Watching Brad

[caddymac]

Just stopping in to be sure I have not missed a chapter.
Hope you will find your way with the story Neil. I love the story!!

 

[gsdx]

Well, I can't guarantee that I am out of the writer's block slump, but I was inspired by a dream I had the other night and it gave me something to work up to. If nothing else, it allowed me to finish this chapter and gave me something to work with for the next chapter.

I'm not entirely happy with it (especially the middle bit), but I decided to just tidy it up to make it at least readable and left it in if only to show you how desperate I was to find something to write about.

Anyway, for what it is, here is the next chapter.

Neil

WATCHING BRAD
Part 214​

Our second-month anniversary came and went with hardly any Pomp whatsoever and even less Circumstance. In fact, if Brad hadn't mentioned it that Sunday evening after our night in Toronto, we might have missed it entirely.

As we always did, Brad and I retired to our bedroom when Lindsay went to bed on the daybed. At her bedtime, our livingroom became her bedroom. I was propped up against the pillows and headboard beside him reading the third book of the newly-discovered Mrs. Pollifax books. (And I was totally enjoying her romp through Bulgaria, I might add. Dorothy Gilman was quickly becoming my favourite author.) Brad was sitting up in bed beside me, the bed sheet at his waist and his laptop in his lap, working on his online studies for his landscaping degree.

"Do you know what today is?" he asked right in the middle of Mrs. Pollifax's attempts to break into a high-security prison with the help of young, female backpacker, an American spy, and a couple of aging resistance fighters, all in an attempt to rescue the young backpacker's boyfriend who had been arrested by the secret police and was being held for ransom. I was truly learning to love that cloak and dagger stuff, especially with Emily Pollifax at the helm.

"Well," I said as I turned my head to look at him, "unless it's been moved from between Saturday and Monday, my guess would be ‘Sunday'."

Brad laughed and smiled his delightful chipped-tooth smile at me. His smooth, almost hairless chest bounced with each quiet guffaw. "How long have you been saving that one, Pops?"

"Since April 1997."

"You silly," Brad laughed again. "No, I mean the date. It's the seventeenth. I've been a father for exactly two months now."

"You're counting?"

"For now, at least. But I've also been Bradley de Villiers Hayes for exactly two months, too. It's our anniversary today, Pops. Happy anniversary."

I set my book aside and rolled up onto my left elbow. "I'm sorry, Tiger. I didn't even realise. We could have done something special to celebrate."

"I didn't realise it either until just now, but I thought maybe we could back it up and count our little romp between the sheets in the hotel as our anniversary celebration. You know, like make it retroactive or something. I mean, it was pretty special, and it was after midnight, so technically it was our anniversary."

I smiled at him. "Yeah. You were pretty special, alright."

"We were pretty special, Pops," he said and he leaned over a bit to give me a kiss. "Happy anniversary, Pops."

"And happy anniversary to you, too, Tiger." I kissed him again. "You know I love you, don't you?"

"I hope so," he said, flashing me that delicious, chipped-tooth smile again. "I'd hate to wake up and find out this whole past year and you and the kids and our wedding were all a dream."

It was my turn to smile. "I'm sure you could dream something better than me and us living in this rinky dink little Winnebago."

Brad's happy smile was replaced by a smile of total sincerity. "I couldn't never dream of anything more perfect than this, Pops. Just to be sure, though. . ."

The kiss tasted real enough to me.

* * * * *

Terry showed up for work a bit earlier than usual on Monday morning. Brad had already left for work by then. The boys were up in their loft bed over the Winnebago cab playing with their toys and Lindsay sat curled up on the bench beneath them reading one of her Nancy Drew books which Nathan had bought for her at the yard sale. I had just finished shaving and was sitting down at the table for another cup of coffee when Terry arrived. She joined me after the obligatory greetings from the kids.

"So," I said, smiling, as she settled into the bench seating across from me, "how was your date with Tom?"

She set the mug on the table in front of her and wrapped her hands around it as if she were trying to warm them up. She smiled back at me. "Oh, Mr. Dee, I had such a wonderful time. He took me to that new Greek restaurant in Whitby and the food was just amazing. Tom tried to trick me into the calamari," she shivered, "telling me it was some sort of grown-up anchovy or something, but I already knew what it really was and decided to try the paidakia instead. Thank God for the Food Network," she finished with a shudder and a scrunched-up face. "Squid! Eww!"

