest student so I got to high-step and lead a drum and bugle corps. I even learned to use the whistle and the big stick (baton) to tell the Corps when to march and which way to turn during our Sunday parades at a Military Academy! God that was a long, long time ago! Mister Will

Somehow I feel that Senior's reaction to Rita' debt on the books will be turned into a Rick's failure to be insistant about 'His girlfriend paying up'. I just hope that Irene can step up and reduce the Senior fallout. It looks like Rita is on her way to another drunken orgy … imagine coming to a yard party in high heels, especially because she COULD have taken them off if she did not have to balance brauts and beer at the same time.

The hurricane warnings for Senior's arrival are very ominous, and Rick, facing Senior's ire and Rita's big plans may be caught in the eye of a storm … perhaps even greater than Force Three. The young pair interested in mechanics is developing quietly, but nicely, and I am so very pleased that Gus finally made a move toward Rick, even if it is as a result of a panic attack. That may take another two or three chapters to develop but Senior's arrival and Rita's big plans will accelerate many things. Excellent charactization and story lines you have developed, Parker. I am enjoying the progress of the relationships very much. Mister Will

I confess, I had to google euphonium, I was expecting a brass horn instrument, but my mind went to tubas, I was not familiar with euphoniums (euphonia?). I am pretty good at German, but Latin plurals leave me out in the cold.

The pile-up of holidays in my lap-top today is most interesting – Rick is about to celebrate the Fourth of July, Your commenters are recovering from a Thanksgiving turkey dinner and I, located here in Brazil, am wondering what my partner has on his mind for tomorrow, Easter Sunday! The only thing he has mentioned is an afternoon get-together with some of our Brazilian neighbors for tomorrow afternoon, which, because I do not speak Portuguese, I will avoid.

As an old ( 89 my next Birthday) gay man and (unpunlished) author, I am overwhelmed at the comments you are receiving, yes, an author who writes an interesting story can expect pleas to publish faster and write longer chapters, but the HUGE number of comments you are receiving, and the DEPTH of their analyses, lead me to believe you have a very interested and discerning audience – I am also amazed and pleased at your character development. Rita is exactly the type of female who makes me happy that I am gay, and Rick, finally mentioning the money she owes is just beginning to be the worm that turns. I can see Rita and Rick's Father striking sparks when they meet and ride off into the Arizona sunset together – they deserve each other! I feel that Gus is the proper character to buy Cedarcrest as he is the one who would be making the highest income from his touring, and I am a little worried about the potential loss of agility in his right hand – will he be able to reover quickly when the cast finally comes off? Oh so many threads! I am aware that it is many moons since this story was first published and all the threads have been untangled by this time, but I am really enjoying your command of the story and your suspensful writing style.

I foiund it difficult to read Rick's coversation with Mrs Lee's chicken … I was laughing and tearing up at the same time. I feel so sorry for Rick. He is boxed in by his father, by Rita, and by his lonliness. There is literally no one in his life right now, not even a real friend.

With Rita at one shore and Dad at the other, poor Rick is swimming in a sea of (octupuses) octopi? who want to suck the blood out of him.

My Thesaurus comes up with harridan or shrew, a bossy or pushy woman. That may not be quite the description, but it was the first that came to my mind. She is certainly working hard at 'getting ahead', but in the process she would ruin the atmosphere that makes this little corner of the world so desirable. Fortunately our hero sees through her, but he may get caught in the web she is weaving. Qustion: Rick is gay, is it possible that Rita is also, and just meeting her gf out of town to keep her sexuality under cover?

There is a great similaity between the upshot of the rape that took place those years ago and the consequences of defending oneself after being involved in hazing, Too frequently the punishment for hazing falls on the youngster who has done nothing but defend himself. The person in charge, Principal, Judge, or parent, sees only the wounds on the Hazer and not the hidden wounds on the victim when finally the worm turns!

You have stepped beautifully into the mind of a 'prey animal', and made us all move with you. An excellent chapter, a difficult chapter to write, but woderfully done. Mister Will

You have hit the target as far as small towns are concerned … everyone knows everybody elses business and there is always someone, usually a matron at the peak of society, the banker's wife or the local pastor who has set himself up as the judge of the morals of the town. Interesting start and the conversation between two old friends is totally right on the money, your writing makes one feel like they are there. Mister Will

Every young man needs an older brother like Phillip. But not every big brother has about 40 little brothers to educate in man things. It is good that Phillip can do it in an understanding way.