Tris

I have been among you all for such a short time, so it's silly for me to try and guess. I came to GA via the Amalfi coast and the good offices of James Carnarvon. For the longest time, he was the only author I'd read ... till I realized that Comicality (whom I "met" on Nifty years before) was an author here. Ditto Geron Kees, whom I first encountered thanks to IOMFATS. I've maybe read a dozen authors on this site, and can't even remember most of them, my sorry memory being what it is. So to guess is impossible, at least for the likes of me to "participate" in this contest, which I've only recently stumbled upon. Still, I'm quite curious, and look forward to the Big Reveal 🙂

Bellissime!

I cannot begin to fathom my reactions, which come from so many different levels. My grandfather was a Frenchman who fought in the trenches of La Guerre de Quatorze, as it is still known. Though an American, I grew up speaking French and have spent so much time among Canadians, both francophone and anglophone. So even without the Gay Dimension I found so many points of contact here. But so much of that borders on The Incidental, for it is the talent of the author that brings Reality to life. Thank you!

I can't believe I haven't done something like this 😉

I keep forgetting that Pete and Ant are relatively young (I'm old enough to be their grandfather). Given their relative restraint sexually speaking, that makes them even more amazing. To be sure, life shared between two gay men is hardly ever 100% about sex ... though I love the line "Just that alone almost makes it worth being gay." Too funny ... too true 🙂

I can see why Pete has the hots for Ant ... I would too! But poor RB - I figured there was something somewhat unusual about him, and now that the cause for this has been made a bit more clear, one cannot entirely blame him for the havoc he has caused - malicious though it seemed at first. I'm trying not to excuse RB, but such an explanation puts a differing complexion on the matter. Oh - and a shout-out to Pete: if you ever dump Ant, feel free to send him my way 😉

Ummm ... am I clairvoyant? 🕵️‍♂️

Oh, my! What tangled webs we weave. I will keep reading because of Ant+Pete. My personal point of preference would be to leave Cathy and her brother in the rearview mirror, though. Still, this is not a story that I am writing. So I will defer to the Author, whom I definitely enjoy - he's too good. I'm glad I gave this story a Go.

I, for one, also like your stories, Mr. Wilson - though I've just become acquainted with you, and with them. And, I'm with Dan South: I've got a Thang for Ant already *blush* ... I'm rootin' forya, Ant! Go get 'im, tiger! I suspect you and our Fearless Hero need each other ;-)

I have never been homeless, and wouldn't even begin to equate any of my experiences to such a situation. But the opening paragraphs describing the guests coming in to avail themselves of the services provided at The Boot caused my mind to drift back several decades to when I was a "guest" at a men's dormitory created in a closed CofE building in London (I want to say it was St. Anne's, but it was so long ago, and I don't known enough about London except to recall it was near St. James' Park). Guests were limited to a stay of three nights before having to move on. Of course, that was not enough time for me to get to know anyone at "St. Anne's" even though, through a series of odd circumstances, I ended up staying there for seven days. I was grateful for being allowed to crash there for the extra time, moving through a constantly changing cloud of guests. Reflecting on my stay at the time, I realized that if the church of "St. Anne" had not closed down, people like me - and others who were much worse off than I would ever be - had shelter provided to us not unlike manna from heaven. I was vaguely aware that it was more than a building, however, that came to my rescue. Someone in charge had to approve that I could stay more than the maximum three days. There had to be people to clean the toilets, wash out the lavatories, prepare and serve the oatmeal, secure the building 24/7, change the bedding linens, and so on. As a 26-year-old at the time, my consciousness was only marginal regarding such things. I guess one could say I took many such things for granted, except for knowing that The Church was somehow behind a lot of what was made possible. This story helped create a context for me concerning a situation I was only dimly aware of at the time. And while I am no longer as clueless as I was decades ago, I'm still somewhat naive about, well, just about everything - not just homelessness.

Umm ... I still think they are both ghosts. Beautiful tale.

f*ckin' A!

Touchingly beautiful - reminds me of what-could-have-been *sigh*

So different from some of your other writings. At first, I wasn't sure that this tale would be my cup of tea. But I was so wrong. This was an amazing read - I am in AWE of your talents and insights. My profound thanks. Kudos!

Breathtaking! Thank you!

It has been quite a while since I wrote to you. And it's the first time that I've done so on GA. I used to seek out your stories (usually under No Sex) because I had no idea how like minded guys came to meet each other "successfully." Well, that boat (for me) sailed a long time ago. But the topic still fascinates me - as do your stories. You are a Master story-teller. And what you write is so true-to-life. This story here has encapsulated, in one place, a number of episodes from my own life, especially one from a dance floor encounter (no, it was not my birthday) at a gay club - and I have no idea how I summoned the courage to walk in there! I never found out the guy's name, unless he whispered it to me and I forgot it long, long ago. But you brought back beautiful memories of a handsome guy who looked at me and (against the odds - I'm no hottie) liked what he saw. Thanks for helping me retrieve something I had lost of my past.

Bellissimo!