Bill W

The age old tale of the battle between religion and homosexuality, but this one contains a few twists that you might not be expecting. If you're looking for an interesting coming out story, then give this one a try. It might surprise you.

As drsawzall pointed out, it would be nice if some folks practiced what they preached, or what was in their Holy Bible. Judge not, lest ye be judged. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The age old conflict between religion and homosexuality. And if God doesn't make mistakes, then how do they account for the fact that so many other animal species have their own examples of same sex attractions. They obviously weren't corrupted by reading banned books or groomed by some deviant influencer. I'm glad Jasper and Luke have had the courage to standup for themselves, although the road ahead certainly won't be easy.

That's the way, drsawzall, beat them with their own words. 😀

Sounds like a line from a gangster movie.

The term lucent—meaning glowing, luminous, or clear—plays a vital role in storytelling by enhancing visual imagery, thematic depth, and emotional clarity. Authors use the concept of lucency both literally (to describe light) and metaphorically (to describe truth and transparency). Here is a breakdown of why lucent elements are important in narrative craft: Mood and Atmospheric World Building: Atmospheric Contrast: Incorporating lucent elements (like a glowing forest, a luminous crystal, or a single bright beam of light) creates instant visual contrast against dark, dreary, or mundane settings. Sensory Immersion: Describing how light interacts with the environment—such as "lucent waters" or "translucent mist"—helps readers vividly visualize the texture and air of a fictional world. Symbolic and Thematic Weight: Truth and Revelation: Light traditionally symbolizes knowledge. A lucent object or setting often appears at moments of epiphany, guiding characters toward a profound truth or exposing a hidden secret. Hope and Purity: In dark or dystopian narratives, lucent objects represent uncorrupted purity, serving as a beacon of hope that the protagonists strive to protect or reach. Characterization and Emotional Resonance: Internal Clarity: When applied to a character's traits—such as "lucent eyes" or a "lucent spirit"—it signals honesty, innocence, or heightened spiritual awareness. Visual Anchors: A lucent heirloom or artifact can tie a character to their heritage or destiny, acting as a physical representation of their internal growth.

The adjective lucent (meaning "shining," "bright," or "translucent") was borrowed from Latin lucentem or lucens, the present participle of lucēre ("to shine," "glow," or "emit light"). It can also be traced back to a Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root *leuk- ("light," "brightness," or "to shine"). According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the adjective lucent first appeared in English around 1500. The related noun lucence dates slightly earlier in Middle English, appearing around 1485 in the Digby Mysteries. Lucent shares the same *leuk- ancestry as lucid (specifically recorded in 1581 in the writings of Cardinal William Allen), translucent (from 1568 in the writings of the Scottish chronicler and poet William Stewart, elucidate (from 1538, in a letter written by Miles Coverdale), lumen (from 1873 and specifically appearing in the writings of philosopher Thomas Hill Green, and lunar (both as an adjective and a noun in 1626 and found in the writings of the philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon).

This is a somewhat unusual coming out story. When the main character, Cary, is forced out of the closet on his 17th birthday, it triggers a slow moving avalanche that eventually exposes many more skeletons that were hidden in other closets. If you want to find out what I mean, then read this marvelous and well developed short story, and I promise you won't regret it.

Awesome story, Gary. Even though the family was homophobic and wouldn't accept Cary being gay, the other revelations, although disturbing, weren't all that unusual. If I were to expose the skeleton's in my family's closet, it would take a novel, not a short story, to explain each and everyone of them. I'm glad this worked out for Cary, Susan Mary, and Jamie, and that Susan Mary and Jamie were supportive of Cary when he needed them most. Your story was very well developed, and even though the feelings and outrage somewhat understated, they were emotionally charged enough to portray the dilemma that Cary found himself in. Well done!

If you're looking for an unusual and very intriguing short story, then be sure to check this one out. The main character has a disability, but he doesn't let it control him. In fact, he devises a way to use it to his advantage and slowly uses it to include his best friend, so he can ask if he is also gay. In addition to that, you'll also get to enjoy some of Lee's wit, and some of his humor will make you laugh out loud as you're reading. Be prepared to enjoy this wonderful and imaginative tale.

An unusual and very interesting coming out story, with some of Lee's humor mixed in along the way. Very delightful and informative, and I'm glad Johnson's parents have figured it out and don't have a problem with him being gay. It also means that Tanner has a safe place to enjoy and experience the wonders of boy-to-boy sex, that's if Tanner's parents aren't also okay with their son being gay. If the Rhodes are fine with that, then the boys are all set. Thanks for such a wonderful and comical short story.