We both laughed.

"But the baklava was the best I've ever eaten," she continued. "Absolutely scrumptious! Mind you, I don't know why I even bother eating that stuff. I should just peel it right off the plate and plaster it directly onto my hips. That's where it all goes eventually. But oh, it was so delicious. Still," she added as she sat back in the bench and smirked mischievously and winked, "the Ouzo kinda made me not worry too much about how many calories I was stuffing in my face."

We both laughed again. This time the twins joined us. Apparently they found ‘Ouzo' to be a very funny and they repeated it several times to each other.

"Anyway, the restaurant has a lounge, too," Terry continued. "Sort of a tavern. So we just stayed there the rest of the evening and talked and got to know each other. No more Ouzo, though. Not with Tom driving. We switched to coffee."

"Sounds like you had a wonderful time," I said.

"Oh, it was the best, Mr. Dee. The absolute best." There was such a dreamy quality to her voice and it made me happy to hear it.

"So, you didn't miss us being there?" I asked. "Not even a little bit?"

Terry's blush started at her neck and quickly spread up to her ears before overflowing onto her cheeks before she could hide it behind her hands and her embarrassed smile. "Oh, Mr. Dee," she said shyly. "I feel so foolish. What was I thinking, asking you and Brad to come with me?"

"Well," I said, "if I remember correctly, you had your concerns about whether he wanted to get to know you or if he was using you to get to know us better. Your reason's were valid, Terry."

She dropped her hands from her face and said quietly, "Yeah, well, he kind of answered that question when he took me home."

"Oh, really?" I whispered back. I'm sure my raised eyebrows just about reached my hairline. "Do tell!"

She quickly reached out her hand and put it over mine as she laughed and leaned across the table. "Oh, no, Mr. Dee," she whispered with a light giggle as she pulled her hand away again. "Nothing like that. Tom was a proper gentleman from beginning to end. All he did when he took me home was kiss me goodnight. But I can promise you here and now, Mr. Dee, there isn't a gay man alive who would kiss a woman the way he kissed me, even if he was trying to get to either you or Brad. Tom's a lady's man all the way."

"And a very handsome and sexy one at that," I added softly.

Terry blushed again, but not quite as much as the last time. "Yes, he is. Isn't he? You should see him in blue jeans and a T-shirt." And then, almost to herself, she looked down at her coffee mug and added a breathy "Woof."

I bit on the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing this time. Her reaction to Tom Kent in blue jeans and T-shirt had often been my reaction to Brad when he was similarly attired. I knew how she felt and it was nothing to tease her about.

"You'd get along well with Tom, though," Terry continued. "He likes the same kind of music you do. In fact, he wants me to go to a Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert with on the Friday before Thanksgiving. Have you ever heard them play before?"

"Oh, yes,," I told her. "Quite often. Before my divorce, I used to buy season memberships. I never missed a concert if I could help it. Any idea what's playing?"

"Something about an art gallery or something? And Scheherazade and some other stuff I can't remember."

I chuckled lightly. "Scheherazade you remember but you forget Pictures at an Exhibition?"

Terry began to chuckle, too. "Yeah, well, my Dad used to tell me the stories from The Arabian Nights when I was a kid. I remember Scheherazade from that. Mind you, hearing about people being chopped up and sewn back together and forty thieves being boiled to death in barrels of oil didn't make for many happy dreams to a three-year-old. More like nightmares. But I loved all the stories my Dad told to me at bedtime."

"Well, you don't have to worry, Terry," I assured her. "Scheherazade isn't likely to cause you nightmares. The music is really quite lovely. In fact, if that concert had been your first date and you asked Brad and me to come with you, I doubt if Brad would have been able to talk me out of accepting your invitation. I love the TSO."

Terry smiled slyly. "I can ask Tom if he can get extra tickets for you so you can go with us."

I smiled back at her. "Don't tempt me, Terry."

* * * * *

David arrived at the building site that same morning accompanied by Brook. It was Brook's day off from the clothing store and, now that he wouldn't interfere with David's attempts at getting the job and sponsorship he wanted, he decided to tag along on his days off to keep David company and to help out where he could - at least until David was hired.

