Watching Brad

[gsdx]

but especially ted's reaction,which suggested that if the scenario were to happen on the future,he would not only accept it but also encourage it,

This, too, disturbed me as much as much as Ted accepting it disturbed you. As I see it, his only other reactions could have been:

1 - Ignore it and pretend it wasn't happening.
2 - Condemn their behaviour.

Nothing would have been accomplished by ignoring it.

However, he could have asserted his control as a father. He could have lectured them on their 'unacceptable behaviour'. He could have punished them. He could have forbidden them from engaging in such behaviour again. He could have separated them by forcing one of them to move into another bedroom. He could have done any number of things which quite probably would have alienated his sons and possibly driven them out of their home and his life.

Whether or not you agree with their behaviour, Ted and Brad anticipated it and accepted it and prepared for it if the situation were to arise. As a result, their sons' safety and well-being were their major concerns, even to the point of providing them with the necessary protection whenever they needed it. Whether they used that protection for themselves or for their girlfriends was irrelevant.

That is not encouraging it. It is accepting it and saying, "If you're going to do it, at least be safe."

I felt that was a much more important message to convey.

 

[sheep]

In the spring I changed my email address and messages about postings stopped being forwarded to me. I left this story after months of no updates. It looks like it is going again. Now my problem is to figure out where I left off.

 

[Undisclosed]

In the spring I changed my email address and messages about postings stopped being forwarded to me. I left this story after months of no updates. It looks like it is going again. Now my problem is to figure out where I left off.

Just do what I'm doing while waiting for a new chapter, start to read from the beginning again. The story is too awesome to read it only once.

 

[DonQuixote]

Just what I was going to suggest to our good friend Sheep.

Long time, no see!

 

[sheep]

OK Neil, I'm all caught up. Please don't post 3 chapters a week cause they may conflict with my 3 visits to physio each week for my back. Mine like yours won't be getting better any time soon. Two chapters a week will be fine.

Take care of yourself as best you can.
k

 

[DonQuixote]

Your back, Neil's back, my knee - self inflicted and on the mend, but slow . . .
Getting old is a bitch - but it still beats the alternative.

 

[homemadehuman]

"I'm so sorry, Teddy. I hope you can forgive me."

I pulled away from him and gave him a baffled, one-sided smile. "Forgive you for what?"

Warren suddenly shouted, "This!" Before I knew it, he stepped away from me, reeled back his right arm, and, with his hand opened flat, smacked me across the left cheek with such force that my head snapped around to the right.

My own hand moved immediately to my stinging cheek as I turned back to face my best friend. My whole body was shaking with the fury I was suddenly feeling. "Gee-sus fuckin' Murphy, Warren! What in hell do you think you're doing!??"

"Something someone should have done years ago!" he yelled. "Now, sit down and shut up!"


Warren would you Marry me?

 

[DonQuixote]

Warren does have his moments, doesn't he?!

 

[homemadehuman]

Warren does have his moments, doesn't he?!

they all have! every single character neil have introduced to us,have had an stellar moment!

you would think that handling so many different characters would make them flat and almost impossible for us to relate to any of them,oh was i ever wrong!

every word,every day i cherish more this story,and panic is taking over as i come closer to catch up with the current chapters and realize that i have to wait like the rest of mortals...

to be honest,i could have read the whole thing in less than 3 days,but i wanted to enjoy it slowly,it's like that dessert you go through with the smallest spoon you can find so it never ends haha!.

 

[DonQuixote]

I know what you mean. When Neil told me I was almost caught up, I didn't believe it - it looked like there were so many more pages to go - but a lot of those turned out to be commentary, not story, and Wham, I was there.

 

[homemadehuman]

I know what you mean. When Neil told me I was almost caught up, I didn't believe it - it looked like there were so many more pages to go - but a lot of those turned out to be commentary, not story, and Wham, I was there.

i think i'm getting sick of my stomach how many chapters are there by now?

and when was the date it was published? i didn't want to look to avoid spoilers.

 

[DonQuixote]

Chapter 216, June 30, 2009 page 59.

There are lots of comments the further you get.

Neil had to slow up due to health issues.
He's been working on three threads at once - trying to finish up Best Friends Play Hard, Redux, lately.

Also has Jason and Company currently in publication.

All as health allows - his body has been giving him a lot of grief, lately.

 

[homemadehuman]

Chapter 216, June 30, 2009 page 59.

There are lots of comments the further you get.

Neil had to slow up due to health issues.
He's been working on three threads at once - trying to finish up Best Friends Play Hard, Redux, lately.

