BendtedWreath

They do say write what you know. It's up to us as to how we present it. I thought it was a great prologue.

I wish we had an applause emoji for likes.

My lips are sealed on anything I may or may not have seen before the posting of said scene. 🤐

Glacier Bay had no mad killers. - As someone who has lived from high crime rate areas to more high crime rate areas, I wish I had the money to retire in a "Glacier Bay" about now. That was exactly how Tyler felt, trapped by the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other. - Tyler, buddy, I don't think "trapped" is the best way to describe being between the ocean and mountains. Are you sure you don't mean "paradise?" "Now it’s time to pay the piper." - This brought a smile to my face. The Pied Piper's always been one of my favorite tales as a kid, and there were so many different versions of it. Almost makes me want to write a Pied Piper-like story myself. “You know since I never knew what the consequences of losing were going to be, I can cite a precedent that says I am not legally bound to fulfill the terms of the wager,” Tyler said bitterly as he tried to argue his way out of paying up. - Ha! I love that attempt to talk his way out of it. “So that’s your plan. I just wait in a stall until someone comes in. Then I shove my dick in the hole.” - Wait, a glory hole? He put his body as close against the partition as he could so the boy could have as much access to his throbbing cock as possible. - Ha! All hesitation gone in the face of sheer skill. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard. I also like the juxtaposition of the prior Brandon chapter with this new Tyler chapter. Two completely different youth. Tyler stared straight ahead as he said softly, “The dude shot his load on my boot.” - And? Fair is fair. For the most part, he had always felt secure in his sexuality and made sure to never really focus on guys in a sexual way. - You don't say? So what if he sometimes looked at the other boys while taking showers in gym class, didn’t everyone? Or the way his eyes always drifted down to check out the bulge in a guy's shorts or sweatpants. - Tyler, buddy, I don't think "secure in your sexuality" is the best way to describe... Then the door flew open and a short blue haired boy wearing only a pair of paint stained shorts stood there with a scowl on his face. The boy asked bluntly, “What do you want?” - Oh! Wait? Blue hair as in our buddy from the prologue, Brandon? I don't know why I didn't connect the two having compared the two mentally earlier.

Thus AG47fox was in fact, SilverFox. - While Brandon's amused about the screenname, I'm amused about that dating app Wolfr. Most of his experiences had been with other, closeted or straight boys from high school looking for a quick blowjob. - This is one of the most relatable sentences I've ever read. His only real boyfriend, a boy named Owen, the previous year, had been a battle of who would top who. - That, I've never had much of a problem with, but I grew up with a 'beggars can't be choosers' mindset. His arousal might have been due to the prospect of finally being able to top someone or the lingering feelings he still had for Owen. It bothered him for a moment that he wasn’t sure which. - That last sentence gave us such an insight into Brandon's struggle. "Am I still hung up on Owen?" Just amazing. If he would leave for a sexy rendezvous with AG47fox, he’d have to cut corners just to get the piece done and run the risk of not winning the money. - I'd have tried to get that money first. But, seeing as how Fox was willing, I see why Brandon wanted to strike while the iron was hot. 'if you think knowing the atomic weight for silver is impressive, u should see my dic’ - Ha! Clever and gutsy. I wish I had half of Brandon's gumption. He had just dipped a fan brush into a mixture of red paint when his phone made a howling sound, followed by several more in rapid succession. - This part made me laugh so hard. I can host!’ The man sent his address. - Hook, line, sinker? “You’re about to be begging me to stick my dick inside you and you’re worried about if I’m old enough to have a drink.” - Brandon has a point. “I think I’m in love,” Al murmured before Brandon shoved his dick in as far as it would go. - Ha! Al rolled his eyes and asked, “Are you really going to sketch me like this?”/“Just like that,” Brandon said as he brushed the hair from his eyes. “I want to give you something to remember me by.”/“Like I’d forget this night" - That's what I'm saying. You're not exactly the forgettable type, Brandon. “You must kill at trivia nights,” - Right? He'd win every prize! I'd bring Brandon to every bar and kareoke within 20 miles of Glacier Bay. And if you aren’t as old as you say you are, stay off adult apps. - Even has me questioning if he's really eighteen, the cheeky thing.

