Wayne Gray

Probably. 😝 But a good cry is therapeutic.

I know. Avery is a mix of innocent, yearning and eager. He knows he's not "supposed" to buy drugs, but he also really likes Lee. So ... here we are. There's more to come. And I am glad you managed to finish the chapter, Dave. Thank you for the trust.

I'm glad too. 🙂 We all screw up. In this case, Avery's eagerness to make Lee happy, and Lee's momentary weakness paired with the desire to share an experience with Avery send them careening down this cliff. They need help. All of them do. Thanks for the trust. We'll get there.

Brilliant? Excellent?! Why thank you! 😛 No, seriously - thanks, tim. I'm glad I got my words back too. It took a rather long time, and I was not the most patient when it came to waiting for them. Thanks for encouraging me. That means a lot. And there's nothing supposed about your being a writer. Time will prove me out.

Harlan? Up to something? He and Bailey spent Monday in Colorado Springs, unrelated to Corbin's operation, then went on to see Corbin afterward. I wonder what business Harlan had there. And then there's this comment: "Don't worry - there's no danger involved." Harlan pursed his lips. "Well, almost none. Boy, that'll make a fella wonder, won't it? And of course the Houseboat is still floating. Horny werewolves, sex zombies, shocking plotlines. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Interpretation has absolutely run amok here. Very insightful. 🙂 They've done a lot for one another. It likely appears that Avery has done all the work. That Lee has gained far more from their friendship. But that's not true. They've both been enriched for their connection in a multitude of ways ... and even a casual observer can see it. Thanks for the great words, Philippe. There's more to come.

I will do my best to avoid breaking your trust. The best stories are those with darkness. I've yet to figure out a way to tell one that has the punch of meaning without that black and bleak time too. Light without the contrast of the dark is never as bright, and that's always the truth. Thank you for the great comment, but more: for trusting me to get us there. I will. See you next week. 🙂

I know ... I know! It's wild, isn't it? We watch these events gathering momentum, reading and whispering "no ... Avery, no." Then Lee. "Lee! Don't. Oh man." Then Greg. "Aww god. I get it, but man." If it helps, I'm killing me too. 😛 I don't mention it, but other campers DO come and stay at the grounds. It's the off-season, so there are not a lot. But there are some. So it's possible Lee could have scored drugs from someone camping. As you mentioned, it's easy to think the worst of someone with a past. And that's why it's so hard for people with those histories to change. Everything we expect colors our opinion of all they do. It's incredibly difficult to start again when you're not allowed to forget. Don't sic Corbin on me! Besides ... I'd be way more terrified of Harlan. 😳 Though, even the mighty Harlan can't solve every problem. Still, have faith. Good people will ultimately do good things if given time. Let's just hope they don't take too long. Thanks for the nice comments and for reading. See you again next week. 🙂

Thanks for the great comments! Back when I wrote Camp Refuge, Avery wasn't nearly as realized a character as he is now. I've learned since to make every character behave as if they are the star of their own story. That means complexity, nuance, growth, and varying degrees of connectedness to those around them. Avery started as "an annoying hyperactive gay boy" and became more. He has feelings, fears, and motivations. So many of those revolve around his relationship with Anna and Bill. Lee and Avery together ... they've such a connection in a short time. And we will have to see what becomes of that after this. I'm the writer, and when Lee cries "He's my friend" as he's dragged out of the van, that moment makes even me frown in shared pain with him. I feel the bond between them, and I like that. Though it turned into a liability in the telling of this chapter. Havoc is an author's game. I'm happy my particular flavor appeals. 🙂

Thanks for the nice words, Tony. You've nailed so many things here. Avery's fears, Bill and Anna's that they're going to miss their chance at loving him. Then there's Lee's horrible fall from grace in Greg's eyes, and in his own too. I know this is a hard one. Thanks for reading and for the comments.

Yeah ... sorry about that "hanging" part. 😕 Life is tangled. There's no such thing as purely smooth sailing if you sail long enough. We'll just have to see how things land. Thanks for reading and commenting.

You're right. Greg had only just begun to believe - to really believe in Lee. Greg let the idea that he could save him grow in his mind, until it became an intrinsic need. So to have this happen is devastating on so many levels. Those who are closest to Greg know it too. Then you've got Lee. Lee ... who has flung himself into the night, desperate to escape the feeling that he has destroyed the best thing to have ever happened to him. Thanks for the comment, Bryan.

No, it wasn't the smartest move. Everyone is in crisis-mode, and sometimes we lose focus when that happens. They think they know what has happened judging from the past. Add to that the fact that Lee didn't even try to defend himself, and ... well, it just looks bad for Lee. Needless to say, crap just went sideways. Thanks for reading and for the comment.

Lee has gotten a taste of life without Eddie. Up until this night, he'd appeared to be doing well too, eh? We'll have to see what he does now. Thanks for the comment and for reading!

It does. And what a situation Lee is in now. A few readers have suspected we'd not see the last of Eddie. Let's find out if they're right. Thanks for reading and commenting. More to come.

25 October (Sunday morning) A soft, rapid knock woke Lee. Sleepy and decidedly not a morning person, he got out of his warm, comfortable bed and staggered to the front of the cabin. He leaned against the door. "Who is it?" The sun filtered through the curtains illuminating the cabin in a muted, diffuse light. "Hey, it's me." "Mmph. Okay." Lee unlocked the cabin and opened the door. Avery immediately tracked down and flushed. "Ah, uh … sorry." He forced his gaze back up,

Oh, you will indeed. 🙂 The next few chapters are a bit of a rollercoaster. So hang on!

That's the way to get to the bottom of things. 😄 But thanks for reading, rating, and commenting.

Cute pun. 😉 I'm glad you like the chapter. Jeremy is a good character, and Mason is quite smitten with him. Their interactions were great to write.

Awesome. I’m happy you liked this one. It was great to write it into life, and I’m happy with how it turned out. And it’s good to bring Harlan and Bailey together too. 🙂

One more chapter. 🙂 I hope you're happy after that one too. Thanks for reading.

Gary is such a shit. Hehehe. He is not afraid to give Harlan hell, as you can see. 😄 hehe

Very true. And Harlan finds trusting hard to do. Yet ... here he is. Then of course you've got Huck trusting his son and Elias. 🙂

He’s a fun character. 🙂 Thanks for reading!

Thanks! 🙂 A little story about my husband and my singing. There's this song called "Sold!" by John Michael Montgomery. I love to sing it. Anyhow, we were in this redneck bar here locally a couple of years back. It was karaoke night, and were were about ready to leave. But before I did, I had to sing my song. So I drunkenly got onto stage. The song starts, and people turn to watch, because it's a freaking hard song to sing. Kevin watches with a few friends near the bar while I am up there, and I NAIL it. I love this song, so I have practiced the hell out of it. The bartender was like "holy crap! I thought he was gonna butcher it; everybody does!" Kevin leans over the bar and said, "Not bad for a queer, huh?" Smiles at the stunned expression on the guy's face, and we all leave. I only found out when we got to the car what Kevin had said to the guy. lol