Will Hawkins

Unusual that a pricipal character, one that is well defined in the dialog with themselves dies in the Prologue. What now, a ghost story?

With all the dialog in sign language in this story, I was curious, so I did some research on it. The language that is used in USA to communicate with the deaf is called American Sign Language (ASL). At first I thought, oh, great, now people in differen countries can learn sign language and be able to communicate with one another. No such luck! ASL is different (uses different signs) from sign languages in other countries. Even different English-speaking countries. Sign language in Australia is different from sign language in, for example New Zealand. You would think that whoever invented sign language would use the same sign in every country for the same idea, like 'mother', 'food', 'love'. But no, those words which are different in spoken languages, have differet signs as well… very dumb! A number of years ago I had a friend who was very popular among us world travelers – he was Catholic and we found that nearly any country we were traveling in, he could always walk into the nearest Catholic church and find someone with whom he could communicate – both he and the local priest could communicate in Latin! It is too bad that ability is denied even to signers.

I don't think Devon has a problem with the naked boy, but he does not need any rumors started about, why is a naked boy running around your house? Mister Will

I am still confused by the total lack of text in the Comments. I will sign with my email number to see if I can get an answer there. misterwill2@live.com

Since the upgreade on my computer (MacBook) in the Comments section at the end of each chapter, no messages appear. The space is there along with the name of the person making the comment, but the area below that is blank – no text of the Comment at all. Yes, I do read comments just out of curiosity and interest in what other readers may want to say about the chapter, but I am frustrated by the missing text. This has only occured after the upgrade. Mister Will

Of course, at my advanced age (Birth year: 1932) my hair is completely white, not a great change as I was a bright blond as a youngster, but what I celebrate is that it is still there. There are some things that have faded, but we won't discuss those! Mister Will

you must bath bathe immediately – same thing as in the last chapter. noun and verb mixup.

I guess we need to bath bathe again. Bath is a noun, bathe is a verb, this is the place to use the verb form.

It is truly a miracle that a M/M or a W/W mariage is becoming common enough in today's life styles that nothing is made of it – it is hardly noticed. In my own youth (over 80 years ago) my Father's sister, a woman who never married, was living with another woman and to me as a child, Aunt Melrose and Aunt Jean (yes, I considered the both of them, Aunts) living together was nothing of any note, I loved them both and I believe both of them loved me. End of tale! Mister Will

M/M mariage is becoming known in Blethos, and while not accepted wholeheartedly, is a part of life in that kingdom. That Seth and Erik are considering adopting a child (children) is a great sign of progress for a central European country.

OK, The old troll is rearing his head – watch out for your toes. The first sentence in this chapter: 'Things with Seth and I…' With is a preposition and requires an object, "Things with Seth and me." is correct. The pronoun 'me' is in the objective case.

This is only my second time reading this story, but I feel there will be many more. You are truy a creative author and a great technician. It is such a pleasure for an old ogre like me to read a story where I am not frustrated several times in each chapter by errors in English. Your story, however, is a real pleasure, I have been tempted to nip at your toes very infrequently. Mister Will (the old ogre)

As a new reader in this series, I found some of the terms confusing, but the concept of attending a birthing was well handled and made more and more sense as I read on.

It seems to this Yank that the only difference in prejudice in America and Australia is the color of the victims. We are prejudiced against Blacks and our Aussie friends have trouble accepting Browns. Mister Will

Many of us Philisteens Yanks forget that Christmas in Australia is in the middle of the warmest (and often the dryest) days of the year so with school holidays then as well, it is an excelent time to go to the beach. I would guess that when children return to the classroom near the first of the year, that there are a number of sunburned butts. At least the kids are not forced into their school uniforms just after Christmas. Mister Will

Just out of curiosity and well, because of my age, I watched a rendering of Glen Miller's orchestra playing 'In the Mood' while reading this chapter. I am usually not affected by nostalgic music, but I did find myself tearing-up while that clip was playing. It transported me back in time to my younger days, thanks for mentioning the genre. Mister Will

So Justin is serving topless for doctor's wives, It seems to me that there are some gay groups that would appreciate a topless waiter also!!! I know that because the young men we have working around the house who strip off their shirts during the heat of the day, that sometimes even an old man like me will take in the view and I am sure that none of the Brazilians we have working here meet Justin's criterea, though it is a habit for Brazilians to slip off their shoes when they enter a house and bare feet are just my thing! Mister Will

I am interested in how you are able to work real world events into your story – it adds a lot of intrest to the tale. Keep up the great work. Mister Will

TSTL: too stupid to live?

This is a first for me. I am aware that you are a (Proctor/Executive/Administrator?) for GA, but I have not read any stories written by you before. Looking forward to a new experience. Mister Will

It is my understanding that the Russians constructed their wooden ships from pine rather than the oak that the British used, trading the strength of oak for the availability and economy of pine even though it shattered into splinters at a cannon shot and required frequent replacement because of its sensitivity to marine worms. I feel that I should feel a great deal more secure behind a hull of good English oak rather then Continental pine. In either case I can have nothing but admiration for British topmen running barefoot out along spars coated with ice. In this era, my reading leads me to believe that even the 'deck apes' of the Portuguese navy ran barefoot about the decks 'because the officers of the government of Brazil required quiet for their negotiations'. I know that, as a Yankee currently living in Brazil, it is difficult to get shoes on me as well! Even as an older man (88), I find the Brazilian habit of wearing flip-flops only to go into the village a very easy habit to get into. Mister Will

A wolf is a pack animal. By keeping Jimmy out of the pack, Fergus is straining his wolfness (if that is a real word!). Let us hope that he does not break from the strain. Mister Will

Right you are – this is one case where you caught the 'old troll' with his syntax down – good show.

Solus Magus, you obviously are not familiar with English as a 'milk language', what is your ethnic bacground?

the command to order a horse to stop is WHOA. This is the second time I have started to read this series so I hope I can keep the old troll under controllong enough to tellyou that 'a youngster discovering magic within himself' is a super story line. Just get that editor going and you will have a super tale. Mister Will