I'm fascinated that you've chosen to base your story around a character with a disability. I had relatives that were mute and knew some ASL at the time, which is now mostly forgotten due to lack of use, but I'm interested to see how this story proceeds.

There was a time when ancient civilizations and religions demanded sacrifices to bring summon good luck and feared the consequences if the sacrifices were not made. If you want to understand what I mean by this comment, then read this forceful, moving, and terrifying short story to learn the extremes some will go to guarantee success and avoid failure.

Curiosity killed the cat, but this time the cat got lucky. Marvelous story, Tim, and it reminded me of ancient peoples and religions that used human sacrifices to correct unwelcomed events - such as famine or drought - or to ensure a request - such as a good harvest or mild weather. This was a truly moving and powerful short story. Well done!

Redamancy—the act of loving in return, or a love that is fully reciprocated—is one of the most powerful thematic tools a storyteller can use. While tragic, unrequited love often gets the spotlight for creating high drama, true redamancy provides deep psychological satisfaction and drives narratives forward in distinct ways. It Raises the Stakes: When two characters share a deeply mutual, established love, they have everything to lose. Storytellers use redamancy not as a "happily ever after" finish line, but as a baseline to multiply the tension. If a character faces danger, the stakes are automatically doubled because the audience fears for both the character and the partner who loves them completely. It Subverts the "Will They, Won't They" Fatigue: When two characters share a deeply mutual, established love, they have everything to lose. Storytellers use redamancy not as a "happily ever after" finish line, but as a baseline to multiply the tension. If a character faces danger, the stakes are automatically doubled because the audience fears for both the character and the partner who loves them completely. It Powers Character Transformation: True redamancy acts as a mirror and a safe harbor. When a character is loved unconditionally and returns that love, it gives them the emotional security needed to grow. It can: * Heal past traumas or insecurities. * Inspire an anti-hero to seek redemption. * Give a weary protagonist the strength to make a ultimate sacrifice. It Formulates the Ultimate Emotional Payoff: In stories where redamancy is hard-won, the moment of mutual realization satisfies the audience's emotional investment. After chapters or episodes of yearning, seeing two characters finally achieve a perfectly balanced, equal emotional ground provides a profound sense of catharsis and relief.

Redamancy comes from the New Latin noun redamantia, which derives from the Classical Latin verb redamō ("to requite love" or "to love back"). It combines the prefix re- ("back" or "again") with amāre ("to love"), paired with a nominal suffix indicating a state or action. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the English noun first appeared in the mid-1600s (recorded specifically in 1656 by antiquary and lexicographer Thomas Blount). It is a rare, largely obsolete or poetic word that has experienced modern revivals in literature and social media.

This is the start of another of Myr's wonderful Sci-Fi stories, and since this is only the first week of posting of stories for this year's anthology, I have a feeling Myr will have a follow-up for us in the next couple of weeks. Be sure to read this is Sci-Fi is your thing, and then you'll be prepared for what will come next.

As usual, a highly interesting beginning of a story, but obviously not complete, and since this is only the first week of the anthology postings, I take it another part will be coming soon. I know something extraordinary will be happening, because when the water pulled away from the beach farther than what was normal, it's a good sign that a seismic event has occurred. If that is the case, then a tsunami will soon be rushing to that same location and overwhelming the shoreline. I can't wait to read more of this complicated, intruiging, and sometimes humorous tale.

An elegiac tone or mode in storytelling is important because it shifts a narrative from simple action or conflict to deep emotional reflection, transforming loss, time, and mortality into a source of beauty and meaning. Core Functions in Storytelling: Processing Grief and Loss: It gives characters (and readers) a structured space to mourn deaths, failed relationships, or vanished eras, turning raw pain into contemplative sorrow. Navigating the Passage of Time: It highlights the transient nature of life, empires, youth, or communities, evoking a bittersweet awareness that nothing gold can stay. Moving from Sorrow to Consolation: Like the classic three-part structure of an elegy—sorrow/lament, admiration/praise, and ultimate acceptance or solace—it helps a story find emotional resolution even when a happy ending is impossible. Deepening Character Intimacy: By focusing on internal reflection and memory rather than outward spectacle, it creates a quiet, vulnerable connection between the audience and the protagonist's inner world. Elevating Stakes Beyond the Physical: It frames destruction not just as a lost battle or a broken object, but as the erasure of a unique history, culture, or innocence that can never be fully recovered.

