Clancy59

I agree. I didn’t think the palace was ugly. It just isn’t ornate like some are and they used darker bricks. We didn’t leave you from Makrovia! We haven’t seen anything in quite a while and are patiently waiting for an update!

Also, be aware that some parents refuse to admit their child has any sort of disability or shortcoming and any difficulty is the fault of the teacher. I came across this many times in 31+ years in the schools. In some areas, the government will give you support funds if you have a special needs child. I actually had a student in one high school who was ready to graduate and the mother tried to get us to rescind his diploma! We finally figured out that she would lose the extra funds and the use of his babysitting services for his infant sister. He graduated.

Yes, he will be spoiled, but in a good way. At least we know he won’t turn out to be a spoiled bully because his family won’t tolerate that kind of behavior.

Wow. That is certainly a blow. Please know that everyone here is sending strong, loving thoughts for your recovery. It will be hard, but we are all wishing you everything good. Be well!

Wow. That is certainly a blow. Please know that everyone here is sending strong, loving thoughts for your recovery. It will be hard, but we are all wishing you everything good. Be well!

I’m really enjoying this story. I appreciated the reference to Ethan and Aiden (although I had already checked that those were your stories), and I laughed at the mentions of the Liston Winery. Somehow, with your friendship with Carlos, I am not surprised you had the connection in the story.

It sounds like they wrote the job description with one person in mind, and you were not that one person. It happened all the time where I worked and it was well-known. Despite what you said about him, this manager does not sound very competent to me. I think you should start looking more than ‘passively’ for that new employment. It’s tough now, but, as you said, it looks like this is a dead-end for you here.

Oddly enough, profanity is usually the first thing new language learners become fluent in in a new language. I had to gently tell a couple of 2nd graders that the swear words they used when talking excitedly with me about a new book I was introducing them to was inappropriate in school(I was the Librarian). They were horrified (they were Hmong), and apologized profusely. I let it drop, but they were very careful after that! It was just what they were hearing at home, so they thought it was OK.

Tony may have to take back his rule about a 100 chicken limit, if that’s the case! Are the boys planning on finding a weekend Farmer’s Market? That would be a good outlet for the eggs and butter.

Yes. For some reason, I had the idea Charlie was closer to the boys’ age and worked on cars as a hobby, not an older man who was a professional mechanic.

I was confused, also.

Great ending. You tied things together nicely. Now we want Mamma G’s story!

I ‘saw’ MY husband more than 25 years before I ever met him! I knew what he would look like and what his personality was. When my friend introduced me to her husband’s boss, who also happened to be her cousin, I recognized him immediately. Figure THAT one out!

To help pay for the horses and keep the carriage in good shape, besides the parades, they could sell weekly carriage rides and/or rent out for weddings, prom, special events, etc. It would keep the horses in practice and in shape.

I think Doris is going to be a major factor in getting rid of Fergus!

Neither was a wolf before. It may not have made itself evident. 😏

You know I wasn’t talking about the peeps!

The parents will find out. How they will react is the question. Dad sounds like he may not be too open to the situation. He’s one out of four. What about the other three?

Oh! Phew! You had me there for a while! 😲

I was rereading some of the commentary people left. There are some very insightful people here! We really seem to enjoy dissecting the psychological aspects of these stories. 😉 I had another thought about the apron. The apron also acknowledges Lee’s inherent talent at cooking, something he had no idea he could do before. He took to inspirational cooking like a duck takes to water! With a bare minimum of instruction, he knew instinctively how to prepare a variety of dishes, adding various ingredients together in ways he had no idea went together. He added spices in new ways to add flavor and interest to the dish. The campers all raved about his efforts, some even taking additional helpings (there is no greater compliment to a cook). Earning the money from his efforts was a bonus that shocked him. At first, he added the money to the funds he ‘owed’ Eddie. Later, he planned out his budget (he divided his monies into $120 packets to pay for his cabin rent), starting to take responsibility for his own life. Now, he has had the experience of looking for employment without sufficient references. Hopefully, this, with the encouragement of Avery and others from the camp, will enable Greg to get Lee into a GED program and, maybe, even a culinary arts program at a local community college. Greg just needs to get him over this initial hump and Lee will thrive under the auspices of the camp and the campers. Harlan even got Corbin involved (😉😉)

Lee is going through a serious emotional crisis right now. The right thing to do is to agree at the moment. If Greg doesn’t, he could risk undoing everything they have accomplished with him back over the past several weeks, and especially the past several days. He’s not telling Lee he isn’t worthy. Greg made sure Lee got his very precious apron back. That told Lee he is considered important to them. They have to tread very carefully, because Lee is in a very fragile state right now. He believes he is giving Avery up for his own good. He is giving him a chance for a better life with parents who love him. Lee doesn’t see himself as deserving of love. He thinks that everything he touches gets destroyed. He thinks that by desiring the Oxy and Avery getting it for him, it was his fault Avery almost died (especially after Greg’s reaction to him during the crisis). So he is trying to protect someone/something he loves by sending him/it away before he causes irreparable harm. It’s almost as if they have to start from scratch. At least, there is now a foundation for them to work with. It’s cracked, because Lee doesn’t trust himself, but he does trust Greg and the others at the camp, but it is there. They need to brace that foundation and start building up from there to give him the confidence he had that allowed him to stand up to, and turn away from, Eddie. Step one is that apron. The position of Camp Cook is important to Lee. It is a position of responsibility that no one else has ever trusted him with before. That apron is a symbol of that trust. That’s why it is so important to him. Avery will return. Just give them a little time. Even a week will be enough to let things start to settle and let Lee start to accept things and see that people still trust him. Now he has to build that trust in himself. Greg will know when it’s the right time for Avery to return.

I’m sorry to hear you’re hitting a rough patch. I hope your friends are on the mend soon. I think I read this a couple of years ago, but like your other stories, it is a fun read. Thank you for the addition to the catalog. Keep well. I hope you do well with this storm (we are getting 4-8” depending on location over 36 hours). Remember, Spring is just a month away! ❄️🌷

Remind him we almost lost Brad!

Yeah, but the people in CO know how to handle this kind of weather and driving. The people in Texas are WAY out of their scope with all of this.

Hey! At least we get updates twice a day, not just now and then like some authors!