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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

WOOF - 4. Grand Opening

On the final Monday in September, we quietly opened our doors to the public. From The Village, through Chelsea, to Hell’s Kitchen, we had blanketed the neighborhoods with advertising. We had hundreds of palm cards printed and hired day laborers to pass them out near other fitness centers, outside restaurants, and in front of clubs at night.

Several businesses allowed us to place sign up boxes on their counters. We offered a complimentary week to anyone filling out the information slips and planned on holding a raffle for a free, one-year membership on opening day. The response was encouraging.

That first week, we ironed out operational snafus and by the time Friday rolled around, I felt confident we had a winner. Friday evening we held an open house. Healthy snacks and beverages tend to attract those interested in fitness.

Halfway through the evening, Apollo threw an arm around my shoulders as we both scanned the crowd. “We did it, buddy. This is the result of all the hard work over the past six months. I have a feeling we’re gonna be okay. Happy?”

“Yeah…” I nodded and grinned; the crowd was good and we had picked up a few new members. “Hope you realize the real hard work starts tomorrow morning. You and I are now tied to this place seven days a week.”

“Only for a bit. If things keep going this way, we’ll be able to hire a couple of assistants soon. No need for us to become slaves to the business.”

“We’ll see. I sure hope so.”

I was not ready to relax just yet. My professional life was back on track. Maybe, just maybe, if Apollo was right, I could concentrate on getting my personal life in order soon. But there was no returning to my old way. Next time I fell in love, I was gonna make sure it would be forever.

Copyright © 2020 Carlos Hazday; All Rights Reserved.
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Thank you for reading and my gratitude to Kitt for her assistance with this story.
Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Story Discussion Topic

Welcome to the discussion thread for CJ’s series. All things CJ are fair game, I simply ask you be respectful of others. I will actively participate in the discussion. Ask questions, speculate about what’s coming, or bitch about what happened. We’re now open for business!    
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Chapter Comments



12 hours ago, Anton_Cloche said:

Glad to know you've got a plan / 'roadmap' (pre-GPS to those who don't know) for the next 13+ months Carlos.

I enjoy back stories about characters, especially what some people see as secondary. It can help us learn more about the 'key' players. 

Next?

:thankyou:

Tony

 

Ps: Stay Safe, Socially Distant & #WearAMask.

Also if you don't / haven't gotten flu shot in a while, (Dr friends) "strongly recommend getting flu shot ASAP to help build immunity now, since reliable C19 Vaccine not likely available until 2021 at earliest". (Their words not mine, but worthwhile advice IMHO).

Thanks, Tony.

Next is an entry for the fall anthology, sbout a quarter of it already written, featuring the dolphin shifters introduced in the last antho.

After that, I'm working on a novel giving us a glimpse into another CJ-verse supporting character's life. CJ's brother's four years at the Air Force Academy.

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10 hours ago, Defiance19 said:

SPOILER ALERT: Sean’s backstory with me began with him as an escort. It was a great meet cute...  I won’t say how or go into further detail, because I’m still hoping the author will not leave our story to supposition...

I loved this look back, C. I know Colton’s journey will be just as entertaining and rewarding when it arrives. You done good! xoxo

Isn't NETFLIX coming out with a show about you and Sean? :P

I'm happy with how this one turned out. Far from perfect, it still accomplished my goal of establishing where Colt came from and where he's headed. Let's see if he gets there safely.

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8 hours ago, Justleah said:

Loving the background stories plus anything squad thankyou😘 

Thank you! Definitely a few more of these, but longer, in the pipeline!

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6 hours ago, alexlittel said:

Good story.  Keep it up, stud. 😘

Thanks, ALex. Good to have you on board and glad you enjoyed it!

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4 hours ago, Carlos Hazday said:

Colt will probably work as many hours as he did with the investment bankers for less money. But he'll be his own boss and that often trumps the hours and income.

And can I get the big discount on membership?

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19 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

And can I get the big discount on membership?

Do you also want reduced-cost training sessions with Sean? :P

 

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14 hours ago, Carlos Hazday said:

Thanks, Tony.

Next is an entry for the fall anthology, sbout a quarter of it already written, featuring the dolphin shifters introduced in the last antho.

After that, I'm working on a novel giving us a glimpse into another CJ-verse supporting character's life. CJ's brother's four years at the Air Force Academy.

Yay! I'm  a fan of your dolphin shifter stories. And I wished we'd seen more of Richie's growing up in the CJ stories. I'm a happy puppy ---- okay, okay, at age 77, I probably should stop claiming to be a puppy ---- I meant to say I'm a happy seniordog.   