Welcome to the forums, Andy (@Afri) ! You're with good people. Not so much me, I'm a dweeb trying to finish a vampire story. But the rest of the forum is full of fantastic story gems. You will laugh, you will feel outrage for the characters you connect with...and if you ever feel any eye allergens or dust specks flying into your eyes while reading something sad, I'm probably right there with you.

If I had two words to describe this read, it would be "too fun." The colorful characters and humor brighten up any a dreary workday, (A-hem, not that I was reading this during work hours...alright, you caught me Red Woohoo handed!). This story was very balanced and enjoyable from start to finish.

“Liam?” Just his name alone was a question, but for clarity, Gabriel added, “Why is the bed moving?”/“You were lying on the remote—it’s a sleep number bed. You know, you can adjust the mattress stiffness to your personal preference.” - HAHAHA! Liam foresaw very generous gifts for every Christmas and birthday that Kora and Harlow had, for the next umpteen years at least. - They're going to be so spoiled. “Whatever they want to do works for me as long as we have the house to ourselves tonight. I think I could use another private swim lesson…” - Haha! This was a fun read, though I'm too slow of a reader to have managed to read it all during my lunch break. I also caught all the 80s and 90s references, which is fitting considering the age group I'd imagine a father of twin teen girls would be. I really enjoyed it.

When their eyes met, there was a wicked, self-satisfied light visible in the pale blue depths even behind Liam’s glasses./Damn. Nerds really will take over the world. - Haha! Because Liam’s head was dipped down low as he spoke quietly to his nephew, Gabriel couldn’t see the expression on his face. But he could clearly see Brady’s—the kid was looking at his uncle like he saw only Superman, not plain old Clark Kent. - These doggone eye allergies are getting to me. Brady dove into his treat after Bonnie carefully opened the pint container of milk so Brady could reverently dunk one of the overly processed sandwich cookies into it, after first licking out the creamy center the way Harlow always did. - I know there's no wrong way to eat Oreos, however, dipping 90% of them in milk until they're soggy and then eating them that way as is? That's my preferred method. “Sorry,” Liam murmured. “When I thought about sweeping you off your feet tonight, this isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”/Gabriel snorted. “It's okay. I kind of like the unexpected, though I have the feeling my insurance agent won’t feel the same way when I have to change my homeowners policy.” - HAHAHA!

“You need a damn keeper,” Gabriel said with a grin./Are you applying for the job? - Haha! We sure hope so. I think French Toast Fridays are a pretty safe bet in our future - Let's go!

“Dad…seriously?” The incredulity in Harlow’s voice was topped only by Kora chiming in with, “I thought you liked Liam, Daddy!” - Ah, the bluntness of kids. When he returned, pushing up the sleeves of his shirt which seemed to fit more tightly across his chest than he remembered it fitting before, the girls, who were sitting on the edge of his bed, grinned at him like adorable, satisfied minions of Satan. - HAHAHA!

...assured Liam that Brady would help “liven up” what she deemed Liam’s normal—aka “stale”—daily routine - In other words, we need you to babysit, Uncle Liam! The amount of times my siblings have pulled this on me... Now, a little over ninety-six hours later, he would’ve happily made a very scandalously convincing argument by publicly blowing a homeless man in the carefully manicured streets of his suburban neighborhood for a taste of stale. - HAHAHA! But considering that the arm floaties kept Brady visible both in and out of the pool, Liam was all on board for the kid looking like an energetically moving, slightly damp traffic cone. - Haha! Creative imagery right there. Gabriel’s laughter should‘ve gone to Liam’s heart not his dick, but his biology clearly had its own thoughts on the matter of propriety. - HAHAHA! “Brady, that’s not polite, buddy. We always wait till we’re offered goodies.”/Brain, take your own damn advice. Gabriel Morgan’s goodies are totally off limits to your perv fantasies. - HAHAHA! Their exact words to me were, ‘We know you like Liam, daddy, so we need to make sure you don’t crash and burn cause that’d suck for you. - HAHAHA! “When I go for a hard sale, I assure you, you’ll know it.”

