Will Hawkins

As an OLD (85) Seattle resident, I was enthralled with your description of that city (and its neighbor, Tacoma) in your first chapter. I do not live there anymore as I have retired to Brazil but even to hear the names of the towns mentioned is a pleasure. The only thing I wonder about your story is the very young ages of both of the characters. Is there some reason for that?

Well, now some of the alternative side to the marriage is coming to light. It seems there is a difference in intent on both sides of the marriage, and Alex/Aron is going to be more confused than ever before. As a straight person in a gay body has he never experience the fickleness of gay men before? It seems that all men step outside the bounds of conventionality at times - perhaps more frequently than the opposites in sexual inclination realize. Do straight men wander - do gay men wander? The answer to that question is probably yes, yes! The relationship between the married couple is going to be most interesting! I am constantly in awe of your ability, as a female, to get inside the minds of straight and gay men.

I am especially enthralled with the concept of a 'straight' man waking up in the body of a committed gay as well as being 'married' to him. You have chosen a story pattern which might make some other straight men think about what it would be like to walk on the other side of the river (a rough translation of a German expression for being gay). I have been accused of being bi so to go fully either way would be a new experience to me. It is fascinating to read a work by an author experimenting with the internal expression of the opposite inclinations. Keep up the great work as you certainly have a fascinated audience. The fact that you have a Beta reader and/or an editor that is doing good work makes the reading for a personality as fussy as am I about the use of good English in published works an even greater pleasure. MrWill

Nick is displaying all the symptoms of severe alcohol poisoning. The quick tests that Richard, as a policeman he would be familiar with the symptoms of alcohol poisoning, performed on Nick when he was carried into the house established his condition. It is fortunate that he was able to barf some of the alcohol he had consumed without choking and eventual asphyxiation. The barfing unfortunately also caused extreme dehydration which in itself can result in death. Drinking quantities of water is a good idea, but water alone does not replace the electrolytes the barfing strips out of the system - that requires a drink with added electrolytes. I understand that some sports drinks are suitable. Gatorade is one brand that is readily available. The word 'pissed' in English English means drunk, in American English it means angry.

Drugs and alcohol are. in my mind, never a solution to problems in life, they can temporarily take you out of your depression, anger or whatever, but there is always the 'coming down'. the hangover or the reaction at the end of the road. The love and care of friends or family is one solution, but the council of a professional is the ultimate one. The human brain has wonderous recuperative powers if it is allowed to do its work. I find your writing ability to be a marvel. You can get inside the psyche of your characters with just a few pieces of dialog or introspection. Thank you for your efforts, especially for working on the wrap-up of this complex tale.

Liberal sex and drugs may be the rock band lifestyle, but it does not make for firm lifetime relationships. Your writing style conveys this angst well. How often we hear of talented young people being crushed under that load? Excellent work, I am keeping my fingers crossed, or holding my thumbs, depending on your national background, for everything to work out, but I know there will be more angst before that happens.

'Fag hag' and 'beard' are two terms that are applied in a derogatory fashion to females who date gay men. I am uncomfortable with both terms, I feel it should be possible for a girl and boy to attend a social occasion just because they enjoy one another's company. But then, I am a great deal more liberal than many people. I even object to the term 'wife beater' when it is applied to the thin white underwear form of a sleeveless shirt worn by laborers in hot climates.

gooseprickles - goosebumps NOTE: this is an equivalent based on several responses and not upon exact equivalency. Gooseflesh is another possibility. I was unable to find a direct reference to gooseprickles in any online source. As far as the five -year sentence for rape is concerned; Craig will quickly discover that all is not sweetness and light in prison. He would be well advised to pick out the biggest and ugliest fellow prisoner and cultivate an intimate relationship, otherwise, every closeted homophobe will want to attack him and the other half will be standing in line to commit rape. He is fortunate in one respect, that his victim was not a child. Not many child rapists live long enough to serve out their entire sentence.

