Will Hawkins

The quotation is from Bill Gates. I loved the line about 'naked studs', that is typical of your writing, Carlos, you have a twisted, fantastic, but twisted sense of humor. I look for these little 'throw away' lines in each chapter, just like your Easter eggs...

Security regulations brought on by National and International terrorism have been the ruin of life for tourists the world over. I have never been to New York City, but many of the nation's tourist spots I have visited have been so surrounded by security as to ruin a visit. Anderson Cooper is one of my favorite CNN hosts, They always seem to assign him to the disaster bits, probably because he does sympathy so well. he can sound sincere in his sadness.

I have traveled to many parts of the US, mostly the South, West Coast, and East Central but New England is one area I missed, thanks, Carlos, for having me along on the guy's trips. You do a great job on the descriptions and when you mention a specific location I will often google it just to enjoy in living color what your character described in the story. It's almost like being along on the ride.

I was a little surprised at the homophobic comments by the girl. I know not any more riders are gay than any other group, but I had assumed they were more accepting of differences between people. Typical great chapter, Carlos.

I get so involved with your story, Carlos, that when talking to friends I often feel, "Oh, did you hear what CJ did last week?" should be part of my conversation with them. The characters about which you write are just another set of my friends. Congratulations on your authorship. I know Brad will get the best possible care, but I cannot help but feel sorry for such a vital young man so quickly to be changed into a cripple. War is indeed HELL.

Did I detect an egg of using Liz's frozen ova fertilized by one of our boys as a way to make a baby for them? Depending on which one contributes the sperm, I might be worried. It should not be something left up to chance that is by both being contributors. Wasn't Liz related to one of them? That might be a brother or cousin's sperm that fertilizes Liz's egg -- not good, too close a relative. CJ only, please. But I am sure you thought of this, Carlos.

For non-New Yorkers, schmeer can be either creme cheese or cottage cheese, but in either case, it is a spread for a bagel which, while frequently baked in the shape of a ring can also be flat.

"The boys are back", and so am I. No, I am not commenting uniquely on every chapter, but if you watch the little "thumb's up" symbol in the lower-right-hand corner of the comments posted by other readers, you will see my name frequently as one of the commenters, I read the comments by others and click on the "thumb's up" symbol just to let you know, Carlos, that I was here. Right now I have to be very careful about making a 'political' comment because I get over-excited, in a negative way, about the things going on with my government and, if I expressed my true and complete opinion, I would be fined by GA every chapter. The comments I might make about the story\series and your writing skill, Carlos, would be so repetitive as to be boring. Over the years since you started posting chapters to the CJ Series, I have seen your skills as a writer and your creativity as a story-teller improve significantly -- your work has shown real progress throughout each new book and, while it has always been a pleasure to read, has developed greatly over the years Congratulations and know that, while you have many readers, Carlos, you also have one less verbal one in me who appreciates your work tremendously. Even the very occasional grammatical error that creeps into a story, I let pass un-commented upon as I am so fascinated by the story you are telling and the progress your characters are making as they mature. All I can say in summary is to express a slight disappointment that CJ is NOT one of the candidates running in this year's Presidential elections as a replacement for the orange balloon.

I especially enjoyed this chapter as I used to live in San Francisco and have visited most of the places you tell us about; the arch that marks the entrance to Chinatown, The 'Painted Ladies', Lombard Street, Golden Gate bridge and viewpoint. Indeed almost everything except the balloon ride and the Napa wineries. It was a real trek down memory lane for me, and so beautifully handled.

The wedding was perfect, so appropriate for the characters, even the idea of shorts and tennies as the official costume, using the scarf for the ring bearer's cushion and the location could not be truer to the storyline. I realize the Secret Service has to do their assigned job in protecting the Presidents, both present and past, but it is a shame that the world is such that this protection has to be. It seems, however, that every ruler in the world is subject to similar threats. If I remember correctly the first months of the Trump administration were very much 'rule by executive order' and unmusical chairs as far as his staff and cabinet were concerned. An unfortunate interval for the progress of the country, both domestically and internationally. His 'You're fired' system of business bled over into his method of government. I am in a continuing state of dismay even to this date, to find that the polls still report that about 1\3 of the voters in my country are in his support camp. I am confident that you will take care of the two continuing problems of "the douchebag" and a soldier with PTSD and alcoholism, Carlos. But I am also sure you will do so in your normal unusual way. I continue to have great confidence in your ability and creativity.

Really! A $120,000 car with a range of 300 miles on a charge and gull-wing doors that cannot be opened in a parking lot, even when they operate properly? That does not seem like too good a wedding present for up and coming millennials, but then I a not the author and my opinion doesn't count for shit.

At my age, I have seen all the members of my family walk that last lonely mile. Grandparents, of course, two aunts, mother father, stepmother, wife, sister, brother, nephews, two boyfriends... the list goes on and on. I am now the last remaining member of my family. During all that time, I have missed each one, but a loss is not the end of life as long as they live in memory. ; :

The description of the general shape of this house reminds me very much of the "shotgun houses" which are common in New Orleans and the Sunset District of San Francisco. Both styles having multiple stories and generally one room in width, with little, if any surrounding yard area, just a patch of garden in front and another in the rear. They make me think of the body of a man, narrow with a patch of fur across the chest and another in the genital area. Though those in San Francisco are not anywhere near as old as the Washington homes.

Whoops, my bad. Queen Elizabeth II is NOT in her 80s as I previously stated, she is 93!

