Guest034229

Well first things first. Russ's involvement with Joey has been a white elephant and an awkward part of this story. I was wrong in my previous assessment of Russ, trying to partially exonerate him, for the way he was using Joey. He didn't call it off, the day after he knew he was seriously becoming attracted to Colin and should have. But there are encouraging signs here, that Russ will do the decent thing and end his misuse of Joey soon and break the bad pattern of behaviour that he has become familiar with. That aside, it seems possible that we may be about to be treated to an intriguing examination of the boundaries between lust, infatuation and love. Russ thinks his attraction to Colin is more than infatuation but how can he really know? What are the indicators that would suggest it could be love? I could be wrong but I think C is about to use this story to that end. If my speculation is right, this could well be worth the read. As regards the story, what could Colin be holding back? Colin seems incredulous that Russ would be attracted to him. Maybe Colin got burnt in a similar relationship and is just being naturally cautious. Or maybe Colin' s focus is love and suspects that Russ's focus is not.

I get the general aversion towards Russ having used Joey but in the unusual context of this story I can find it in my heart to forgive Russ a little. Russ is something of a rarity, in that not only has he been blessed with great looks but they have prevented him from discovering true friends. It's similar to if you had won an incredible amount of millions on the lottery at a young age and everyone now fawns on you. You don't trust anyone to be your real friend because everyone is chasing after what they can see, whether it be money or, in this case, incredible beauty. Russ has spent his whole childhood putting up a facade that responds to others in a more socially acceptable way ( the "I love you'sx are all part of that even when deep down, he is despairing that no one will attempt to like or even love him, for who he is as a person. Was Russ wrong not to have had the strength of character to stand up and dismiss those who he felt were coming on to him solely because of his looks? Well maybe but I'm not sure if I'd react much better, if I were in Russ's situation. And on that final duplicitous act against both Colin and Joey; well I dare say rampant teenage hormones could have clouded the issue for Russ. Interesting conundrum C.

I don't see Dan as needy either. Just that Scott may have attempted to imagine that he was doing good by offering to be the recipient of Dan's need to love. In reality Scott was just selifishly taking Dan's love for his own needs but the above deception, made it a lot more palatable for Scott to accept and elevated his self image, in the process. You make it sound so much simpler when you say Scott was of the mind that what Dan didn't know wouldn't hurt him. I may be in my over thinking phase again. It has been known to happen. 😉

There's nothing quite like that period after the rain to release all of nature's redolance. Btw thank you for this which was the other of your poems, that particularly spoke to me.

What do other poets do to tease their muse from its slumber?

You should do more dugh. I've got lots of words to use as comments.

Oh for those days of carefree innocence.

It was an elegant and apt refrain. That it also conformed to a cinquain was incredible. It was one of my two favourites marked with a

Always enjoy being a fly on the wall in one of your dialogues G. You do have to wonder what guys like Scott get from deceiving guys like Dan. I dont think they set out with that intention. While they obviously realise that their main drive is one night stands, they also know that by itself, it is not enough. They need to fill the void with some small measure of real love but only a small emotional top up, is all that is required. Having someone as loving as Dan, on tap, is perfect for Scott's needs. Perhaps Scott convinces himself that he is providing an honourable service to Dan by offering the needy man with an outlet for his need to love someone. It's therefore a simple win/win situation as far as Scott is concerned. As for Dan's perspective, how can he have turned a blind eye to all of Scott's affairs? Doesn't that say more about Dan? That he may be the sort of guy who came into the relationship wanting fidelity but was clearly prepared to accept and tolerate a certain amount of Dan's indiscretions too? Dan's love for Scott allowed him to overlook the infidelity as an issue but not the lack of respect, as demonstrated by the numbers involved. I've always operated a one strike policy. Clearly once you step beyond that, this thing called love gets awfully complicated. Just what does an acceptable boundary look like. Well done on a very readable NHE story Gary. Yet one more that forces you to think.

At long last Geron, I've found a way to cut and paste the entire story into a memo file on my mobile. Only a fraction of it would copy before. I'll keep making comments after I read about a chapters worth, providing that you don't find that too annoying. Just ignore me if it is. I rarely need feedback to enjoy my comments. They're never wrong.

Invigorated.

Insouciant

.

Empathy

Amusing

Lissome (Excuse the plagarism)

Sensuous.

Don't apologise for what you feel the need to write Michael. I mean it when I say that everyone ought to read at least one of these stories at some time and allow themselves to challenged by disturbing things that i expect have a basis in reality but are normally kept hidden. It's perfectly fine that where you need to be and I need to be are not the same place just now. I like your technical writing style enough to want to come back for another of your stories at a later date. So good luck with this story and I urge you to remain true to what you want to write.

It's a well written story Michael but Jack's expected fall into the wrong hands and further abuse, is not something I am comfortable with. Nevertheless, I applaud you on the mechanic that you've used to date to discuss a difficult subject. I really liked the way you used a caring guardian in the form of BJ and that discoveries of Jack's abuses were all reminisces in the past. It was a very clever mechanic that made an aversive subject, a far more tolerable read that way. That said, I do think that it's useful for people to walk the dark corridors of young homeless abuse, at least once in a realistic portrayal. It's an awareness that can hopefully encourage us to be more open to and maybe helpful of the plight of these unfortunate kids. I've just read more of these than I need to, right now. Hope things don't get much worse for Jack.

Damn, I was hoping that Jack was going to accept BJs help and that all the bad stuff that happened in this story, was in Jack's past and about to be revealed through his memories and nightmares. What are the chances of Jack meeting up with another good Samaritan as opposed to someone wanting to abuse him? Given that Jack appears to trust abusers more, whose motives he can comprehend, I would say that his chances are slim.

I have read several accounts of people that have professed to have lived as street kids. They are really hard to endure. There's no doubt that there are homeless runaway kids living rough in many large city centres. Survival and desperation undoubtedly become uneasy brothers in those times. Its clever that the extent of Jack's abuse is being revealed within comments that Jack views as innocent typical behaviour. B.J's normality is ironically being seen as abnormal by Jack and that may unfortunately cause him to run away into harms way and the familiar activities of an abused minor.

I don't know why I'm reading this. It's like watching a train wreck. It surely can't turn out well for young Jack. Its fortunate that he met BJ. But what can he do , if not turn him in to the cops or Welfare? He can only take care of Jack for so long. Intriguing enough story for me to want to read on.

And you didnt think it worthy of a stanza or two. Poor Cookie!

Awesome adrenaline rush Gary. Doggie cuddles are in order.🐶

What more can I add, given the outstanding nature of the existing reviews? All I have to offer, is that Exes and Ohs was among the most powerfully challenging adult drama that I have read in recent years. At one point, I found myself in stasis for several days, while I mulled over the seriousness of the issues being adressed. I just couldnt read on until I had found my answers. That is how much it affected me. It's deeply satisfying, lovable and challenging characters are caught in a intricate web of a story that covers both past and present. If you are interested in romantic adult drama that will make you think, as much as feel, then look no further. Gary has delivered something of a Mona Lisa here and in more ways than one.