From time to time a translation of British to American will appear here: pants - underwear brum - Birmingham accent can also mean gay

Beetroot - the part of a beet that grows in the ground. In America just called beets. I have known Christmas dinner was a big occasion in Britain as well as in the US, but I did not know they had turkey as well, I had been led to believe that roast goose was the big bird for a British Christmas. My, my, what you do learn by reading GA stories written by other than US authors. Just as a point of interest, 200 or so years ago when the newly founded American Republic was choosing such things as the national bird, Ben Franklin proposed the wild turkey. It was the Bald Eagle that won out in the long run however as it is widespread over much of North America from Northern Mexico to northern, Canada and Alaska, whereas the wild turkey is common only from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic shore.

Jaro: if this happens again, try pressing cmd Z. Sometimes that works to restore lost text, at least it does on my MacBook. As far as the ages of the boys are concerned: at 15 or 16 every relationship is so new and so overwhelming I think it is a miracle that teens live through them. Respect for the emotional commitment of another is a technique that takes many years of maturity to create.

POSH is an acronym for 'Port Out Starboard Home' and was used for British passengers who were taking the 'Grand Tour', a shipboard cruise around the ports of the Mediterranean Sea. Because the British passengers were unaccustomed to the heat of the Mediterranean area. and because the British upper class could afford to pay extra for the service, they were assigned cabins on the shady side of the vessel and the acronym P.O.S.H. was written on their tickets. It came to be used (without the periods) to represent the finest accommodations in many other contexts. Foster's A brand name of beer originally brewed in Australia, but now available worldwide. At one time it had the reputation of being a rather upscale beer. snogging equivalent to heavy petting in America. In other words non-penetrative sex.

Chip - French Fry. The American term potato chip meaning a thin slice of potato fried in oil in British is 'crisp', so 'fish and chips' translated into American would be like 'fish sticks and French fries'. I am drooling already - I must be the only person in the world who does not hate fish sticks. I know they are not really very good for you, but I love them!

My confidence in you, Mann, as an author was well founded. You have worked out the triangle beautifully and creatively. I am in awe at how a writer who claims to be so new to MM writing can be so perfect at it. I am going to make sure to follow other stories you write, not from a sense of loyalty, but for my own pleasure. You did good, Bud!

Unnamed continents colored in black and blue painted the landscape of my body. This line is an example of the caliber of the writing in this story that is keeping me enthralled. This line sings. Clay is so fortunate - I know it sounds strange to say that about a man who is so injured and in pain as is he, but the sense of the statement is this - he has two men who love him, one in the sense of a gay lover and the other in the sense of a brother, but both love him deeply. Now the author has to work out how such a strange three-sided affection can exist. If anyone can work this out, I feel you can Mann, even though you have only one chapter in which to do it.

I feel that this was a difficult chapter for you to write, Mann, but you did a wonderful job of it. The hidden homosexuality of the rapist is expressed so well as is the tension between Eric and Steve. It is difficult between them, both in their way love LM and the green-eyed monster of jealousy is standing between them. Great writing through a difficult chapter.

I notice that you are working with Cia on this story. That is one of the best things you can do. Is Cia acting as an editor or as a Beta reader? Someone is doing a great job as your chapters read well.

That the Canine is 'tied' to the fox is such a wonderful end to the chapter. Congratulations on your sesitive writing.

Lounge suite - Usually consists of a two-cushion Davenport and two upholstered side chairs. Additional tables required - two end tables and a coffee table, and lamps.

letting agents - Rental Agents Note, the expression 'close to close of business hours' may be confusing as the two words spelled 'close' are pronounced differently and have different meanings. The first 'close' means 'nearly' and is pronounced (kloss), with an 'ess' sound and the other 'close' means 'ending' and is pronounced (kloz) with a zee sound.

mud map - A simplified diagram or sketch of a route, containing only the essential features sealed road - A road with a hard, smooth surface of tarmac, concrete, etc. powerpoint - A socket in a wall for connecting a device to an electricity supply leech well -a covered, porous-walled chamber that allows water to slowly soak into the ground (that is, percolate), dissipating into the groundwater.

Gumboots - galoshes

face flannel - washcloth

chook - Chicken, perhaps a baby chick.

I am grumping a little about the expression you use 'Over and Out'. That is never heard in voice radio communication. When a conversation between a base station and a distant location is finished, the base station will just say "Out" and that ends the conversation. "Over" is used ONLY when you are expecting an answer to a communication.