Wayne Gray

I love the term "were-comedy". It sort of sounds like a story that gets funny only on the full moon.

I'm in the middle (even though it's only Tuesday) of a tough work-week, taking a little break between meetings. Thanks everyone (@CaJu, @kbois, @droughtquake, @Danners, @chris191070, @Butcher56, @Hawgdad, @Parker Owens, @Quixo) for commenting on the chapter. I read every one, and each has a lot of value to me. Don't be offended if I don't comment on your words. It's not you, it's COVID-19. For real.

Hi, Quixo. Ah, I'm really glad you found my story. Even better is that you enjoy it. 🙂 I like deep and complex characters; people with imperfections are just more interesting. And of course there's the sex. I write erotica, so it's important that there be sex and that it be hot; though the goal is exactly what you said about their relationship feeling sensuous. It's always wonderful to hear from readers. Thank you.

25 February 2019, Monday 12:49 p.m. Troy spent nine days working on the project in California. Every night, Grant would call him to hear Troy's voice, but it was torture to be apart from his tall lover. Even Rhett had noticed. "You all right?" Thursday of last week, Rhett had looked over at Grant as they left the exam room and headed to their office. "You seem a little distracted." "Ah, Troy's still gone." He'd sat at his desk with a sigh. "I guess I'm just missing him." Rhett ha

I believe every author wants their readers to enjoy their work. Well ... enjoy is perhaps not right. What I want is to inspire emotion of some kind. I want there to be joy, pain, sadness, and pure elation. That's what I want. 🙂 William is still processing that his son is gay, but he doesn't judge Troy for his sexuality at all. Sandra has had longer to think it through, and so it's not a thing for her. She's all about judging Troy based purely on merit, and judge she shall! But yeah, these two are evolved enough to not care about his sexuality. Thanks, Tom!

Thanks, Tony! I love it too. No matter what else happens, at least we have that constancy to look forward to.

Thanks, tim. I'm glad you like it. 🙂

Thanks, Jeffrey. Spring is a time for renewal and hope. I thought we could use that right now. 🙂

I LOVE that. I love being warm, snuggled up with someone(s) in a really cold room. Mmmm. Maybe that's why I love camping in the Spring and Fall so much.

Thanks for the comment, Geemeedee! Everything that costs money above already-approved projects or maintenance goes through Sandra. So, yes. William had to run the proposed project through her. It’s probably hard to imagine, but she is a control-freak. 😝 She immediately printed information on all available systems to have in hand to go over with Troy. Based on their needs and the information she had, Troy was able to work up a quote.

The warmth of the sun, found by pushing through darkness. A seedling has faith.

She won't be able to. We'll have to see how it ultimately is revealed, won't we? Thanks for the comment, Butcher!

Exactly. Yes ... this. Thanks for the comment, yarameb. You really nailed her struggle in one sentence.

Thanks, chris. She will not be able to keep things hidden long. She's many things, but Sandra is not a liar. There was no way she'd make Troy suffer for helping her. It's not how she works.

Thanks for commenting, Jeffrey. Troy has been rather unflappable in the face of Sandra. Frankly, he's in his element. Even with his doubts concerning the job, he still understands exactly what is expected and that he will do the best work he possibly can. He does miss Grant, yet he is doing exactly what you've spoken of. He's working on getting to know them. Yet ... now, he knows a bit more about Sandra than she wanted.

You're right. She won't be able to hide it much longer. Once word gets out to the rest of the crew, the likelihood of Grant finding out through one or more of them goes waaaaay up. Nope, a walker wouldn't help Sandra much. But ... her husband is such a loving guy, I wouldn't be surprised if he built paths between the rows that a narrow wheelchair could traverse. Soil cement is porous, and it could work. I like to think he did that after the events described by the story end. Thanks for reading, drought. 🙂

Now, now ... when have I ever taken the easy way out? But, now that you know where things are headed, since I'm so predictable, it'll be much less of a shock, right? *smirk* Thanks for commenting, kbois!