Also has Jason and Company currently in publication.

All as health allows - his body has been giving him a lot of grief, lately.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO two chapters left
Thank you so much for replying Donquixote

Neil get well!,what matters it's your health and that's it that.

 

[gsdx]

Neil get well!

That's not going to happen, but thanks.

And I didn't realise the last chapter was posted 2 months ago. I feel so horrible that I've disappointed so many people.

 

[homemadehuman]

That's not going to happen, but thanks.

And I didn't realise the last chapter was posted 2 months ago. I feel so horrible that I've disappointed so many people.

What on earth are you talking about? you haven't dissapointed anybody! who writes an ongoing story of 216 chapters and almost 4 years worth of dedication?,blood sweat and tears literally.

you have said it yourself before,the story was not supposed to go beyond's brad window,the fact that you expanded it to such a rich universe beyond the wildest expectations it's a bonus gift for all of us.

i am not saying this to kiss your ass,what you have done it's amazing and everybody is grateful for that.

maybe i am irrelevant but i see many people here that have been with you since the 1st post on this thread,that says it all.

 

[Kyanimal]

And I didn't realise the last chapter was posted 2 months ago. I feel so horrible that I've disappointed so many people.

Disappointed? HIGHLY Unlikely!!

Neil ... Through your stories (not just this one), you have managed to share ALL of your "imaginary friends" with such skill, talent, and dedication, that they have become our "friends", too!!

And, for that, I can not put into words (for I am not nearly as talented as you are), just how much appreciation, and adoration, has been generated through your efforts!

If I may be so presumptuous, I would feel it an Honor to consider You a Friend, too!

Take Good Care! And, of course ... no matter what ...

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

 

[Kulindahr]

You're not the only one who has been encouraging me to publish, Paul, but I'm afraid the research I would have to do to correct all the mistakes would be an impossible task to say the least.

That's what all your readers here are for!

Thank you for such a wonderful experience. After about part 60, I just scanned past the sex scenes because .. well, who cared? Bring on the next element of their lives! We know they're getting laid.

Absolutely!


I want to add that I just read part 169, where the house got zorched. When they got the call in London, I just knew it was a storm, but I expected a tree right down the middle of the house, not full-blown destruction!

Now I'm going to have to keep reading until it's all set right.

 

[sheep]

I just read part 169, where the house got zorched. When they got the call in London, I just knew it was a storm, but I expected a tree right down the middle of the house, not full-blown destruction!

Now I'm going to have to keep reading until it's all set right.

Or I can tell u that the ins co replaced the house right down to the cigarette burn in the L/R carpet. J/K

 

[Kulindahr]

It would have to be a lot of rewriting and research. I've described places I've never been to and have used my imagination and made up places to 'fill in the holes'. Hell, I don't even know where the de Villiers family lives.

That simply doesn't fly with me. It's one thing to share the story here with my friends, but if someone is going to fork out money for it, there should at least be some truth in it instead of chapter upon chapter of imagination.

It is believable because you don't know the places I've written about. To put it more in perspective, it would be like me writing a story which takes place in Indiana because I heard the song, "Gary, Indiana" in the musical The Music Man.

If all the references were fictional and 'generic', I wouldn't have a problem, but, when you reference an actual place or building, there should be some truth in it.

For instance, in past chapters, I referenced their trips to Niagara Falls and to Centreville. About the only thing I had to go by when writing those chapters were tourist maps and photos I'd found on the internet.

See what I mean?

Actually, that fits what some writers do purposely: change places somewhat from the way they really are. I can't remember the name of it, but I recall an excellent novel I read a while back that took place in the area where I grew up. I kept noticing things that weren't right -- but then at the end, the author explained that things had been made different on purpose. I don't even remember why it was done, but it isn't the only novel I've read that has done so -- some even invent towns that don't exist, ignore towns that do, put in lakes where there are none, etc.

In a tale like this, it doesn't have to match our world perfectly, because it isn't our world: it's one that closely resembles ours, but since it differs in the details of having a Bradley Hayes, a pair of near-psychic twins, etc., why should other details matter?

Research for a novel isn't done so you can slavishly reproduce the world we already have, it's so you can get the flavor of things in order to enrich the world you're creating.

 

[Kulindahr]

Or I can tell u that the ins co replaced the house right down to the cigarette burn in the L/R carpet. J/K

Ha - ha.

Sorry, but in spite of working on a roof, doing some repairs on my little trailer, and going out for pizza today, I'm already on part 186.