Wayne Gray

I'm going to give you a little of the backstory. "Sweetie". A bit of a non-respectful way some of the rougher men referred to Mamma G's server. What most don't know is she REVELS in the name, and took it as her own. Yes, she asked to be called that when Mamma G had asked her. What is even less known ... Sweetie is also the bouncer. A slip of a woman, 5'5", 135 lbs, blonde, beautiful. And she teaches women's self defense at the local colleges in town. There are so many stories wrapped up in that eclectic little crew just begging to be told. And I'll have to get to them. Thanks for the comment, and for reading along.

Thank you, Mike. I like beauty hidden in rough, ugly things. Lee had some harsh edges, and he still does. But within him there's a gem - one Greg could see. One Avery could see too. 🙂

Thank you. "Perfect" is a tremendous word, and I appreciate the sentiment. It was the best I could do in this moment of my progression as a writer. I'm on the cusp of having the skill to show it just a bit better. But ... next time. I'll get better at portraying things elegantly yet completely. Thanks for the comment and for reading. It's appreciated.

Succinctly stated. You're right. The campground did exactly what Greg had always intended. It was a refuge for a Broken Boy, until he could stand. Until he could walk. Until he could run. Thanks for reading, and for the comment.

Both parts you mentioned made me emotional too. Greg's emotions upon opening that box and reading Lee's note were such a complex mess. This young man he'd sheltered and helped, he stepped out into the world with only the skills he'd learned from Greg. He leapt into a void, desperate to prove he could be more than he'd ever been before. Greg understood that. It was a moment that both hurt and gave him such a thrill of pride too. Avery and Lee, right at the end, when it looked as if it'd never happen. Each thought of the other, every day. Each avoided contact for their own reasons. Avery because he harbored guilt over what happened to Lee. Lee because he wanted Avery to have a chance at a normal life (and yes ... guilt over Avery almost dying). But both have grown a lot. Even if Avery hadn't done what he did, Lee would have tried to find him. Some pairings have a gravity that can only be postponed. Such it is with them. Thanks for the comments and for reading, Fae.

Thank you, Kitt. There are some characters who start as a tool to move the plot. And as I'm writing them, sometimes they reach out of the screen, wrap a hand around my throat, and SHAKE ME. Yeah. That's Mamma G. Funny enough, that's Harlan too. Maybe that's why they get on so famously. 😉 She does scream for more, doesn't she? I'll admit, that's damnably tempting.

Loving that question-mark. 🙂 Thanks for the lovely description of the characters. Yes. Flawed, strong in that they are themselves and evolving yet never losing the core of who they are. Avery did take that leap, finally. As long as he didn't, he could always fantasize about what he and Lee could be. Once he did ... there's no going back. I'm glad he found the courage to drive a bit south. Thank you for the great comments and for reading.

Thanks, Chris. Yeah. I do think Lee proved what he set out to prove. Harlan helped, yes. But ... ultimately it was Lee who got the job. He developed and worked at the skills he'd need to do the work, and he's standing up - on his own two feet. Greg hadn't heard from Lee at all until he showed up months later. I know that seems wrong, and I don't know how to explain this but I'll try. Lee genuinely considered himself a burden on Greg and a danger to Avery. It took a long time for him to value himself, and for him to realize that Greg valued him as a person. That Greg loved him. Once he did, he realized he had to return. That he deserved Greg's love. That he deserved the apron. I hope that makes sense. Stump has his moments, and thinking up "Truckerbait" was one of those. 😛 I personally do like the ending. I like that we don't know what will become of Avery and Lee - not exactly. They could be friends, lovers, partners, or anything between. Yes. There are more stories to tell. That's a nice thing.

Hi, Butcher. Yep, you pretty much summed it up. There was so much here in this chapter. A lot happened, and it can feel like too much. But that's life too. Sometimes momentous events are packaged in little packages, and that's really how I feel about this chapter. Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂

Thanks, mayday. I'm glad you enjoyed the story and the ending too. 🙂

20 November (Friday evening) Bill parted the curtains, watching as Avery trudged up the sidewalk. Fridays typically found Avery rushing from school to Camp Refuge where he'd spend the weekend. But not anymore. Letting the curtain fall back into place, Bill looked over his shoulder. "He's here." Anna smiled nervously. "Oh, I hope he likes this." "Yeah, me too." Avery's key slid into the lock, and he opened the door. He stopped to stare at the assortment of gear, cool

This is a good little story. Dialogue is good, and the sex is too. What more do you want? Nice job, Thorn.

A nice short, Thorn. 🙂 Can you send a vibrating boyfriend for my husband and me to use?

Lee is trying to do something good for Avery. Is it, though? I agree with you, that totally cutting him off to "save" him isn't the right way. Greg feels similarly, but he wanted to calm Lee down and let him relax a bit. The personal situation you mentioned was unfortunate. It sounds as if you had done your best at the time. Lee is in a similar headspace, but with the addition of guilt over Avery's reaction to the drug. Lee spent weeks wondering if he'd killed his only friend. That has to do something to a guy. I think you're right. I think they need time to figure things, and to think through the situation free of so much emotion. Could Greg have done better? Certainly, yes he could have. But again, he is just a man and he is trying his best. Thanks for the nice comments and for sharing your own personal insights. I appreciate that.

