Pedro

Notwithstanding other comments before and after this post, particularly from John and Steve, I still feel we might be missing an opportunity here. And I don’t think it hurts to explore more than one option. Talo has said that he has spoken to Arch Hunter and done some editing for him some time ago. They have both done more writing in the intervening period. Maybe, if Talo is still willing, he could renew the contact on the basis of mutually discussing their work, giving Talo the opportunity to discover more about him and his thoughts and objectives. Then if Talo is satisfied with his credentials, work on CW can be discussed. Softly, softly, catchee monkey! Talo has the advantage of speaking the same language, hopefully minimising mistranslations and misunderstandings. Cheers P

I know of some sites that offer forward reading of chapters or completed stories through a Patreon paywall. I’m not sure how much extra work would be involved. IIRC, AD author Cynus, whose muse, alas, seems to have done a runner, did this through his own site at one point. However one thing I should mention about my experience of Patreon for e-reading is that your payments are subject to VAT / Sales Tax as you as subscribing for a benefit. Whether Patreon handle the necessary reporting and payments over to the various tax authorities, I have no idea.

HOW TO MAKE ENGLISH. Take a little organic Celtic and cook slowly, adding just a pinch of Latin. When it's off the boil, add a generous helping of old German, of the Friesland variety and cook slowly for a few centuries. Add several handfuls of hot Scandinavian and stir well. Once this is simmering nicely, cover it all with a thick layer of course French and put the lid on. Wait for the grammar to begin to curdle. Once this appears to have settled, skewer the mix with a sharp Caxton, which will instantly solidify the spelling. Keep well away from logic as this will ruin the flavour. Allow it to simmer gently for a few centuries then top it with a sprinkling of Greek, and just a few odd words from random language. Allowit to cool and solidify. It travels well and makes an excellent base for Air, sea, commercial and diplomatic dishes. (Keep in a safe place, well away from American). Found in the comments section of this YT video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK3z5LCUu40 Enjoy Pedro

Sad news. May he rest in peace. With this site and his selective moderation of it, Mike not only encouraged authors to develop their craft. Through their stories he would not just entertain readers but help those struggling alone find a measure of self-validation. May this site survive to be his memorial.

Thanks for plaudit, Bruin Alas, very much overtaken by events. For what it is worth, this is the pic that was the inspiration for the story. I couldn't use it for the story header as I don't know the provenance etc. Cheers.

Looks like Aussie humour to me. 😁

Mike Thank you for the update. I’m glad to hear that you are on the mend and feeling up to getting back into running the site. My thanks also to Alien Son for keeping things going while you were out of action. Best wishes

Best wishes to one and all.

When we took on the local pub 35 yrs ago, although the local exchange was automatic, all the numbers were three digit. The doctors was an easy to remember 222. After a few years a three digit prefix was added, and the long distance code changed - twice. I still live in the same area and remember all my friends and neighbours numbers by the original three significant digits. I get caught out by those newer residents with numbers where the prefix is slightly different.

Wot everyone else said: welcome back. And thanks to John for keeping the show on the road.

I think Merkin said her name has a rhyme association with ‘grimalkin’, one of the witches familiars in the Scottish Play. I do know she covers the holes in my plots🙀. Acat called Rutabaga? Maybe not but I can imagine a cat being named Turnip. When I was three, we got a kitten we called Kidney - which apparently stemmed from my mispronunciation of ‘kitteny’ Donny can’t tell us anything about the rite his sisters made him attend. I think his memory is blocked.

Best wishes for a full recovery.

