Watching Brad

[botboy03]

Neil- It is first and foremost, YOUR story. Write it as you see fit. I think this is something that has needed to be said and done for a long while now. This was a great chapter. I can't wait for Friday!

Zac

 

[GrayFox]

You just made me love Brad more!

 

[Kyanimal]

Neil ... you have NO idea how close you've come to "exposing" a facet of my own experience! This chapter has cut right to the "bone", so to speak!

Shortly after Kev, and I, became a "couple", Kev introduced me to Dennis at a party. Everyone who has ever met Den has fallen in love with him immediately! Kev knew this, and introduced me anyway! (I "flipped" right on the spot!)

Many stories in between ... it was Den, and I, who bought this house ... financial considerations prevailing. Kev, and our mutual friend Karen, were not officially on the papers. Many more stories ...

There was always that "tension" ... my infatuation with Den. Many more stories ...

Today: Den is living in Melbourne with his husband Stephan. They've both been back here, many times, to their "Home" in The States. Kev has a "thing" for Stephan, too! We've all been skinny dipping together ... and other things. More stories ... (not what might be being thought, though).

It's been a fantastic adventure in male bonding, and trust, and friendship, mutual concern, and respect, and, yes!, Temptation. It's been one of the most liberating, and Healthy, experiences I've ever been through ... for ALL of us! It's been about sex, and lust, vs. love and acceptance. It's been about Hearts, and Minds, and Bodies, and Perceptions. It's been about false modesty and complete disclosure.

Brad dropping his speedos, though it wasn't Brad, was nearly word for word a description of what has happened here. You're definitely on a "Right Track", Neil! More than you could possibly know ... but, apparently, amazingly, do!!

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

 

[gsdx]

Thanks for all your comments, guys (and Sandra, and even Chris if it applies). I've been reading these responses carefully. You don't know how many times I've regretted writing that cliffhanger, and you don't know how many times I'd thought about rewritting this last chapter to make it all just in Ted's mind.

This is the way I want the story to go. It has always been my intention (desire?) to bring it here. Something like this could never happen with Bill and Warren. Theirs is an entirely different friendship. With Barry and Nathan, though, it's not out of place. It's not something which could never happen as attested by Chaz in his narrative above.

I think it's a natural conclusion to their friendship. It was just getting it to that point which was difficult.

Brad dropping his speedos, though it wasn't Brad, was nearly word for word a description of what has happened here. You're definitely on a "Right Track", Neil! More than you could possibly know ... but, apparently, amazingly, do!!

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

That part bothered me some, that it might not be within Brad's character to do something like that. I left it in, though, for a few reasons. First and foremost was to show to what lengths Brad would go to keep this friendship alive. Secondly, it shows the distance he has travelled since the story began. He is no-longer ashamed of himself and blaming his endowment for all is troubles and loneliness. Thirdly, it was to show the levels of maturity and wisdom he's reached, that he can understand the need of 'shock value' to make people see the truth in themselves. Finally, it was to show that Brad was not a 'boy' any longer. He remained soft throughout the entire chapter - not out of fear, but out of the fact that it wasn't sexual to him. Even dropping his Speedo and displaying himself like that should have got a rise out of him, but it didn't.

Brad is emerging. He is the youngest of the four, but he is also the only one to see what they are all about. That's why I had him do what he did. (I did rewrite the 'pirouette' thing, though. )

 

[kcm17480]

I believe that the story should flow from you the way it has been. If it wasn't for the way it was coming from you, I probably wouldn't still be here following this story. I like the way it is going and especially the way Brad is developing. He seemed kind of timid for such a strong able bodied person. Not that I haven't seen it be that way with some men of the same stature.

Please carry on. Not everthing can always be roses. I think a little spice needs to be present to keep things interesting for all parties concerned.

This is an excellent chapter.

Thanks for sharing,
Ken

 

[Kyanimal]

In my instance (And, no, I was not the one doing it... Surprise!) there wasn't a pirouette, either! There was a sort of "Ta Da!", though!

Neil ... write the story the way YOU want it to go! Don't pause to "second guess". Just wouldn't be the same, dontchaknow!

 

[Just4fun2]

Neil ... write the story the way YOU want it to go! Don't pause to "second guess". Just wouldn't be the same, dontchaknow!

Neil, What a wonderful chapter. I just love where this story is going. I agree with what everyone here is saying. Neil, your so talented.

