Wayne Gray

Thank you, Parker. This was a place designed with healing in mind. There's more needed, and more coming for all of them. But, there are more trials too. Stick with me.

Thanks, molly. I'm so glad you're along for this ride once again. 🙂

That's a great summation. I particularly like "... Mason got trucked." 😄 Thanks for reading and commenting, Dave!

I'm glad I could help, leeoeder. 🙂 Thanks for reading.

Thanks, droughtquake. 🙂 Elias... I spent a long time tinkering with his character and scenes. I wanted people to feel what he did, how wounded and hurt he has been. So that moment, when Elias was able to trust Orson, so that it would mean something. And you're right - it's not just about Elias. There's a lot of happiness going on in this one. It is still my favorite chapter that I've ever written, in any story.

Misfit might be one word. A lot of these people don't fit in anywhere else, but they've found a little place to be where that doesn't matter anymore. I'd love to find a place like this. 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting!

June 08 (Friday, 8:00 a.m.) Two more days passed at the campground and plans continued for Mason's party. Though at the moment, Mason, Greg, and Clay were all around the patio table. Jeremy had gone to work in town and would return that evening, however, Orson was nowhere to be seen. His absence didn't go unnoticed. "Guys, have you seen Orson?" Clay asked as he stopped by the patio table. "Has he not come out of his cabin today?" Greg and Mason looked at one another. Greg shrugged. "

Ohhhh, lookie here. A nice, erotic Halloween tale. Nice job, tim. I dig it! 😄

Hi, Jeffrey. Thank you for the comment. I'm so happy to hear that you're enjoying the story. 🙂 All of those things you mentioned are my favorite things to write - characterization and dialogue are my bread and butter. There's more to come. The next chapter is one of the longest I've ever written, and there's a lot going on in it.

It's a lovely remembrance, tim. Thank you for it.

Thanks, molly. It is hard to accept help. We don't want to be burdens on those we love. But, it's key to remember that caring and helping others makes some feel complete. Allowing ourselves to lean when we must helps us, and those who thrive on showing just how much they love us.

And you're reading the comments? molly... you know better. 😛

You're absolutely right. There's a huge adjustment to come. There are exercises specific to amputees that many do to get used to a prosthetic, and those are a way for someone to gain function with the devices. Even if Orson strapped on a leg today, he'd probably not do well with it. He needs strengthening and time with it. But, he's determined. So we'll see where he ends up. Thanks for the comment, Dave!

We all need help sometimes. The way to balance things is to give it to others when we're able. If we do that, then things level off, and all is good. Thanks for reading and commenting, Fae

Thanks, Chris. Jeremy and Mason get closer, while Clay is learning to accept things. And then Orson is still having trouble with acceptance himself. As for Elias, any of those kids in Jeremy's program could probably use love and attention. Though, Elias seems to have trouble accepting even something as basic as touch. We'll see.

Thanks for commenting, droughtquake. And... yeah. He's trying to be positive, and forced himself to push his new limits a bit. A person will never know what they can or can't do unless they try. There's an undercurrent of stubborn determination under Orson's handling of his situation. He wants very much to be his own man, and to just be capable. For most of us that's a given, and we just go through life doing all the things we must to live and survive. But, this is a new thing for him. He needs help. Greg and Clay offered to help him, but he finds that very hard to accept. The guys would have been happy to have walked him down to the river, and Mason would have been glad to trim back the briars so he could get down the path without any trouble. But, he didn't want special treatment. He just wanted to do it. More's coming. 🙂

Yeah, he's trying but it's difficult. Orson's a very kind, courageous guy. He's going to be concerned for Elias, or for anybody who might need help. We'll see how that meeting goes next chapter. 🙂 Clay is trying. Again, he's imperfect... but he's trying. Ah, that party. It's coming. The next chapter is loooooong (for me at least). There's a lot going on in it. Thanks for commenting, Danilo!

June 06 (Wednesday, 6:00 a.m.) Mason's alarm started to chime on his phone and the teenager reached across Jeremy to silence it. Jeremy moved a little and made a contented, sleepy noise. Mason smiled, rubbing his face against the back of Jeremy's neck. 'Coffee and soap.' Mason smiled. 'And a little whiskey.' His smile became a smirk. Chill bumps rose on Jeremy's neck, and he shivered. He rode the line between waking and sleep, and Mason saw Jeremy's jaw move as he smiled. Mason's

Fae, it's in the end note of chapter 13. 🙂 If you can't get to the link let me know.

Thanks, Tom. I'm just impatient. 😄

You'll run into a link to some art she did. Pretty cute too. 🙂

Thanks, molly. Yes, he has his demons, and his hurt runs deep. Emotional healing is often something that requires us to drag things out into the light. He did, and luckily Mason was the one he poured himself out to. Of course, we've also got Orson, and even Clay. They've got a bit to go as well.

Yes. As long as it was called "The Gay Plague" then everything was fine, right? That was essentially Reagan's stance on it here in the US. Thanks for your personal history here, Fae. It's important people know.

Wow. Thank you for the comments and for the reminder of our history. This is where a lot of that fear originates. I grew up hearing of AIDS, and that it was a death sentence for anyone who contracted it. There are still some who have never gotten past that fear. One reason for writing this story is I wanted to show what that intolerance and ignorance does to good folks. Even otherwise decent people will turn into enemies if they aren't taught, or able to learn better.

Thanks for the comment, Tom. Thanks to those scars these folks know better than anybody the value of "refuge". I'm excited to finally be getting to the real purpose of the camp. It has been a bit of a long road to get here, but we're getting closer to seeing Greg's dream actualized, and "real".