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I enjoyed learning how Woof came to be. And how Colt's matured in the personality we know from the CJ stories. 

The story wouldn't feel so short if it were a chapter in a book. Then we would see it as part of the flow of Colt's life. Or of Woof's, if the book stories about the gym. It could even include CJ's times at Woof, only told from Colt's POV. It could include Sean stories, too.  Or it could be from Woof's POV, like your Melvin Ford story.

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@frosenblum

GA readers seem to be biased against short stories. Even when I issue warnings, people complain stories are too short. I guess I can take it as a compliment. However, some stories are meant to be short. Since WOOF was meant to describe a new start for Colt, personal and professional, making it longer would be padding once both goals were achieved. And I hate padding to make stories longer. @Mann Ramblings always stresses simplify.  Why use 10 words when you can say the same thing in 5?

I barely wrote this week so I better get back to a certain cadet. Once the current chapter's done, I'll shift over to the dolphins.

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3 hours ago, Carlos Hazday said:

@frosenblum

GA readers seem to be biased against short stories. Even when I issue warnings, people complain stories are too short. I guess I can take it as a compliment. However, some stories are meant to be short. Since WOOF was meant to describe a new start for Colt, personal and professional, making it longer would be padding once both goals were achieved. And I hate padding to make stories longer. @Mann Ramblings always stresses simplify.  Why use 10 words when you can say the same thing in 5?

I barely wrote this week so I better get back to a certain cadet. Once the current chapter's done, I'll shift over to the dolphins.

Yes, I agree. I thought the story length was fine. Your story is a truly great introduction to Colt and Woof.

My badly-expressed point was that the "shortness" of a story often depends on our own expectations,  including those based on the number of chapters in your other recent short stories. For example, an NBA center's "tiny" endowment might look "huge" on a jockey's body. 

 

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On 9/19/2020 at 2:37 PM, frosenblum said:

Yes, I agree. I thought the story length was fine. Your story is a truly great introduction to Colt and Woof.

My badly-expressed point was that the "shortness" of a story often depends on our own expectations,  including those based on the number of chapters in your other recent short stories. For example, an NBA center's "tiny" endowment might look "huge" on a jockey's body.

I'm not one to write very long stories. My approach is to find natural breaks on which to separate the story. With the CJ series it was his first year in DC, high school, and college. And even within those segments, I broke it down further. Here, the stories are a little less involved since I'm trying to portray one specific event.

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I just finished watching on Netflix Boys in the Band which for better or worst shows gay life in the mid sixties.  You write about how gay life is, better or worst in beginning of 2020s.  You write in my opinion on the same caliber as the writer of Boys in the Band.  Both of you take the reality of gay life as it was and is now to weave a story that depicts our lives.

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11 hours ago, Toddten said:

I just finished watching on Netflix Boys in the Band which for better or worst shows gay life in the mid sixties.  You write about how gay life is, better or worst in beginning of 2020s.  You write in my opinion on the same caliber as the writer of Boys in the Band.  Both of you take the reality of gay life as it was and is now to weave a story that depicts our lives.

Thank you, Todd.

Things have changed significantly for the GLBT community since those times. You're right, it's been both good and bad and I draw from real life when writing. I'm glad you enjoy my work.

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@KayDeeMac

THANK YOU!

This one was a tough one, I was working on 2 or 3 different stories at the same time and I think they all suffered a bit. I'm glad it was still acceptable.

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Please sir... I want more... Prime and Woof both have nice guys running them in need of love we need the merger and the two to finally find love.

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8 hours ago, Kev said:

Please sir... I want more... Prime and Woof both have nice guys running them in need of love we need the merger and the two to finally find love.

Colt and Tony's stories started as micro fiction. PRIME and WOOF were expansions of those initial efforts. The third one, will be when they meet. I posted a version of it years ago, but it needs major revisions. Hopefully I can work on it this summer. Until then, I have 3 others in the works that will eat up most of my writing time.

Thanks for reading and the feedback!

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"hired day laborers to pass them out near other fitness centers" -- That sounds like hard ball, but this IS New York.

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1 hour ago, BlueWindBoy said:

"hired day laborers to pass them out near other fitness centers" -- That sounds like hard ball, but this IS New York.

Please, the man worked on Wall Street! Poaching clients' one of the first things taught during basic training.

Queens can be vicious... the borough too but probably not as much as Chelsea. :P

 

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