Mark Arbour

Good choices, even though I hate Bob Dylan. Guy sounds like a mosquito. His voice buzzes.

I vote for all of them.

Damn. I wanted to "like" this post but I ran out of "like this" checks for the day, so I'll have to post it instead. Centex, I owe you a "+".

The e-mails were a new device, but I thought they worked, and I'm glad you did too. If I were Will, and I was going to be honest about that e-mail, I'd have to acknowledge that Brad loved me, but I'd still be convinced he was clueless as to why I was upset. Brad isn't seeing his point of view, and Will knows that he won't really listen or change until Brad does.

I hope you feel better.

Thanks! JP's e-mail was stilted because that's how JP is. He's one of those guys who becomes more reserved and formal as the situation becomes more stressful.

I think the real point here is that there's fault on both sides. Brad's e-mail was more about venting than about repairing a relationship. Will got that, and decided that it wasn't time to deal with him. But that's OK. You're my role-model for Martin (without the abusive violence). ;-)

Thanks Mari! Matt would send an e-mail because it would make Wade happy, if for no other reason. He's smart enough to pick his battles. Robbie should be so wise. Scott and Will? I'd be lynched. Will has to be at least 16 for that to happen. ;-)

Thanks. You nailed the 14 year old thing. They can be interesting.

No CJ twist planned for you. I don't do cliffhangers either. ;-) I think Ryan just needed some time to think things through. Robbie needs some contact with Will to get what he's dealing with. And Darius needs to try and prove he's still the dominant older brother.

I think you're right about everything except the time period. Having your kid gone like that can be very focusing. Brad's stubborn as a mule sometimes, but he can learn fast when he gets over that.

Hopefully not too much on edge! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Here's what you do: "Like" the story (on the story main page) and set your notices to individual e-mails. It will notify you if anything changes. I try not to edit chapters after they're posted, so you shouldn't get e-mails unless something new is posted.

Well, it's hard in a serial story to know exactly where to stop, and this seemed like a good place. I think you're right about Brad. He hasn't figured it out yet. Neither has Robbie.

Brian was an ongoing and persistent threat to the family. Martin is merely a flash in the pan. If he becomes otherwise, a Brianesque solution becomes an option.

October 17, 2000 Oahu, HI Will If surfing weren’t a challenge, it wouldn’t be fun, but damn could it be a challenge. I saw the wave looming above me and knew that I was about to wipe out, and when I wiped out, it was like the ocean was explaining it to me. It was like the ocean was trying to tell me that it wasn’t one to be taunted, that I shouldn’t be fucking around with it. I knew that the Pacific and I were about to have a talk. The wave crashed on top of me, pushing me under

It's actually pretty embarrassing for our friend the goat. It stands for "Cows". He's the black sheep in the goat family.

You miss the point, that Alistair would be much more focused on the classics.

Things are moving slowly, but then again, wouldn't that be what you'd expect, as they all get the ship ready to sail? It's a tough time to create much excitement around, but I'll try. Hang in there. ;-) And as you noted, there are lots of loose ends to pull together. By the way, I'm not sure if Granger will go to India, but he will go to the "Indies", which basically means Indonesia.

That's a good point. Keep in mind that there weren't all that many aristocrats, and they tended to go into the army. That changed around this era, where younger sons were sent into the navy (like the Duke of Clarence). Still, there were a few there. The Earl of Northesk, Lord Henry Paulet, just to name a couple. As for Granger, as his parents pointed out,he's a member of the aristocracy, so he would be more likely to acquire a peerage. Nelson, for example, was the son of a preacher. It's a much longer jump for him. That would explain why Granger may get there as a captain, while for most it required waiting until they were admirals. You also raise another good point, that being what happens to a son who inherits a peerage? I would expect that they'd try to be posted closer to home, or possibly give up their command and spend their time in the Lords or managing their estate.

Thanks for that. I try not to use that device too often, but when I do, I try to post the next chapter somewhat rapidly.

Thanks Len. This was a calm chapter, one that we need now and again to move the story forward but slightly, while bringing some old characters back into the mix.

It's almost impossible to write a serial story without some form of cliffhanger. It's certainly not intentional, and I've tried to leave you with relatively closed topic lines for the most part.

George is getting his home boys back in shape. They were acting like a bunch of bitches. :-)

He won't get a different house to go with his title. He has to make his own way in that regard. I like bringing Nash into it too. It was an interesting research coincidence that I stumbled onto him.