David was a different man now that his future seemed assured. With the anxiety of job-hunting and all of his efforts going toward his sponsorship behind him now, there was a new lilt in his step, a new lightness in his voice, a happier smile on his face, a brighter twinkle in his eye, and an air about his which seemed to add several centimetres to his stature. Not to mention the fact that he still worked his ass off cleaning up for us so that there was nary a scrap of wood or a bent nail or empty paper coffee cup or water bottle left on the ground for us to pick up when we got home from work.

The days passed and summer reluctantly gave way to autumn, but only as far as the dates on the calendars were concerned. Weather-wise, it still felt more like the beginning of September than the end of it. The kids wore long pants to school now but carried wind breakers in their backpacks ‘just in case'. Still, the morning temperatures were warm enough that kids hadn't had the need to wear them yet.

Things seemed to be progressing ever-so-slowly on the build during the first week of autumn but both David and Grand assured me that progress was being made.

"The foundation is the slowest and most time-consuming portion of the entire process, Ted," David explained. "That part of house-building can't be rushed or you'll run into serious and expensive problems down the road."

"But if Ty Pennington can pour a foundation one day and build a house on it the next day, why do we have to wait so long?" I asked.

"Are you talking about that idiot on television with the droppy pants and the bullhorn?" Grand asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, they have to cut corners, and they do," Grand said calmly. "You can do it fast or you can do it right. Do you want a Ty Pennington house or a Mike Holmes house?"

There was no need for me to respond. We both knew what my answer would be.

"Trust me, Ted," Grant continued. "I'll make it happen, and it will be a house you will be safe and feel secure in. You just have to be patient and trust me. You might think nothing is getting done by the looks of it, but everything is going according to my schedule. Some things just can't be rushed."

Still, as I came home each day after work without really seeing any apparent changes, I began to wonder how Grant was going to keep his promise to have a house for us to live in by Christmas.

As Grant had promised, things started happening during the final week in September. Huge deliveries of lumber and plywood began appearing in gigantic piles on the mangled and muddy front yard. I heard all about the big delivery trucks and the cranes used to unload the flatbeds from Justin and Jeremy. They had watched almost every single one of them. I found out later that Grant had intentionally arranged the delivery times for the afternoons so the boys could watch. "Don't worry," he concluded with a wink and a smile. "I don't charge extra for entertainment." And then he laughed his delightful, high-pitched laugh that still sent the twins into fits of happy giggles.

Cam Bennett showed up on the building site midweek along with most of his crew. His other contract was virtually completed by then and he could now commit his time and resources to our contract. Only a handful of workers remained at the other work site for the final touches.

The foundation, I discovered, was now cured enough for the construction of our house to begin in earnest. The concrete block basement had already been waterproofed and proper drainage had been installed and the backfilling was completely finished. Now I understood why concrete blocks had been used instead of solid concrete foundation. Had we gone with the poured concrete, we still would have had to wait several more weeks before real construction could begin. As it was, the crawl spaces were all prepped and ready for sealing and waterproofing and insulating, but that would happen after the floors were installed. Waterproofing the exterior of the crawl space foundation properly would come later, nearer to Thanksgiving, after complete curing. They were solid enough to build on now, but Grant wanted to give them plenty of time to cure properly.

* * * * *

Now, I suppose I should remind you that Thanksgiving in Canada is quite different from the celebrations in the United States. Our Thanksgiving celebrations have nothing to do with parades or Santa Claus or ‘Black Friday' or anything other than ‘giving thanks'. And it occurs over a month earlier. That year, Thanksgiving Day fell on Monday, October 9, which meant that we would be going to Toronto at the invitation of Terry and Tom Kent on Friday, October 6 to see and hear the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Yes. Tom had, at Terry's request, managed to obtain two more adjacent tickets so we could attend the symphony with him and Terry, and he refused to take ‘no' for an answer when I objected the he and Terry should go alone. He did, however, accept the money for the tickets when I offered. Originally, our plans were to travel into the city together, have dinner at a restaurant there, and then go to the symphony. Those plans changed slightly, though, following a visit with Nathan and Barry that first Sunday in October.

Due to our current minuscule living arrangements, our friends didn't drop in as often as they used to. Nathan and Barry's apartment was only marginally larger than our Hobbit hovel, but at least there was enough room for everyone to sit together for a meal, even if the three minor de Villerses had to park their minor de Villiers butts on the floor, when dinnertime rolled around. They were sitting there now, playing with toys their uncles had bought for them.

