Mancunian

This is why I and other readers are liking this story. You are reflecting real-life and real-life issues in a fictional story and making the story feel real.

I like the fact that you writing about real-life issues, that is a big part of the attraction to the story, and you appear to be dealing with them in a real-life way which I like.

You have started the story well, in my opinion, although you consider it long, I think this chapter serves well as a prologue to the story. Basing a character, or some of their traits, on real people often helps to bring the character to life, you have done that well. Judging by the other comments left, you have attracted a readership that wants to read this story to its conclusion.

Bryan and Caleb have a good supportive relationship, one that has room for brotherly banter and is good to see. Bryan needs to figure out what he wants his relationship to be with Kenny, his actions contradict his words. Although Bryan acknowledges that his relationship with Kenny is more than friendship he avoids saying what their relationship is, for someone as sensitive as Kenny that could ruin the friendship that Bryan values. At the very least he needs to speak to Diego to help put things into perspective. All of the time Bryan is suppressing his anxieties and feelings. If he keeps suppressing them and the other issues he has then becomes more serious, as there is a danger that they could affect his emotional and mental well-being in the future, possibly making him a danger to himself. Bryan's curiosity about his biological father is natural. Many children in foster care and those that have been adopted, through no fault of their own, want answers to questions that can only be answered by biological parents. Not all of them get those answers. Nice story development with changes in pace that allows for incidental detail to be added.

There are some good healthy family dynamics at play in this chapter, which is great to see, for any child this is essential to well-balanced development. For Bryan and Caleb, this will be even more important. We haven't seen much yet on how Caleb has been affected by his past, but we are seeing some of how Bryan has been affected. In many respects, Bryan shows all signs of being a perfectly normal physically healthy and mentally well-adjusted teenager. Then other signs show through that are probably just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, they show that Bryan has emotional and mental health issues that do need professional help. I understand that Bryan is against therapy, as most teenagers are, which should prompt Diego to look into what alternative forms of therapy/counselling are available, there may be something out there that they haven't found yet. If there is it may be more acceptable to Bryan, although I do understand that there is no guarantee of this when fickle teenagers are involved. I'm liking this story more as the characters and their storylines develop, it feels real and plausible which is the essence of a good story.

I like the way the story is developing, it has a very real feel to it. Diego is turning out to be a good and loving parent, which just goes to show that DNA doesn't decide who is or is not a good parent. Bryan's character is showing through and shows how events in a child's life can affect them. He can and does maintain some relationships in a positive way, but that doesn't mean that he is capable of maintaining all relationships, each one will be different. He may have trust issues with some people that he meets but he is also showing that he has trust issues within himself, or in other words self-trust. His relationship with Diego appears to be a good healthy one between a father and his son. Their ease of conversation and banter shows this well, I particularly liked the father-son banter it felt natural. I get the impression that at this point in his life, Bryan is still struggling to come to terms with his own sexuality, but that doesn't concern me I think he has a good enough relationship with his father and enough self-confidence to fully accept himself in time. What I have noticed is that all of your characters are flawed, this is not meant in a bad way, just the opposite it is good. None of us is perfect we are all flawed, writing your characters with flaws makes them more believable and real, and it enhances the story. I'm looking forward to the following chapters.

