Christopher

Well hell, Imma have to get another roll of BOUNTY ready! 😂 I don't know how you do it, but what you share is so realistic that it reaches in and touches ones very soul for which I'm eternally grateful. ❤️

"Shapes and Sizes" ... usually Christmas makes this shape and size LARGER! lol

I've read many stories that have moved me emotionally but this one is one that I would recommend as a NYT Best Seller list MUST READ! A definitive example of what the word HERO truly means. This story will tug at your heart, enrage you at time, but in the end will bring emotional tears to your eyes with a question "what can I do." Enjoy the read and thank you CLJobe for sharing this recollection of events.

"When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die you're the one that is smiling when everyone around you is crying." I will miss Carleton, he brought this phrase to life by the way he lived his life! He was an inspiration to everyone! 😢

YIKES, done already?!?! 😢

“That’s hard to believe that you are not attracted to any of these boys.” Nauseating and sickening!!! I agree wholeheartedly with Carleton, “If you find that hard to believe, then I think we have concluded our visit. I am sorry you have not found your son, but if you think it’s ok for men to have a sexual relationship with young boys, maybe it’s best you don’t find your son. I’d be outraged if a man saw my son sexually attractive and acts on it. For me, that would be worth going to prison to be sure that man is no longer walking this earth. I hope you have a pleasant journey back home.”

Dogs definitely cause a wind sometimes ... wind that drives you right out of the house! 😂

"If we could capture those tails, we could generate a lot of electricity." Who needs nuclear power when you have wag power?!?! LOL!!! LOL!!!

To just imagine the number of kids that are actually living this hell everyday. 😢

When Mo took his chair and sat it outside the boys door, to protect them, that's when I lost it and the tears began to flow. How can anyone be so cruel? Mo, please don't do anything stupid in rage, you have many boys and adults that need you more. Through great strife comes healing. The boys opening up at story time, was the continuation of an emotional healing process for them - Carleton bringing them home was the beginning. ❤️

“But certainly you can understand that the boy needs to be raised as a Christian in our faith.” Some's insistence on oppressing their beliefs on others astound me. While I have a great respect and belief of faith, I abhor organized religion. Lawrence / Moses should be able to choose the faith which he feels best suits his mindset. Accolades to his father for supporting his open decision as such. I'm hopefully confident his father would've also supported Lawrence's / Moses' decision should it have be in line with something other than Judaism. On a side note, intended or not I LMAO when reading Alex "eyeing Peter's pickle!" LOL!!! LOL!!!! 😂

“Sal, I have no problem with you being married, but If I catch you with your hands below the waist of any of my sons, I’ll shoot you, and that goes for you also, Mohammed.” While I luv reading this story, I too was a little put off by Carleton's stereotypical comment just because Sal and Mo are a gay couple. It struck me as the age old stereotype that all gays are pedophiles. Oddly enough, I highlighted the above quote before ever reading weinerdog's comments so it seems many are on the same page with Carleton's comments. I understand his being over protective of the boys but that comment was inexcusable and stereotypical of Carleton toward the very two men sworn to protect him and the children. Carleton has disappointed me.

Definitely an interesting cultural dynamic in the mix with both religion and politics. Hell, I can't stand either of the latter on a good day let alone when it involves the sexual exploitation of a child. Just the mentality of even attempting to justify such an act is sickening.

HOLY CRAP!!! I was bawling and wasn't even personally at the UN for the presentation!!!

Hahahaha!!! I'm reading along, enjoying the chapter as usual, and them I'm like "I've read this before" LOL!!! Luv'd the chapter the first and second time! 😉

Carleton definitely has his hands full. If only more truly understood the dissimilarities of generics and name-brand and what the AA vs AB ratings actually mean. While agreed, a non-FDA approved generic is like putting a gun to your head, sometimes, and more often than is let known, FDA approved generics have dissimilar effects while offering the same bioequivalence.

Thank you and yes, I would completely agree with the assessment. I had forgotten Steven was the one that offered Robert the book to read which is helpful based on Steven owning his own business. Just a thought, Robert purchased the home at the "approval" of the council for "back taxes." One assumes the "council" was a government body - but maybe not. Could it have been The Hague who kept the trust and properties until someone of like mind and means was able to pay the "taxes" that were in arrears? One has to think, if taxes are too far in arrears, the government entity sells the property at sale to the highest bidder and this did not occur.

