Former Member

I guess that was the explanation that seemed to make sense to them at the time. And it still makes some sense to Amasis now. But it must be difficult for Amir to balance what he has been taught about the Underworld with what he has learned about the outside world. It sounds like the gang is going to be staying with Amasis for quite a while – probably longer than they had to stay in the UK. I just had a thought. Is Kim Jong-un just a puppet for a vampire? It would explain some of the extreme paranoia and secrecy of North Korea. And why it usually seems like he’s only playing a part – he usually appears to be pretty clueless. Plus the most incredibly stupid haircut! ;-)

In great pain and blood on the toilet seat. Apparently contemplating suicide off the bridge. Extreme reaction to questions about his father. His sister fleeing before the school year ended. The mention of his parents having more time for him without his sister around. To me, that sounds like his parents are physically abusing him with probably his father sexually abusing him too. They were probably sexually abusing his sister. Billy should have trusted his father when he asked if Billy wanted to tell him more about what’s happening with Dustin. Certainly, Dustin would be mad at Billy in the short-term, but at least he’d still be alive to be mad. At this rate, the only reason I expect Dustin to survive is that if he died, it would upset the delicate triangle you set up when you started this story! I’m guessing Mike got tired of Dustin not wanting anything done about the abuse…

Really? I like @Timothy M.’s stories, but I’d prefer if you didn’t emulate his output speed… or lack thereof. ;-) Yes, I know we just got a Prompt chapter, Timmy, but I’m still very worried about poor Michael in the hospital!

Absolutely beautiful!

It is wonderful. You captured it completely.

They’re always suspicious at first. But Colin & Devon have what they want. Of course Amasis caved. ;-) Stan’s not doing his job if Mark is bored. ;-)

If you listen closely there is good in the world. Your poem is proof. Love Sis

Not liking the direction of this chapter…

I’d think it would sound better if they changed the phrasing to say ‘both Canada and the US.’ ;-)

And now I’m wondering if the evil egg-donor somehow managed to be there to sabotage the event… Alternatively, I suppose it could be the Florida gang there having detoured from returning home. ;-)

PetSmart brags about giving a pet a meal for every bag of pet food you buy. They mention it helps pets all across the nation – but their map shows shows sacks of food in both the US and Canada! Do they think that Canada is part of the US?

There are organizations that collect Prom dresses and give them away to young ladies who fit certain financial criteria (each program has its own method of determining eligibility). Prom dresses are much more expensive than a tux rental. There is an LGBTQ organization in Hayward (about halfway between Oakland and San José/Silicon Valley in the SF East Bay) that organizes an annual Prom for LGBTQ kids! But at least a few LGBTQ couples attend their school’s Prom every year – and the numbers are slowly increasing. ;-)

So true.

I'm thinking this is description of life. A little darker part of it. Then I'm thinking it's a lot more. Something beautiful. Well written.

Very thorough and a pleasure to read too. Congratulations, Val

That’s the Francis that San Francisco was named after…

‘Fancy’ is more British, but I’m not sure what I’d suggest as an alternative other than ‘like.’ …And we creep slowly closer to Prom.

In real life the wealthy merely need to imply the things that Colin had to say for the story. If you’re influential enough, you don’t have to actually say anything. You just act as though you have permission to do as you please. The scandals around the British royal family are just examples of usually less experienced, younger, and often lesser members who go just a few steps too far (Naked Harry, Nazi Harry, topless Kate, etc). People who work in all forms of customer service (retail, food service, hospitality, etc) are used to accommodating varying degrees of misbehaving patrons – people who would never otherwise scream at a stranger feel no shame when they’re upset when they can’t return something in a store without a receipt or when weather has delayed an airplane (and most of the time the person behind the counter just takes it calmly even if they’re seething inside). Sand- or stone-colored buildings blend into the landscape. The materials are also readily available in the area. Americans are the ones who use non-native materials and styles of buildings wherever we build our houses. We are the ones who try to transform our landscapes using non-native plants. We attempt to recreate fantasy landscapes in inappropriate locations (lush lawns in the desert, tropical paradises in temperate climates, English gardens in swampy areas).

Oh I forgot about Kate Smith! Talk about a set of lungs! she was also legendary. You can always tell when a patriotic song is sang with heart.

If there is a success story that exemplifies the American spirit, it has to be the story of Ray Charles. Where else but in the United States could a black child born to a teen mother, and who was completely blind by the age of seven, rise up to become a true American legend? When he sang this song, it was just...I don't know...it still gives me chills. If there was ever a true American, it was Mr. Ray Charles.

Hi Aviana, glad that you posted your poems. They are beautiful and like I said before, your gift is shining. As I see you achieved your likes. Congrats to this as well. Hugs Lyssa

Just a few weeks ago I recall telling someone that there are times when I struggle letting the past go. I mentioned a line from a Bob Dylan song. "I still got the scars, that the sun didn't heal." This is from the song 'It's Not Dark Yet.' That is what I hear in your words moggy. Physical hurts fade, but man...those verbal punches, and mental abuse are never far enough away. They come back with a vengeance sometimes. This is poetry. When someone can paint such a vivid picture with words. You are a poet!

Linguistics is an interesting topic. As languages evolve and mutate into new languages, there are definite patterns to the changes. Word orders only change in certain directions. Sounds morph in particular directions. It’s not just random. It’s why they can trace back related languages to find connections and links – even come up with good assumptions on how ancestral languages probably sounded. In many cases they can figure out that certain words are borrowed or adapted from an unrelated language because it’s inconsistent with other words. ;-)

Just...wow!