I am normally an old grump, but a simple statement like "Liz did not wake up the next day." can affect me deeply. That is beautiful authorship, Carlos. it is text like that which mark you as a true genius. Further, I know you attributed the quotation to Hitler, but the text was pure Trump! A wonderful way to connect the past with the present. This is the second time you have done something like this... I remember your quotation about refugees from Syria during the confrontation with the Trump supporter which was, in reality, a quotation from the eighteenth? nineteenth? century, and the way in which it entrapped him in his own rhetoric.

In order to dispell some of the romance of this chapter and refresh an old man's memory, I just listened to Tromp's Inaugural address again, mentally comparing it to the history of his presidency for that day to today. I do not need to say how my stomach turned over.

I guess it is a good thing that POTUS was never a Marine as I have seen him frequently, even when in civilian clothes, saluting a Marine like the guard posted at his helicopter. I guess also that the rules of military etiquette are different for him, as he is the Commander in Chief, he can do anything he wants to, including saluting when out of uniform. I will not comment on this election except to say that I am at a loss to understand the American electorate that would choose a man like Trump as their international representative, but I will not comment any more than that except to say that I echo several of the comments made above. I persist in being an optimist about the next election cycle. Let us pray that the electorate regains their sensibility.

This is the second time I have read the CJ series and I am enjoying it just as much this time as I did the first. I certainly agree with you, Carlos, about being bored with all the stories of teenage angst that are posted on GA. Some of that, especially when worked into a storyline is OK but a constant diet of it is just as boring as Creme of Wheat every morning for breakfast. The politics you toss in adds fresh air even though I am in a state of mourning at the result of the election that CJ has to face. But the place to discuss that is The Pit. From the viewpoint of advanced age, I can enjoy CJ's progress as he matures. The scared little kid we saw kicked out of his home by a homophobic father is maturing into a 'take charge' young man and I am greatly enjoying the process. Do keep up your excellent work, Carlos. I am with you every step of the way.

Right now I am subject to three dogs. One is very old and sleeps most of the day, another is an overgrown pup, is not totally housebroken and chews everything -- including my flip-flops, the third is a perfect lady and really a lover, except when she is in estrus and has to be isolated for a week so we don't end up with more puppies. Every dog has a different personality, so the perfect pet is a searching process.

Question for you Carlos, In the banner that appears at the beginning of each chapter of your story, there appears the word "Walls", a photograph of the school building and your name. In addition, way over at the right-hand end, there is some sort of a symbol. It consists of a strong vertical bar and two other smaller symbols like punctuation marks. What is the meaning of that symbol or what does it have to do with the story? Please clarify.

I recently made a comment here in which I referenced 'the Queen's English.' I would like to withdraw that reference, please. I just listened to a portion of a BBC broadcast in which Prince William and his wife were interviewed by a commentator. There was hardly a word of the answers the Royals gave to the questions they were asked that I was able to understand. I don't know whether all upper-class British speech is so difficult to understand, but I have heard conversations in German, a language I have not studied since High School, which I was better able to understand than William's. The problem was not word selection or sentence structure that made it impossible for me to understand, it was the upper-class accent with which they spoke. It was completely incomprehensible to me. I understand that all the Royals, including the Queen, speak with the same accent. I pity the stenographer that is charged with getting the testimony in a court trial down on paper correctly. Hell, Australians are easier to understand and they are famous for using strange word patterns.

One of the disadvantages of reading these chapters later is that all the comments have stolen my opinions. All I can do is say time after time, that you are a great writer, Carlos, and I am enjoying my reading very much. You are the one bright spot in my day as I am isolated here in the outback of the Brazilian Northeast, 90 clicks from Salvador. It is especially important to have a bright spot like you as this year the droughts here, occurring annually over a period since 2012 has broken and it seems to rain, either light or hard, nearly every day. The weeds in the yard love it -- I have never seen things so green. Fortunately, I am living in the Mata Atlantica - the Atlantic Forest -- not the Brazilian Rain forest that starts several tens of miles further inland, but the dry lake in front of the house ain't dry no more. Next month crocodiles? Hopefully not!!!

Hey! I'm still here and still enjoying each new chapter, I'm just not making so many comments. The last comment I made was upsetting to Carlos and I did not intend it to be so. It was meant as a compliment to you Carlos and to your editorial aides. Your chapters are well put together, and well edited. I am, of course, interested in the progress CJ is making politically and look forward to following his career in Washington. He certainly has friends in high places! Please don't be angry with the old man who sometimes states his opinions awkwardly. I think you are a great author and appreciate all the work you do in putting a story together as well as the creativity you demonstrate.

This comment is going to essentially be a repeat of one I made earlier, but the concept bears repeating. The English you use in your stories is pristine whether it is by choices made by the author or the editors. It is a real pleasure to read. I have absolutely no problem with the occasional use of an irregular word like 'prolly' or "thunk" because people, especially young people actually do speak that way and the usage calls the reader's attention to the fact that it is a young person speaking. Homophones, on the other hand, interrupt the flow of the narrative and should be avoided. I realize that simple statement raises a great deal of trouble as even if one knows that a certain expression is a homophone it is frequently skipped over by even a most critical editor's eye, and the correct word must be dredged out of memory where it may have been deeply buried. We should all use the Queen's English, but when she has had such a long rain\rein\reign strange usages have a tendency to creep into use. LOL.

The four-post bed which is mentioned in this chapter - now more frequently known as a 'four-poster' - is still manufactured and sold today, usually in more tropical areas. The cover over the bed is known as a 'tester' and the heavy drapes used for warmth in the older era of unheated rooms are now most commonly made of mosquito netting