Bill W

How true that is.

I agree, and I started watching the Celtics just after the Bob Cousy era ended. Bill Russell played on a lot of great teams, since the other players changed from time to time, and I loved watching them play against the Philadelphia 76ers when he went up against Wilt Chamberlain. An awesome match-up, and even though Chamberlain was slightly taller, I always felt Russell was more athletic.

They're doing it all, so buckle in.

Come on, I think that's true of the majority of pro basketball players, especially the high profile players. I was once into the NBA, and I wavered between the Celtics and the Knicks, but now I'm strictly a college basketball fanatkc.

Yes, it is, and I take it you've been there.

I'm glad to hear tha t. lol

Yes, there are differences between of circumcised and uncircumcised penises react, but you worry too much about Josh, Padawan.

As I mentioned to weinerdog in my response above, those issues will be covered when they get to the reservation and the shaman, or Gramps, Pops, or Devin, answers Mac's questions.

Some good questions, weinerdog, so let me try to answer them one at a time. First the question about the wolf's winter coat. It may be more difficult for a human to detect, but the wolf's shackles will still react in the same way. It's instinctive, and since dogs are closely related to wolves, some breeds more so than others, I'm sure they react in a similar way. It's just that it may be more difficult for humans to detect. As far as what happens to an alpha wolf as it gets older, if it is challenged it may react in one of two ways. It may fight when challenged, possibly getting killed or badly injured in the process, or it may merely take up a submissive pose to the challenger and make the transition peacefully. As far as skinwalkers having animal abilities when in their human form, that information will be covered when they're at the reservation, so stay tuned.

I'm sure Devin gets enough of that as it is, although he may resort to it in one of his future identities, but I believe he prefers concentrating on something else for now, like his engineering studies. Thanks.

Yes, it's even a lot for me to remember, but when it comes up again and again it makes it easier to remember it. That may not happen for the readers, because I don't want to turn them off, but I'm positive it will happen for Mac as he goes through his training. Thanks for the feedback, Danilo.

That's New Mexico, not Mexico where they're heading. And you're correct, he'll have a lot more information to cope with, but I'm sure he can handle it.

I'm glad you're enjoying this story, Doha, and give Josh time. He's trying to focus on the new collection of boys right now, but when he gets comfortable that things are going well, he might find someone to spend the rest of his life with.

When I was working, there was one guy we used to refer to as the protractor because he was always protracting the length of departmental meetings by asking an array of frivolous and irrevalent questions.

I remember having to use a protractor in school. It was something we had to have among our school supplies from 6th to 9th grades. It was made from clear plastic and had a small ruler at the bottom, I can't remember how long it was, and then an arc with various markings for the angle degrees when measuring.

Thanks for the feedback, Al, and this is not all Mac will have to learn. He'll get much more information once he gets to the reservation in New Mexico, because that's where the real training begins. He's got a long road ahead of him, kind of like a full semester at college.

As we've seen by his grades in college, he's a smart kid, but he'll have even more to remember once he gets to the reservation in New Mexico. Becoming a skinwalker is not just something you can jump into - there's a lot to learn, and hopefully he'll be able to keep up with the demands. Devin did it, so I'm sure Mac can as well.

Chapter 22 – More Private Lessons. As soon as we got back to the cabin, Devin told his dad what he’d taught me today and that I’d done well in absorbing the information. After we ate supper with his parents, we played rummy with them before heading up to bed. Before we left, however, Mr. McCaskill advised me to take a couple of Tylenol. He said he could tell I was experiencing some discomfort and moving awkwardly after absorbing my body weight with my arms when Devin was teaching

Happy August, and if you thought it was hot before, I'm sure August is going to get even hotter!

That's not funny, it's pathetic. You just can't see the rest of the sign. It says, 'Iowa Cornhole here .' and that ear of corn actually sticks up above the top of the barrier. The guy is so big that it's one of the few ways he can have a little fun.

And what thread might that be, for those of us who aren't aware of or familiar with what you're talking about?

The reason I wrote this story was for a group of boys I was chatting with that had rough home lives and didn't feel as if they fit in or really belonged anywhere. I even patterned some of the characters after them to give them a fiction refuge where they could feel safe and loved. It was intended to be mostly positive story, but we know that life doesn't always go that way, so there are a few dark spots as well. Its just that I want to make the family as positive as possible.

Oh, and don't forget about Edgar Allen Poe's short story The Purloined Letter. It's one of the mystery stories he wrote and this one was about a letter that had been stolen and was being used to blackmail an unnamed woman.

I've always loved the sound of this word, but I thought purloin sounded more like a cut of beef, like sirloin.

I agree, it was nice of them to include Brandon, and since they did I believe it will all work out fine.