The word elegiac comes from the Greek word elegeiakos, meaning "pertaining to an elegy or "elegiac couplet". It stems from the Greek word élegos (ἔλεγος), which means a song of lament or a funeral poem. (Some scholars also connect élegos to the ritual mourning cry eleleu!). It evolved into elegeion or elegeia, referring specifically to verses written in an elegiac couplet (a dactylic hexameter followed by a dactylic pentameter). The Greek adjective, elegeiakos, formed to describe poetry or meters written in this structure. It then passed into Latin as elegiacus and Middle French as élégiaque before entering the English language in the 1580s. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of the word elegiac in English dates from before 1586, in the writings of the author and courtier Sir Philip Sidney. Originally, the earliest English usage, elegiac referred strictly to classical poetic meter—specifically, dactylic hexameter and pentameter couplets (known as elegiac couplets) inherited from ancient Greek and Latin poetry. By the 1640s, the definition shifted to mean anything directly relating to or characteristic of an elegy (a funeral song or poem of lament). By around 1800, the modern sense developed to describe a general mood of expressing sorrow, melancholy, or a nostalgic longing for the past.

If you enjoy dystopian Sci-Fi stories where the little guy is fighting to merely survive and not become a casualty of those in power, then this story is for you. There is plenty of intrigue and suspense along the way, and you find yourself rooting for the two main characters, Lee and Toby. Their goal is to maintain control and benefit from their intellectual property, rather then see it benefit a government, corporation, or merely disappear completely.

Chris, an interesting story, but I have one question for you. If they end up on an automated or derelict station, as well as traveling in an ore ship, where will they get the food they'll need to survive? I'm sure the governments or corporations won't be sending resupply ships to provide them with the food, so will they be able to get food on other planets, from other species, or will they figure out how to grow what they need? There was plenty of intrigue and tension, though, and it kept me sitting on the edge of my chair as I waited for the next shoe to drop. Good job!

In storytelling, the concept of a character going on a "gallivant"—roaming, wandering, or traveling about in search of pleasure, excitement, or distraction—serves as a powerful narrative catalyst. Far from being pointless filler, these seemingly aimless detours drive plot, character growth, and thematic depth. Here is why a gallivant is so important in storytelling: Facilitating Character Development: When a character gallivants, they step out of their ordinary world and comfort zone. Revealing True Desires: Stripped of their daily routines, characters show what they pursue when they have total freedom. Flawed Escapism: Often, a gallivant is a coping mechanism. A character might be running away from trauma, grief, or heavy responsibilities, exposing their internal vulnerabilities to the audience. Organic World Building: A structured mission or quest usually forces characters down a narrow, predetermined path. Immersive Environments: A gallivant allows characters to wander down side streets, visit local taverns, and interact with everyday citizens. Living Worlds: This aimless exploration makes the fictional world feel alive, vast, and independent of the main plot. Introducing Incidental Plot Points: While the character thinks they are just enjoying a carefree detour, the writer uses the gallivant to seamlessly move the story forward. Chance Encounters: Characters frequently stumble upon crucial allies, unexpected antagonists, or vital pieces of information they wouldn't have found on a rigid path. Inciting Secondary Conflicts: Careless pleasure-seeking often leads to accidental trouble, creating subplots that test the character's wit and resilience. Pacing and Comic Relief: A story that maintains high stakes and intense gravity from start to finish can exhaust the audience. Breathing Room: A gallivant slows down the narrative momentum, offering a lighthearted interlude or comedic relief before the next major conflict hits. Contrast: The carefree nature of the wandering highlights and intensifies the gravity of the main stakes when they inevitably return. Summary Comparison Quest vs. Gallivant: Feature The Quest / Mission The Gallivant Primary Motivation Duty, survival, or a specific goal Pleasure, distraction, or curiosity Destination Fixed and predetermined Fluid, changing, or non-existent Narrative Function Drives the main external plot Deepens character, world, and pacing

The word gallivant (originally spelled galavant) was originally borrowed from Old French and evolved from gallant, which referred to a fashionable young man. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) , the earliest known use of the verb gallivant dates to 1823 in the writings of William Pyne. It originally meant to gad about or seek pleasure/flirt. Related terms: gallivanting (noun) was first recorded in the 1820s (1826 in the writing of Walter Scott), and gallivanting (adjective) was first recorded in the 1810s (1819 in the writing of 'Robert Rabelais').

I always wondered what the old Scottish song Roamin' in the Gloamin' meant, and now I know. https://www.google.com/search?q=song+with+"roaming+in+the+gloaming"&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1189US1189&oq=song+with+"roaming+in+the+gloaming"+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjIHCAQQABjvBTIKCAUQABiABBiiBDIHCAYQABjvBTIHCAcQABjvBdIBCjEyMjk2ajBqMTWoAgiwAgE&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.rb&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5aa46da6,vid:DeR6DMy6deE,st:0

Thanks, @Myr. These Deep Dives always contain a lot of good information.