Chris

 

[upyrkilt469]

As most have said, Neil, you know best how the story should go but I think this looks like it. Keep it up. Vic.

 

[harry113]

Deep stuff, Neil .... Thank you
This is a wonderful story & this is yet another great chapter, bringing everything into the open between the four of them. Brad has become more mature than any of the others .... his perceptive powers bely his younger age. Now that he has made them all face up to their situation their frienship can only improve & become more trusting.
Neil, this story is yours, & yours alone. Please continue in your own inimitable style.
Harry

 

[GrayFox]

Now you have me thinking, Neil. Can one fall in love with a fictional character? One surely can feel something for one. I thought that I was "relating" hee hee to Brad, but now I'm not so sure. I have always felt in the back of my mind that Ted was you, Neil. And if I could choose who I would live with in the story, it would be Ted. So, that means...........Oh God!................

 

[gsdx]

I have always felt in the back of my mind that Ted was you, Neil. And if I could choose who I would live with in the story, it would be Ted. So, that means...........Oh God!................

Fear not, my friend. I'm flattered, but Ted is nothing like me. He's 10 times the man I could ever hope to be. Living with Ted would be nothing like living with me. Let your imagination go wild.

 

[sheep]

I'm glad you let Brad mature today. His maturity has been evolutionary until today when it became revolutionary. He has been Teds sidekick too long. I don't recall Ted being 3 times older but he sure is stuffy compaared to Brad.
Whip that Speedo off more often. Show them who is the man of the house.

*no lesbians have been hurt in the writing of this chapter*

 

[dlf0001]

Don't forget, even though Ted is older than Brad, he is proving to be less wise, and may even be less "gay mature" as he was living as a heterosexual for most of his life... unless there is more psychological exploring to be done concerning his formative years and his relationship with Warren.

I did notice a mathematical error in the chapter where Ted proclaimed Brad was 1/3 his age... that HAS to be a mistake... or at least a phrasing error.. Brad could be 1/3 younger than Ted, but would then be 2/3's his age...

 

[gsdx]

He may have been one-third my age, but I was the one who felt like a child at that moment.

I don't recall Ted being 3 times older but he sure is stuffy compaared to Brad.

The math was correct. The phraseology wasn't.

Oops.

(Good catch, by the way. Shows me you're not just skimming down to the naughty bits. )

 

[ronboy]

Neil- It is first and foremost, YOUR story. Write it as you see fit. I think this is something that has needed to be said and done for a long while now. This was a great chapter. I can't wait for Friday!

Zac

AMEN TO THAT!

 

[dlf0001]

Instead of having a "cover all the bases", "let's talk this over", "look before we leap" partner swap... I vote for an all out orgy... Brook should be included... lol

 

[axlsergei]

Neil,
Keep the story the way it has been naturally flowing. Don't try to rationalize it too much; follow your muse, your inspiration.
I personally love the way the story is going, the places is heading to. It surprises me and keeps me hungry for more.

Serg-

 

[crazy3]

Neil,

I am a bone head to assume you know the members of your Coffee Club fan base. Please allow me to clarify, the members are:

Me - Chuck
My better half - Chris (he hates to be called Christopher)
Our best friend and token fag hag (we mean that with love) Sandra

We gather every Mon. Weds. and Friday morning before work at the same table and read your wonderful saga.

I have read many comments about how this story has paralleled the lives of your readers. It does with mine as well, being a gay father of two daughters, you have more than once written about my life experiences that have happened to Ted.

Many thanks to you for sharing this story with all of us.

 

[gsdx]

I am a bone head to assume you know the members of your Coffee Club fan base. Please allow me to clarify, the members are:

Me - Chuck
My better half - Chris (he hates to be called Christopher)
Our best friend and token fag hag (we mean that with love) Sandra

Thank you so much for that, Chuck.

Hello to Chris and Sandra. Very nice to meet you.

(I'm not sure I'd call you a bonehead, Chuck. I'm pretty sure Michael Shanks doesn't know he has a Daniel Jackson Fan Club of one** sitting here at the keyboard. )

** If he knew how big a fan I was, he'd probably have me arrested.

 

[caddymac]

Great Chapter. Thank you for bringing Brad into his own and being strong enough to be heard. I thought in the back of my mind he could have some insight to life.