WOW! Intriguing! I'm gathering all the previous chapters were Robert reading the book, Carleton's reflection? I know I'm jumping ahead, do we ever get to find out what exactly happened to Carleton and the boys he left behind? One would've thought we were in the very latest part of the 20th or early parts of the 21st century when reading through the book? If the youngest was 7 and we're in 2020, Carleton couldn't have been gone that long. I guess my intriguing mind has so many questions at this point....

"She was a beautiful swan." Sometimes in life, people attach and follow the wrong leader only to find, later in life, they're made of so much more.

WOW, $284,570 to raise a child from 0 to 18 years of age according to the the USDA (2019). Multiplied by 32 (I've lost track but think that's the number), $9,106,240. Let's be honest, sending a child to NYU is $306,456 for a 4 year term based on August, 2019 data. While we know NYU is a bit more expensive than the average, based on a ConsumerReports (May, 2019), an average 4 year education in a public/private university will be $85,480/$194,040 respectively. With on average 80% of his sons possibly wanting to go to college, that's another $2,222,480/$4,656,960. So far, without capital improvements, that's roughly $11.3 - 13.7 million. Acknowledging that Carleton has adopted these young men between 5 years and 17 years of age, that's still a WHOPPER of a number and resource demand. The capital improvements of remodeling an entire attic, building a school, and a swimming pool definitely aren't cheap either. While we know Carleton has sufficient wealth, these numbers would have to come into play in his mind, as a business person, when considering addressing the UN. Let's be honest, additional funding will be needed in the future so that it may be made available to others like himself who have a desire to open their hearts and homes but may have more limited resources. I know Carleton will do the right thing in the end to help as many children as possible. We ALL must!

Even though Joey was "asleep", he was aware and listening. I'm sure that comes from being hyperaware on the streets and never really sleeping. Glad he's found a safe place with lots of love and warmth to surround him. Alex just continues to surprise ... just to get an idea, how old are Alex and Carleton? I'm guessing Carleton to be in his late 40's early 50's but Alex sounds like a much younger man - someone still in his 20's but very accomplished for his age.

Perplexing! Gadgets, drugs, kids ... what's on that truck is wait to be seen. Joey, on the other hand, has a decision to make. I'm not sure I could even decide whether to tie my shoes at a young age let alone make life altering decisions. Though, the safety of a home full of love and other siblings is definitely more appealing than living another night on the street. Carleton is wise in verbally expressing the separation of beds multiple times as well as being physically distant until Joey becomes more comfortable with his surroundings and new dad. Though, one does have to wonder, out of 32 boys odds would be that one or two might rob and flee. I guess we shall see.

"he was from a Moroccan family, they found out he was gay and threw him out. In their religion, they could have killed him but living in Europe they were restrained. If they were in Morocco, he would probably be dead." Discarded like nothing more than trash. This is why I have the greatest disdain for organized religion! Being someone of deep faith, love is preeminent in everything instead of the hate that organized religions spew around the world. Absolutely became nauseous when reading that line. Thank goodness for people like Carleton, Maria, Alex, the Hague council, and so many other around the globe that understand compassion, care, love, openness, inclusion, gratitude ...

“For this, maybe ... For Us ... Together!" OMG, I'm so bawling right now!!!! Corbin, Peter, you finally did it! You let down the barriers just a little bit and became vulnerable to each other which caused your love to shine through and your relationship to become stronger. Regardless of all the other chaos swirling around, the moment is what defined it. The eyes may be the window to the soul but the lips are definitely the key.

Agreed, when I heard he tipped the waiter after that repulsive initial encounter I almost got nauseated. Then again, maybe teaching one to show compassion when they may've never seen it exemplified would be worth the tip because of the actions that happened after the initial encounter. Being an INFJ though, judging comes naturally and that was my first impression as well. Edit, just read CLJ's note, I too thought it was the waiter. Well poo on the maitre d then! LOL!!!!