That was quite the time jump, I would have liked to know something of what during those nine years, hopefully, we will learn some of it later in the story. Back to where the story is. I'm not surprised that Calvin didn't return, I guessed as much from the general atmosphere of the story in the first chapter. I'm happy that Diego took steps to keep the boys, has he gone for full adoption or is a supported adoption which another form of fostering? Diego has, obviously, built a good productive relationship with the boys, understandably his relationship will be different with each of the boys as is natural in any family. Bryan not liking Steve may be based on some sort of insecurity, if it is that I would consider it natural considering Bryan's past, if it is it will take a lot of support for him to build meaningful relationships in the future. Likewise, his reaction to the news of his Mum's death is understandable, she hasn't been a mother to him or done anything to inspire confidence in her, again this would need a lot of counselling for Bryan to process her passing in a better way as currently, he is not processing it at all. This could cause problems for him in later life. In other respects, Bryan appears to be as normal as any other teenager and has a caring side to his nature which is positive. But this has caused him problems at school, fighting with Dan is understandable, but as we all know fighting in school is unacceptable. Bryan needs to find a way to channel his anger and deal with the 'Dans" of the world in a more constructive way. But to be fair I would want to punch Dan too. We have only read about Caleb with respect to his Mum's death Caleb is dealing with the news in a different way as he appears to have had some feelings for his Mum. This could be because he has fewer memories of her behaviour, or it could be that he witnessed less of it if she concentrated more of her manipulating ways on Bryan. Caleb may have an idealised vision of his Mum which happens with many children who have no relationship with an absent, or intermittent, parent. I don't envy Diego for the hard work that he has taken on with the boys, but I'm sure that there will be many good times and good memories made. This is turning into a very involved but good and interesting story.

Wow. The story builds from the first sentence and grabbed my interest. I've come across a few people that could be described as a 'Calvin', luckily only a small minority are the ones that have used their children to get what they want. That is the type of person who should not be a parent. Diego has shown that he has a heart, he probably cares more about the children than Calvin does. The only redeeming factor that I can see about Calvin at the moment is that he at least has tried to secure safe accommodation with a responsible adult who will care, but he went about it all wrong by going behind Diego's back. I'm not so sure that Calvin will be back in three months or less, I'm not even sure he will be back at all. I hope that Diego finds a way to break the news to the kids in a way that minimises the trauma that the kids will suffer as a result of Calvin's actions. I'm also hoping that Diego can build a solid relationship with the kids, they need someone that they can trust and rely on. If Calvin doesn't return will Diego decide to apply for permanent custody? It may be good for the kids but is it what Diego would be happy and prepared to do? And what effect will it have on him? I'm off now to read the rest of the published chapters, I've a few to catch up on.

Aloha Albert, I hope the weather in your area is improving. I've just got home from the hospital and feeling a bit tired, I'm going to lay down for a couple of hours. I'll catch up with you and the rest of the gang later

I've been gone probably three years too, just because life is busy and I've had less time for pleasure reading. I think I found my way to GA because of Dom Luka, but it could have been because of Mark Arbour. I stumbled on an old work of his, maybe his first and I was led here. I liked the old chatroom. I liked reading stories with characters I could relate to and I liked reading stories with people who had more drama than me in their lives. There is nothing wrong with taking a break from time to time. As you said sometimes life is busy. I had a short break in the four-plus years that I've been a member, although for different reasons. The good thing about returning is knowing that there will be many new stories to catch up on, friends to reconnect with and new friends to be made. I don't know anything about the old chatroom as it didn't exist when I joined, it sounds like it was fun. Maybe there is a case to bring it back, but on the flip side, there may have been good reason for it to be taken down. It would be interesting to hear, and know, more about it.

I've just had a BLT for lunch, I decided to add a slice of mature cheddar to it and my taste buds tell me it was a good decision. Tonight I'm having Chicken Kiev with potato salad and fresh garden salad. I have to settle for cheesecake for dessert as I don't have any cherry and chocolate chip ice cream.

Aloha Albert, and hi to the rest of the gang. I've been up and about for about six hours already, but then I am in a different time zone to most of you.

Maybe his mama needs to put him across her knee for a good spanking.

Why?

I'm not jealous 😐

We've been having some nice calm warm weather and more is forecast.

You are teasing us lol

I'll swap some of my cheesecake for some of your ice-cream

I settled for something light Pork pie Cheese Coleslaw Potato salad and fresh garden salad It made a nice pleasant change to eating a heavy meal

They look really nice, I may have the same for my lunch tomorrow 😛

If you fancy a cycling holiday try these

Mine, I need a hunky bed warmer 😜

I just watched this on YouTube, it's brilliant but I had to laugh

I don't have it very often, but when I do it has to be a meat feast, no pineapple on pizza here lol

I'm good thanks, just enjoying a nice pizza for my lunch 🍕