"I don't know, Bradley," Nathan called out from the kitchenette area where he was preparing dinner for us. "I'm not so sure I like classical music enough to sit through an entire concert of it."

"Oh, I think you would, Nathan," Brad replied as he turned his head toward me and smiled. He grabbed my hand in his and squeezed it tightly. "Especially if it meant you could sit and hold hands with Barry for a few hours. I'm actually looking forward to it. With Ted, though. Not with Barry."

"The concert or the hand-holding?" That was from Barry.

"Both, actually. I mean, most of it's pretty nice music except for that heavy-duty opera stuff, and Ted likes it. I like to share what he likes. And the hand-holding makes it all worth while. Sort of like music with perks." And then he gave me a quick kiss.

"Need a babysitter?" Nathan asked.

"Got it covered, Nathan," I answered. "The grandparents will take them for the night. Lindsay usually goes with Brad's parents and the boys go with my parents."

Nathan momentarily abandoned his chores in the kitchenette and came to stand in front of me, wiping his hands on a blue gingham dishtowel he brought with him. "Let us watch Justin and Jeremy, Ted. We'd love to have them and we really don't mind. I mean, we're their godparents, aren't we?"

I glanced around the room. "But where would they sleep, Nathan?"

He quickly tossed the dishtowel at me and hurried off toward his bedroom. "Wait here," he said.

I picked the dishtowel off my chest where it had landed. My eyes turned toward Barry. He sat on a wooden chair to our right, his left ankle perched on his right knee and his hands folded comfortably in his lap. He spread his fingers and briefly flipped his hands palm-upward, shrugging as he did so. He offered something of a helpless, side-lipped grin as his eyebrows lifted toward his crown. "He's been waiting for this chance since you asked us to be their godfathers, Ted," Barry explained quietly. "He went out shopping for them the day after you asked. . ."

A sudden commotion came from the open bedroom door. It sounded like a pile boxes and bags tumbling to the floor followed by a muffled oath from Nathan. All eyes and heads turned to the open doorway. "Don't worry!" Nathan shouted. "Nothing broke. . . but I can fix it!"

I didn't know whether or not to laugh, but Justin and Jeremy began to giggle and Barry joined in. He remained where he sat, apparently not concerned about the noise, so Brad and I laughed along with them. Even Lindsay sniggered politely.

A loud sound of crinkly plastic sounded over our laughter, followed by the dull thuds of boxes and bags being piled atop each other. A few moments later, an excited and panting Nathan appeared in the livingroom again carrying a. . . well, I wasn't exactly sure what it was. I couldn't see the label.

Justin and Jeremy were on their feet in an instant, stretching up on their tiptoes to see. "What is it, Uncle Nathan?" Justin asked.

"It's your bed," Nathan grinned. "You'll sleep on it right here on the floor in the livingroom."

Justin's forehead wrinkled in concentration and he reached out his hand and ran it over the surface of the plastic. Jeremy followed suit. They looked at each other briefly, then they both looked at Nathan. "It's too small for both of us," Justin said almost sadly.

Nathan knelt down in front of them. "It's an air mattress, Justin," he explained. "It gets as big as a bed after we blow it up."

Jeremy turned his head toward me. "Like our bed at Grandma's?" he asked hopefully.

"Yup," I said. "Except this one goes on the floor."

The twins began laughing excitedly and they clapped their little hands together and bounced up and down. "Can Uncle Nathan babysit us, Daddy?" Justin asked excitedly.

"We want to sleep on our new bed," Jeremy added.

"We've got everything they need, Ted," Nathan continued. I sensed a hint of desperation in his voice. "I bought sheets and pillows for them. I even bought them socks and underwear and pyjamas and stuff like that in case they need it. You won't even have to pack a bag for them if you don't want to."

"I can attest to that, Ted," Barry added. "I lost my underwear drawer to them."

Nathan was looking at me, his face set and intense, his eyes pleading. "We'll take really good care of them, Ted," he assured me. "I swear we will."

I glanced quickly at Brad. His expression told me that he was leaving the decision up to me. I turned my attention to the boys. They were staring at me with as much anticipation as their uncle. "Why don't you wait a few more weeks until after Uncle Nathan and Uncle Barry move into their new apartment? Then you can sleep in a real bed in a real bedroom."

"But we want to sleep on the floor on our new bed," Jeremy complained.