I loved this. Thanks for @Cia for the interview and for @JJQuinn for answering so candidly. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see if I can read a couple of chapters of Just Keep Swimming before my workday drowns me in work.

I'd interview a Japanese yokai... or maybe even a Shinto god like Raijin.

I'm glad they figured things out and even brought the aunt with them!

That was a relief. I was worried Peter would come out of that locked fight missing an eye or limb or worse. Did Balar just gain a bit of self awareness?

@LJCC and @Headstall, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to provide help and examples. I know it's @ChromedOutCortex you're helping out right now, but I am also learning and am appreciative of any and all information.

I would be careful when writing mixed POVs. The only ones I've seen that work well enough are full chapters of just that one person's POV.

I am hoping Peter will be able to give Balar a good wallop.

Oh, I had a lot of help on this one. I just had that one idea, a man digging up shrubs he spent a lot of time cultivating because he was getting a divorce and his initial thoughts were "she can have everything except the shrubs." The rest of the details were pieced together later, including the reason for the divorce and the heartbreak that came with it. I still don't think I conveyed enough of the complexity of that kind of struggle since I haven't gone through this specific kind of grief. But I do know the grief of losing loved ones, and the crazy things it can lead a person to do while going through an emotional disarray.

If it makes you feel any better, I still have to deep dive into sentence structure and paragraphs because I apparently forgot all of my grade school grammar. 🤣

This one's grounded in bitter reality but is well worth reading. Not all relationship troubles can be addressed by the couple alone, and not all feelings can be easily conveyed. Grant and Elliot are an example of moving forward together through dark times, even if extra help is needed.

“I hate to say this, but it doesn’t sound like Grant is very concerned about your safety. At least not where Sarah and Jim are concerned.” - Yeah, it seems like Grant thinks Elliot is tougher than he looks just because he wasn't as shaken up when Jim confronted him. “So it’s really over,” Elliot said. He felt numb and empty./“No, you idiot. You still love each other, and it’s obvious this is making you both miserable. I think you need some outside help with this. Maybe some couples counseling.” - LMAO! Some sisters are the sounds of reason. Elliot spun around and had just enough time to register the gun in Jim’s hand before it connected, hard, with his face. - Jim's gone unhinged again. Tanaka sighed, and his worn face folded into deeper lines. "That is highly unlikely. Taking into consideration the amount of facial trauma and the type of ocular injury sustained, it is doubtful that your vision will ever return to the right eye. I'm sorry. - That fucking sucks! You can have the apartment, if you want it. If you want to never see my face again, that’s fine. Whatever you want, I’ll do. - Why don't you both move somewhere new after that chaos? There was an audible click of the key in the lock, and Elliot forced himself not to flinch when he heard it. He knew it was Grant; he had gotten a text from him when he left the office, and he had heard Grant whistling the song that was their signal as he walked down the hallway. He knew it was Grant, but it was still hard some days. - Nice detail of lingering trauma. Moving had hurt the most, because Elliot never wanted to leave their apartment: it had felt too much like a victory for Jim. - Yes! They moved! Sarah had barely spoken to either one of them since they had decided to press charges against Jim who was currently in jail. - Sounds like Sarah's the one most in need of counseling! What a fitting story title! I'm glad the two worked things out and are in a better place overall. I had hopes that Sarah would actually help add charges to Jim's arrest, not try to get them to drop them!