Thank you, James. I'm really happy you and others like the tale. It helps keep authors writing to let us know that you're enjoying the work, so thank you for taking the time.

Thanks, Thorn. They're doing the hard stuff, and I'm really proud of them.

15 February 2019, Friday 3:17 p.m. (Pacific Time) Damn it. I already miss him, Troy thought as he and William left the airport. Grant was through security and on his way to his departure gate. He'd be in the air in forty minutes for a six-hour flight home. As William drove, he glanced over at Troy. "You doing all right? Nervous about being here alone with us?" Chuckling, Troy continued to look out of the window at the airline terminal as they drove away. "No. I'm not nervous." He shr

I do want to add ... I'm so proud of them. I feel such a deep and profound appreciation for what they're doing daily. They're wonderful, brave, and amazing ... and I'm doing my best to support them. They are the ones doing the work. My job right now is to make sure they can keep doing it as long and as safely as possible.

Thanks, Mike. It's tough when I know and cherish these people. I realize our role in this, and if I could manage our system of clinics and work the lab I would. My boss has already told me that's a last case scenario ... that my current role is too important to risk through exposure at the sites. That feels so shitty and I hate it. This morning after I spoke to my worker, I told my boss how I felt, and she asked, "Who would do your work if you got sick?" The answer was "Me." I'm sitting at the center of all of our testing/lab staffing/result communication/lab supply tracking efforts. I wrote a list of minimum tasks that need doing daily, approved by her, in case I do get sick. Because, there's no not doing them. It doesn't matter how bad I feel, these things will have to be done, no matter what. Still. I'm safely away from the front line while I send people there. While I have the bigger picture in mind, and I know why this is necessary, it still feels bad.

I never thought I'd be playing God. I manage twelve small clinical labs, including the staff that go along with them. I plotted out minimum staffing levels to run each. I asked for volunteers to go on unemployment while our business contracted, and patients stopped coming in for routine visits. The idea, so beautifully expressed on paper, was to have those "extra" staff waiting - out of the line of fire, and hopefully staying healthy away from the front lines of this epidemic. One of those front-line staff has been hovering on the edge of sick for a week. Yesterday, it was worse, and her temp climbed past the cut-off. We sent her home, and she has been tested. We're now waiting on results. Her relief is a mother of two small children who has asthma. I called her this morning. "Hey. Good morning. I need you at the clinic on 10th." "Good morning, Wayne. Okay." She says something to someone in the room, then comes back to the phone. "I'll be a little late, I just need to get the baby set up for my husband." "No problem. Take your time. I'll let the site administrator know the lab will open a little late." I pause, debating. How bad would it be if that lab stayed closed? This particular clinic is right on the plaza area in town. It's a place where homeless and the worst off in the county congregate, even now ... since they don't have anywhere else to go. I'd essentially take medical services from them if we closed this lab. To keep it open, I'm asking her to risk her health ... considering her condition, potentially her life. I clear my throat. "Hey. Thanks for working." I listen as she takes a breath. "It's what we do, right?" "Yeah. Be safe. Let me know if you run low on masks, I'll steal from other sites if I have to get them to you." "Thanks, Wayne. I'll be online soon. See you then." She hung up. I don't like playing God.

This was a fun exercise, and I appreciate the opportunity to think about what makes me tick when it comes to poetry. It's also a little humbling to be in a crowd like @AC Benus and @Mikiesboy. Thanks for the question, and for the AAA, Carlos!

We'll have to see how that goes. She's trying awfully hard to control it, or at a minimum control who knows about it. Her symptoms have progressed rapidly from a single fall in December to a constant numbness and tingling in her leg, and along with it a weakening of the limb. So you're right ... it won't be long before she can't hide it anymore. That's going to be a hard lesson for someone like her. Thanks for reading and commenting, Bft.