"Like camping," Justin added. I could see the inspiration flood into his face and his head snapped around and up so he could look at Nathan. "Can we make a tent from a blanket, Uncle Nathan?"

Nathan looked suddenly panicked and terrified as he looked anxiously at Barry. I knew without even asking that Nathan had never spent a single moment in the Cub Scouts and had no idea how to build a tent. I almost laughed out loud at the idea.

Barry merely smiled at Nathan and nodded slightly. "Yes, Nathan, I can make a tent from a blanket."

"See, Daddy? Uncle Barry will make a tent!"

"Please, Daddy? Can we stay with Uncle Nathan and Uncle Barry?"

I had no objections to letting the twins stay with Nathan and Barry. None whatsoever. I knew Justin and Jeremy would be in very caring and loving hands. No, my concerns were with Nathan's and Barry's sanity. Two rambunctious five-year-old boys brimming with energy were a handful even in the old house when they were at one end of it and I was at the other. That boundless energy became even more apparent within the confines of the Winnebago and Nathan's small apartment. There would be no escape. No respite. Nowhere to go. I could easily imagine Barry creating a collection of fist-sized holes in the drywall before bedtime.

"Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?" I asked Nathan.

Barry answered for him. "We know what we're in for, Ted," he replied with a heart-melting, enchanting smile. "We're in for the time of our lives with our godsons."

What can I say? They got the job.

To Be Continued​

 

[giorgiobaby]

I was so glad to read the most recent chapter, great work as always and I'm ready for the next. Good luck

 

[wyndhampaul]

Thanks Neil; a great chapter.

 

[operafan]

Yea! I loved the new chapter.

 

[upyrkilt469]

Neil that chapter was great. Looking forward to the next. Hope there won't be another block for you to fret through. H&K
Vic

 

[gsdx]

You are all being very kind, but thank you for the encouragement.

FYI, I would like to mention that I heard the expression "Nothing broke. . . but I can fix it" many years ago when a friend dropped a pile of cooking pots. I broke up laughing and have never forgot that moment. When Nathan was working alone in the bedroom, I suddenly thought of that expression and created the 'moment' when the stuff would come tumbling out of his closet.

 

[glorff]

Welcome back

We are all anxiously awaiting the thrill of framing

 

[gsdx]

Welcome back

We are all anxiously awaiting the thrill of framing..|

I told you I was desperate.

 

[Kyanimal]

As far as I can tell ... right back on track, Neil!!!

What more can I say than, "Thank Goodness!" ... and, THANK YOU!!!

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

 

[ronboy]

Neil...It was good....
keep it going from here.....

 

[floorrunner]

Absolutely wonderful chapter.

 

[uhmcrackerjacks]

Ok Neil, you have shown me the fine writer you are. I am only on chapter 128 but, I can't seem to put this thing down. My emotions are all over the place. I started reading "Taking Care of Jason" and didn't really like it but you have really redeemed yourself with "Watching Brad". I hope I can catch up. I hope you are feeling well.

 

[caddymac]

Can't wait to see how the guys keep up with the twins.

 

[harry113]

Great stuff Neil, Thank you, it was worth the wait .... a wonderful chapter, don't put yourself down! very well written, as usual.
I bet the guys will be relieved to hand back the twins, hehe!
HUGS
Harry

 

[garion]

I came late to this story, so am still way back at chapter 15 or so, but just wanted to say thanks for the time and effort you are putting in to this. Great story!

 

[DonQuixote]

Neil,
You were right. I just came to the end of your current chapter with Nathan and Barry imploring Ted to let them baby sit the boys while Ted & Brad attend the Symphony. I didn't know how I could be so close to the end when you told me I was almost there in our PM's given the number of tabs I was still looking at but, here I am.

It's a good thing I knew you were talking about the Toronto Symphony Orchestra when you referenced TSO, however, since we enjoy our seasonal visits to Rochester by another TSO - Christmas time with Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Eastman Theatre! Another fine orchestra, also with excellent story telling capabilities.

As you know, I have thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming Family-centric love story. I see you responded to your fans pleas (please?!) for a little more explicit description in the boudoir scenes, too. A very loving, tasteful scene you present for us whenever our boys express their love for one another, too.

I've commented to you via PM as I've been reading earnestly to catch up, but I want to, once again, give you my thanks, this time publicly, now that I am caught up to the current thread.