Many guys thanks your comments for. 😆🤣

Viewing from across the pond, things in the ‘Land of the Free’ are not looking all that good for freedom at the moment. SCOTUS has overturned the nearly 50 years precedent of Roe v Wade, a 100 yr NY state gun control measure, and has previously taken a pop at the nearly 60 year old Voting Rights Act. Further ‘Judge’ Thomas has effectively already invited challenges to Gay Marriage, LGBT rights, and the availability of contraception. The cynic in me suggests that the rest of the VRA, the nearly contemporary CRA , desegregation (Brown v Board of Education) etc will be challenged soon after. While the overturning of these rights and freedoms is bad enough in itself, I fear the most egregious damage is the disregard of set precedent - the overturning of the doctrine of stari decisis - settled law. Ultimately this will mean in any court, not just SCOTUS, the law is whatever the presiding judge decides it is at the time a case is heard, depending on his mood, prejudices and, dare I say it, political expediency and bribes. So, yes, I fear they are coming for y’all here, who I count among my friends. It grieves me to say it but maybe the second amendment/NRA crowd have a point about resisting overbearing government. Except It’s not their natural supporters who are most at risk! While I have problems with organised religion, particularly the hubris associated with the monotheistic religions- God created man in his own image - I found this from an Anglican priest in Nova Scotia, Canada interesting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WFpaqWJKx0 -What has SCOTUS done?

Well done getting things sorted - and for generally keeping the site going. One improvement I’ve noticed when using my ipad is that the sign in button now displays clearly, instead of black on black, and I don’t have to guess where it is anymore. Ta muchly!

I’m surprised no one has commented on this piece by Ruwen Rouhs: https://awesomedude.com/ruwenrouhs/i-was-four/i-was-four.htm You have, of course, all read it. Haven’t you? P

That's harsh. Both Trevor and Arthur have felt rejection in one form or another before. Of course they are going to be wary they will be rejected again. They only see one side, we see both sides and want to scream at them.

Thank you for your regular comments. I freely admit the stories are a bit of a mixed bag - but then so are the associated challenge pictures! Hopefully they raise a smile or two and maybe the occasional more reflective, serious thought.

I cannot think of a story that fits entirely, but there are three by Mihangel, here on AD that variously fit parts of your scenario, but not the whole, in particular not the shoot out on the farm. A Time : Where the main character had previously helped the younger survive in a Japanese POW camp. There is a shoot out but it is at the school (Yarborough) A Younger Orogeny: Where the younger boy is being hidden from his pedophile father. Kingdom Come: Where the main character is the new boy and befriends another boy who appears younger and is ostracised by the other pupils. All good reads, even if not the one you are seeking.

Guys, those are both great. Cole's shows how we like to think of Christmas James' , chimes with my view of the commercial reality. Any more?

I thought it was time for some Christmas doggerel, especially since we missed last year. So here is my offering. Ho, Ho, Bloody Ho! By Pedro Ho, Ho, Bloody Ho. Christmas’ coming you know. The ads for smelly For ever on telly Too often tell me so. Ho, Ho, Bloody Ho. Keep up with the flow. Spend, spend, spend a lot, Funds you ain’t got, Hitting the shops on the row. Ho, Ho, Bloody Ho. In every store you go, Play’d ever bolder, Wizzard and Holder… Oh, for Pete’s sake. NO! Ho, Ho, Bloody Ho. White Christmas frost and snow. You’ve got no hat. No fun in that, When the North winds blow. Ho, Ho, Bloody Ho. Now drunk girls are the foe, Seeking favours oscular More than jocular Waving sprigs of mistletoe. Ho, Ho, Bloody Ho. Full, fake cheeriness aglow Carollers badly sing (Their necks I’d gladly wring) As thru’ the season they crow. Ho, Ho, Bloody Ho. I hear the doorbell go. Put on false smile, But drop the guile, Finding a friend from long ago!

Thanks for your comment. The light in the picture was wrong for my gang to be in their usual habitat, so this is where it went. It did get rather involved, with a drift into carpet laying amongst other things.

R - Mrs O’Reilly would expect you to be impressed and frightened.

Camy does his Halloween thing with Swanson https://awesomedude.com/camy/swanson/ Great tale with hints of sequels - we need to know the droogs’ stories and the hinted resolution and choice! 😍

Thanks guys. Maybe a third part if we are all still here in 2031!