Wayne Gray

"N’than woke early. Smeeth is not yet up, I will go on my own." WHY?! Oh ... silly boy. Let's hope he doesn't regret that choice! Nice chapter, tim. 🙂

Thanks, tim! Good, bad, and life in general on display.

Awww. Thanks, Rupert. There were a few emotional bits in this one. I'm glad it touched you.

Thanks, Quixo. This is a good point in time for all of our campers. Greg had it right: each was content and exactly where they needed to be when they needed to be there. It's a rarity in our world to see such a thing, and he enjoyed it. Those broken bits you mentioned are slowly filling in, thanks to those allowed in. There's something magical in that. Bailey has really suffered - physically and mentally both. He's had a couple of years to recover, but an experience like that doesn't ever really leave you. Harlan's giving him something he needs.

Thanks, Fred. Yeah, I don't like sickly sweet scenes and stories. I work to avoid them in my own writing, even though I like showing emotion. I try to keep the writing real. I want it to feel that way. I'm glad I pulled it off. 🙂

Thanks, chris. Important, but not exactly a good time. That's the dream, really. Elias is trying to be his own man, and that's a big move in the lives of Orson, Joseph and Elias too. It's a good thing.

Thanks, Tom. I'm glad you're here too. Yeah, this lot are really trying to do right, and they're hitting the mark for the most part. Not a bad chapter. 🙂

Well, he's a teenager. So he's already thinking a lot about sex, and it's just time for him to have his own space. It's a healthy progression, and yeah ... it's just time. Thanks, Sweetlion. 🙂

It has been a year and a couple of months. Everyone is a year older in this one. Elias seems a lot younger, because he has been emotionally stunted by his hard life before Orson. He's catching up now, which is mildly distressing to Orson. We'll have to see about that storm. Thanks for the comment, Geemeedee.

If you ask nicely Greg will skip the dill on yours.

Ah, I'm glad you liked that scene. With multiple characters, it can sometimes be hard to motivate to write scenes like that. They're work. But they do help to keep everyone straight. 😉 Thanks for the comment, Jeffrey!

It was a bit of a flashback, wasn't it? Unfortunately, Bailey will probably never forget that. At least he had Harlan when he woke. That was sweet. 🙂 Elias has plans, doesn't he? He's beginning to grow up a little, thanks to the support and love he found in Orson and Joseph. Hell, in all of the people at the campground. He won't be going far, but he's determined to take a step on the path to independence. Orson has a bit of a tough time with it ... but he'll be okay. Thanks, Butcher!

Thanks, kbois! Accident's do happen. A terrible one happened to Bailey, one he was lucky to survive; one that entirely changed the direction of his life. Huck is just trying to love and support his son. He's finally at the place where he has realized that's what matters. That the will of his God is to provide for and love his son - no matter what. And he's trying. Greg finally felt that moment. They all do, I guess, but he was actively conscious of it. And there's something special about that. Orson is gonna have to do some emotional processing as it concerns the changes with Elias. But he'll get there. He's got support and help, and he'll get there. I'm glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

Time will tell, but I sure won't. 😄

There are a few places like this in this story. Last chapter, this one, and maybe a couple more too. Where I could have said "okay, that's good." But you're right - there are a few more things to tie up. Thanks for the comment, droughtquake.

Thanks, molly. It's the kind of man he is ... to check on his worker as soon as he could. He was the guy in charge of the operation, so Jackson's safety was his responsibility. He thinks about what he could have done differently every day, but ultimately there wasn't anything he could have done. There was no way to know a tiny imperfection in the wall of the turbine was just a ticking bomb. But just because a naval investigation cleared him doesn't mean he can forgive himself. He's working on it ... but he has a bit to go. I really like those lines too. Greg standing a little apart, watching this little dream come alive for everyone in his campground. Content with the contentment of others. Yeah, that's really what is happening there. He's a good guy. He cares a lot, and he wants people to just have a safe place to be themselves.

"Hey, Commander Holbrook!" Bailey turned to the tech, a man named Jackson. The fellow grinned. "Petty Officer Crandall and I heard you last night at the club." He shook his head. "Damn, I had no idea!" Bailey smiled. "Well, you'll be able to hear me anytime you want, if you buy a CD. My label and I are almost done with it. I'm going next week to produce it, finalize the payment plan for the fees, and then it'll be finished!" "Man, that's exciting." The tech stepped around the edge of

Thanks, Quixo. This one really is special to me. I'm happy that you enjoyed it. 🙂

Thanks, Jeffrey. 🙂 Harlan’s not known for generosity, but here he is. Maybe the universe decided he’d earned a reward with his time with Bailey. Regardless, there’s more to come.

Hehe. Thanks! Harlan is back to his tricks, isn’t he? As for how he deals with Huck, well just keep on reading 🙂 Thanks for the comment!

Hi, Jeffrey. No problem; the story is here to read when you're ready to read it. Writing a mute character was absolutely a challenge. I'm glad you feel that I pulled it off so far. Thanks for the comment on the song and my singing. I'm not a musician. I dabble in songwriting because I love music, but it's not my profession. If I lost my voice I don't know if I could power through that. It'd be hard. I certainly empathize with Bailey there. Thanks for the great comments. 🙂

Hi GanymedeRex. Yep, he's getting about 60% of his old pay while in the military in disability money from the US Navy (there are a few variations of amounts possible - I was in the military, and I worked in a VA clinic for a while after discharge, so I have a bit of background here). That's how he could afford to live in San Francisco without a job for a little. But it's nowhere near enough to survive for any long length of time there. That money goes much further in Northern California, away from the city. His disability also pays for his phone since he uses it as a tool to communicate, and he has healthcare for life. Thanks for the comment, and glad to have you reading.

Thanks, David. Really kind of you. 🙂 I'll be honest - that scene with Huck and Rayne ... that's similar to the scene I wished I'd have had at some point in my own life with my dad. I imagined it over and again, how it'd go. So it was nice to give it to Rayne. That quote from Harlan ... I may have made it up, but it feels too good for me to have come up with it. So I probably read it, or maybe it's a paraphrased version of one I've read before. I do like it. It fits so well there.

Thanks, kbois. 🙂 You know, the goal isn't necessarily to "prove" Harlan is worth loving; rather it's to show that he's not a simple creature. He's complex, and I want to prove only that he can't be summed up easily. Harlan is one of my favorite characters because of his complexity. Even though he's got a job few can relate to, he feels very real to me.

Yeah, I did. But ... I'm so glad you chose to read anyway. This isn't a story about miracles - it's one of legacy. How does a limited life leave a mark on the world, long after it is gone? Well ... I hope Tad helped answer that. Thanks for the comments, Quixo. 🙂