Thanks, KayDeeMac! That turned into quite the symbol. It's important to Lee, and to Greg too. We'll see it again. 🙂

I'm happy you found your way back to the story, Quixo. 🙂 Thanks for letting me know you're reading and enjoying it. There's more coming.

I love that description: ... lovely gritty story ... I guess it is gritty, isn't it? Thanks for reading and commenting, Ford. 🙂

Now you know how it all happened. There’s a lot going on in this one, and I’m very glad you read it. I do plan to continue this storyline, so it’s good to have it in the back of your mind. Thanks, jaysalmn!

Thanks for the faith. You know I can't leave it there, so keep on reading. Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better, but hopefully brighter days are ahead.

Glad to have you back! Thanks for commenting and reading. Oh ... and let's see how you feel about my writing after the next chapter. 😮 You'll see what I mean!

Thanks! Making people cry ... pretty funny goal to have, eh? lol That's a good scene. I can feel Greg's pain, him twisting the material in his hands, just ... suffering. Yeah. He's hurting. Harlan is who and what he is. While I'm glad you view him a little more favorably, I do know this: Harlan wouldn't give a damn what either of us think of him, and he's just gonna do what he wants to do. 😛

There are indeed some insightful folks commenting on the chapter, and the story overall. It's nice to read. Concerning cooking and Lee ... Lee has a natural talent when it comes to flavors and textures - the combination which we call taste. But he still had to learn technique. I wanted to show that with the omelet scene at the campground with Greg. That natural talent can't really be taught, but technique can. Greg was more than happy to help him master it. With Lee's talent coupled with Greg's training, he quickly surpassed anything Greg could do. Greg is a good cook thanks to his mastery of technique, but Lee? Lee has a creative spark with flavors Greg doesn't. That is what Greg saw in him - the potential to be greater than Greg himself could possibly achieve. I will comment on nothing else you've written, as I don't want to give anything away. 😛 See you next week!

🙂 You know, there are certain themes I love. Primary among those is the fact that nobody is perfect. Yet, there's more to it than that. Imperfections lead to interest. They lead to rough edges. And when multiple imperfections are in close proximity, we could end up with something precious - with those broken pieces fitting together in ways utterly unforeseen. Harlan said it well, back in A Silent Song. "Sometimes a broken piece is the only one that will fit." To fit with that theme, the kitsukuroi, the mortar holding it all together isn't the action of a single person. It's Greg's drive to do his best. It's Harlan's belief Lee is worth helping. It's Avery's recognition of Lee's desperate need for a friend. It's Lee ... and the slow birth of his belief that he is worthwhile. All of those fit into that theme of kindness you mentioned above, either acceptance of it or giving it. Lee's hurt. The others can try to help him, but some things need time to heal. If he's able to do that remains to be seen. Greg lost himself for half a day, and look at what that cost, and worse, what it could have cost. When a man is the keystone, he can't break without repercussion. I think we saw that plainly here. Thanks for the great comments, Bryan.

Mason and Jeremy are cute, aren't they? They're sweet, and they just fit so well. Lee is trying to be a good man. Right now, he equates being "good" with cutting himself off from Avery, and there's little anyone can say to convince him otherwise. He's getting help, though. Greg, of course, and then Harlan too. But there are many pulling for him in the background. Avery is finally figuring things out. Anna and Bill had to be patient, but he's getting there. Thanks for the comments, Chris!

Yes, that comment ... "I'm just a whore", it told us a few things. It told us the event with Avery and Greg damaged him a bit. It told us he's got more to go before he's finally ready to accept his own value. All those things you mentioned though, they tell us he's trying. That he's not hopeless, and that he's trying. I can't express how important Greg has been to Lee. In just a couple of months, Lee found in Greg authority he doesn't fear. He found someone he trusts, values, respects, and yes ... someone he loves. When Lee fled the campground, the money didn't even enter his mind. He'd been so utterly distraught, so Broken, so wounded, he just ran, as fast and as hard as he could. This is a huge difference in the boy/man he'd started when we first encountered him. Before, he'd have checked Avery's pockets prior to getting help for him. He'd have watched dispassionately as Greg tried to help him. He'd have been numb to the suffering of others. But not now. Lee has changed. Lee is still afraid of the monster that Eddie forged. Lee fears becoming him again, and that's telling. Only good people fear being evil. I heard that once, and man ... it is TRUE. It'll just take time and reassurance that Lee is his own man now, and that he doesn't have to fear slipping back into that dark place. Now that he is on a brighter path, Lee can just be who he really is. I've said it earlier, but Lee isn't the only one who fears what he can do to others. Avery accepted his punishment easily, and he did because he blames himself for what happened with Lee's injury. That too will take time to heal. Thanks for the comments and for taking the time to read. I appreciate it.