It's been fun reading the comments from all around her majesty's former empire, from Sheep in the GTA, though seriously to the North of town, to Wyndhampaul and others Down Under, to UKBrit, Autolycus and others in the UK, to Kyanimal in Cheese Head country, to 1Big14me in Tucson and back up our way on the Southern shores of Lake Ontario with Ronboy and myself. I know I've missed some points along the way, and I apologize if I missed a reader's little part of the world!

As I've mentioned in PM's, I've enjoyed reliving our trips as we've been to the Falls on both the American and Canadian sides several times, across the Niagara River to Fort Erie and Niagara on the Lake ( a great place to send the boys and their friends for a romantic weekend - with the Shaw Festival and all, BTW. If Lindsay ever gets active in Scouts, Fort Erie has some sleepover activities for the girl scouts, reliving the Revolutionary War period for the weekend.) and on up the Skyway to Mississauga and TO a few times, including a trip a lifetime ago to your wonderful Toronto Zoo.

We've seen Show Boat at the North York Performing Arts Centre, and Lion King when it came to Toronto. We've done Eaton Centre, taking the Metro from Mississauga's terminus all the way in to downtown.

I've chuckled at the references to Lionheart Television series - The BBC in America. We get the Lionheart shows on PBS, and they're favorite staples in our households, as is CFMX w/ my dad. Mrs. Bucket ("bouquet") for the uninitiated to Hyacinth, and Red Green are both hoots in the absurdity of their schtick, to Dame Judy Dench in As Time Goes By, or just the British versions of Antiques Roadshow, for that matter.

I look forward to seeing our favorite simian, Uncle David, as the framing gets under way and he is gainfully employed. This section promises a lot of potential big eyes from all of the boys as the shell goes up -- it is an impressive sight, and it does go fairly quickly before returning to what feels a less visible pace with the installation of mechanicals, electrical, insulation, etc.

If you ever decide to bring the adventure stateside, I'd be happy to give the boys a tour of our Finger Lakes wine country. We almost had the Fast Ferry for them to come over on directly from TO to Rochester. Unfortunately, it didn't garner critical mass in passengers quickly enough, and is now servicing the Straights of Gibraltar for a German firm, I believe.

Maybe the sports enthusiasts will manage some tickets to a Bills Game in Toronto, now that they're playing a couple games per season up your way.

Whatever direction you take us, take us as your health provides. We want you to get and stay as healthy as your condition allows. We want you around for a good, long time.

Thank you, again, for your huge outpouring of talent into this and the other stories.

 

[Kyanimal]

Don ...

EXCELLENT post in summing up what ALL of us have been experiencing through Neil's phenomenal talent! I've greatly appreciated your sharing of your own thoughts and insights! I think you have reflected, quite accurately, "Our", or at least my own, enjoyment of "Watching Brad"!

Thank YOU!, and Thank Neil!, for this most wonderful adventure!!

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

 

[gsdx]

I look forward to seeing our favorite simian, Uncle David, as the framing gets under way and he is gainfully employed. This section promises a lot of potential big eyes from all of the boys as the shell goes up -- it is an impressive sight, and it does go fairly quickly before returning to what feels a less visible pace with the installation of mechanicals, electrical, insulation, etc.

Well, that makes my job a lot easier. When I get to that point in the story, I'll just point the readers to this post.

Anyway, thanks for the comments and know that I'm still working on the next chapter. It's been a tough winter and sleep isn't quite as enjoyable as it used to be. I still can't lie down to sleep. I guess I need one of those beds that do all those fancy calisthenics for less than the cost of a used Porsche.

Still, I'll keep on keeping on. Just not quite as fast as I used to, though.

Take care, always.
Neil

 

[Mpathyk]

Hello.


Words can not express how I feel about your writing Neil. This story, it's remarkable. I've never read anything like it before, and the way you write makes me feel like I know Ted and Brad in real life. I feel happy/annoyed/sad/etc with them.

I just started reading it about 2 weeks ago, but since I read the first chapter. I haven't done anything else. Spending every moment I could catching up. It's amazing. I've never felt such emotion over a story before, and once I get to the last chapter ( Currently at 213 ) I plan to start over all again.

Anyways, I'm not very good with the posting, so I'll stop here. I just wanted to say Thank you for making such a wonderful read.

PS. Now when I listen to Unchained Melody, it brings tears to my eyes thinking of the brilliant relationship between Ted and Brad.