Mancunian

Everything I wanted to say has already been said, so the only thing I can do is to say ditto to each and every comment. Yet another brilliant chapter, thank you.

It looks like he was and there is still more to discover yet, so who knows what will come out. @droughtquake we have to remember that The Major was in conflict situations where you get to rely on those around you and become like a close knit family, maybe that is where he learnt to accept without judgement.

When I was in Vancouver recently I noticed that there was very little by way of British cuisine there, strange when you think that it got it's name from the amount of British who colonised and settled there. So it's not just in the states that your comment applies. There are many variants on Steak & Kidney pie, those that don't like kidney substitute it with mushrooms or just add more steak and some do like my dad used to do and make the gravy by adding Guinness or Ale to improve the flavour, either is good. There are many recipes to be found on the internet.

Unfortunately a lot of the back-stories will have those tear-jerking moments, but then for some it is the story of how they ended up on the street and homeless. And yes rag pudding and steak and kidney pudding are just variants of the same dish, the main difference being that rag pudding was cooked in the oven wrapped in muslin cloth where the steak and kidney pudding was steamed in a pudding basin. I enjoy both but my favourite is steak and kidney pudding cooked to my dad's recipe (it's cooked in a Guinness gravy) I still have the recipe and cook it reasonably often, it's delicious.

Although it had a sad and tragic start this developed into a wonderfully beautiful story, a re-birth of a man with a future. I'd love to read more when you're ready to write it. Thank you for writing and sharing this with us.

How all of us deal with those times of tragedy in life varies and many of us consider taking that awful step, but we don't. I don't know what makes makes any of us handle those times better or worse than others but however we deal with it there is a common denominator, it's that feeling of desolation. The stranger in the bar, the fellow passenger on the train or even the caring stranger who is our flight attendant can often help us to see things more clearly and that is probably because they aren't invested in our lives like others are and this can give that clearer train of thought. You've described it all well and in a caring way, that shows skill. I'm hoping that the next chapter leads to that, as yet unknown and uncharted future that we all have and hopefully embrace.

You have a way with words which clearly describes feelings and emotions well, I think I need some of those tissues that Erin was handing out.

As we all know the characters of The Boot series all have a back-story, the events that brought to this place. Part 1 of Lost Soul - The Ox, which is part of The Boot World, has now been posted. It gives some background to one of our important characters, I hope that you will all read enjoy and comment on this new story.

It was a cold morning in March. The gardens outside were immaculate, as usual. The air was crisp, the sky was clear and bright, and the sun, low in the sky at this time of the year, was blinding. The early morning signs of frost had melted away on the lawn, the last snowdrops were in bloom, and soon it would be time for the daffodils and tulips to send forth their first shoots. As he left the hospital, he cast his gaze at the surrounding buildings. They looked drab painted in grey with white win

We all like to know the back story to characters, you know their story before they appeared in a main story. Confused? You won't be when you read on, then it will make sense. The Major features in The Boot and The Boot - Three Years On. Here he features in his own story, before The Boot. There is a tissue needed warning! This story has been revised and edited to improve the reader experience, it has not been altered in any other way.

They will most likely to consider what placements are available in the area, for older children most authorities in the UK have small children's homes in the community but very few foster homes. This means that there are options open to them, but tit has been known for them to place children of all ages in accommodation many mile from home and outside of their area. It can be harsh but it happens, I guess the social worker will have to decide and we don't know much about her except that she has a high case load.

Yeah Bill is starting to show his true colours, but wether he gets his comeuppance or not? the jury is still out. Steve and Kate may have enough room, but there are many things to consider and what the local authorities think comes into it too, they like to consider all options and don't always take into account the opinion of others.

@droughtquake that is one of the good things about GA, there are many good authors on here. I often take a break from writing to read some of the current and older stories on here, some make me laugh, others make me cry, but the common denominator is that they are all good.

JJ has his reasons for his actions, all I can say is that there is a story to tell at some point in the next few chapters. As for what happens to him all I can say is that his story will have an effect on the outcome.

It looks like Jack might regret running away from BJ and now could be in just as bad a position as he was at home! What Jack needs is a real home where he can be safe and it looks like Tod needs to be out of there too.

Things had been quiet at The Boot although as is normal some guests had moved on, some had gone to other areas in the hope that their luck would change, a few had managed to obtain better accommodation and new ‘guests’ were always turning up. Among those to gain accommodation were Beccy and Jim, with Beccy being pregnant they were classed as a priority. They had been placed in a council sponsored Bed & Breakfast hostel, this was the first stage to being offered accommodation from one of

That is where I have been lucky and fortunate, I not have been in the situation that homeless people find themselves in. Many people are housed after a fashion but as they do not have a home of their own they are still homeless in the true sense of the word. Those of us who don't have to face that should count our blessings for the things that we take for granted, we can never truly know what homeless people have to face no matter how much we learn.

Stick with for now you're a stronger man you give yourself credit for, with your strength and determination thing will work out given time and I hope that it will be soon. I will be thinking of you and wish you the best of luck.

For all his bravado and stubbornness The Major is a big softie and usually knows when he's been beaten, lol. I think things will pick up for Danny, did you notice his slip at the end of the chapter? As for The Boot, well the next chapter may have some answers for you, other answers will come later. 😉

Unfortunately a common reaction with many young people in the care system is to run from situations that they feel they cannot control, this can cause them to run away from the very help that they need which is what Danny was planning on doing. A lot of it is down to lack of self confidence and respect, these negative feelings can be overcome but they take time in the right environment. As Danny settles down more the 'run' instinct will begin to fade.

Thank you for reading and commenting it's the supportive and constructive comments that keep me going, I enjoy reading them and find that the valuable input helps to create and inspire some of the ideas. My promise to my readers is that I will read and take note of all comments, it is a promise that I intend to keep.

Welcome back @KayDeeMac and thank you for the great comments, as you catch up you will see how it all pans out and how some of the sub-plots are connected. Ooops I hope I haven't said too much, lol.

What Clay did and said was wrong and could be called nasty, it was based on ignorance and a complete lack of knowledge. But that doesn't make him a bad father, it makes him human. He loves his son and is doing what he believes is right, that doesn't make him right it is just more proof that he is human, he is fallible like all of us and sometimes does the wrong thing without realising it but for the right reasons. He has been through a lot in a short space of time so the stress is showing through, like any of us IF we were in a similar situation he has reacted without thinking. He needs time to come round and a friend who can support him while he is going through this. Mason reacted in a normal way given the situation and probably better than most teenagers and my heart goes out to him as he is dealing with a lot too. I hope that their relationship can survive this and is strengthened by it. Jeremy is hurt and the fact that he has an obvious history is assuming the worst so is trying to cut his losses, who wouldn't? Greg is also hurting and needs to deal with that and hope that he can hold on to what he has and that's not going to be easy. Orson is the outsider who is new into this 'family', maybe he will be the one to help them all overcome this mammoth sized hurdle but he has his own problems to deal with too. This all reflects real life so well that it's unreal, I'm hoping for the best as I'm sure others are. I want this 'family' to heal and become closer and hope that that is what happens. I'm looking forward to the next chapter eagerly, nervously and with a lot of hope.

Phew, now I can breath easy, that's the option I was hoping for. Orson has an opportunity to have a life while getting the support he needs as long as he accepts it, sometimes it's not easy to accept help or to even acknowledge that you need it, that's a macho human response that is there for all of us to see on a daily basis. It's going to be interesting to see how this now pans out for everyone. On another note, how is Clay going to accept his son's decision? Mason is trying to be mature and responsible about his decision but will Clay see that? After all he is Mason's father and all fathers worry about their children no matter how old they are or how responsible they try to be. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.

The terror of being a little runaway boy is starting to show through, I'm just worried as to how bad this can get ( I need to remember that this is only a story) as I can only imagine how bad things could be for the real runaways.