Merkin

If you do much sashaying in a U.S. bar in the hopes of scoring, you are more likely to get shot down than shot.

And China Boat was most wonderful: http://www.awesomedude.com/douglas/china-boat/index.htm Looking forward to your new one, Douglas.

oops. Posting mistake.

…or a toe in the eye. Conventions vary, but in my youth it was customary in my region of the country to tuck two non-connubial house guests into the same bed by having them sleep head to foot. This could not have guaranteed sweet dreams for either.

'James needs to learn more about the historical honour of living with a cat...' No, thanks. I'll continue to admire the lifestyle from afar.

Brilliant!

When I first read this wonderful tale back in 2004 the tv series Get Smart was still current enough in memory to provide a resonant backdrop to the zany antics of two sophomoric gay love puppies in pursuit of two canny senior big dawgs. In “Control and Chaos” David Buffet, himself a school teacher, writes about barely-believable high school rites of passage for hormone–driven gay students, but his depiction of these four is so creative, so well wrought and charming, and so hilarious it led me to reread it several times over. Everything works: the dialogue is delicious, the settings are convincing, and the boys themselves are works of art. Thanks, Mike, for bringing this back to our attention. http://www.awesomedude.com/davidbuffet/control_and_kaos/index.htm

For those readers, like Camy, with too much time on their hands: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.ponos.battlecatsen&hl=en&gl=us

Very best wishes, Mike.

Great news, Nigel. Thank you for the update.

Is this a caption contest? I don't have any to suggest at the moment but I'm wondering if the teacher can get an accurate temp. reading through that magnificent head of hair...

Thanks, guys. I credit Mihangel for the inspiration. He always gave us wonderful bits of poetry to mull over with each of his stories.

Agreed. Every story Mihangel wrote is heartfelt and exquisite. Upon Reading Mihangel's Those Old Gods The old god saw our hearts' desire: our love, or lust, or art, or dire deeds done; all known. We had his nod when we believed, and showed the god our noble aim. Our only thought, the honesty of love. We sought to venerate, and hoped to gain his approval and acclaim. But we forgot. An aeon's toll has taken our knowledge of his ways. We live forsaken. We are no more protected: we've left our heritage, and thus bereft we may no longer call for aid-- until such time as can be paid an offering where love abounds, and two united should be found whose lips and hearts resound above the name Maponus, god of love. The sacrifice, though scant, is quite sublime. Required, but a splash of lovers' wine. --Merkin

An apt introduction to Chapter 3.

Melville is well known for his tendency to bare all.

Chapter 2, and who could have predicted it? Cole just keeps on stirring that fiction-laden brain of his and before you know it he’s cooking up a revolution. Although I can’t say I’d like to do a belly-flop into the school pool with all my bits dangling. I would probably have enjoyed reading Melville in the nude. I sure didn’t while fully clothed.

Well, that's one hidden content I wish I'd never clicked on.

No, no, no, don't delete the image. First good laugh this week.

Ahh, I do remember the smell of my rural countryside, Pennsylvania in the spring, when farmers spread their fields with the bounty of manure--cow, pig, chicken--they had been saving up all winter. That was the balance of Nature that I learned about as a kid. Don't drive country roads with your windows open in the spring. As awful as it was I have to say I miss it.

What an exquisitely complex plot! I am having to make lists of characters. Keep it coming, Nigel.

Just don't put your car keys in the refrigerator and your eggs in your pocket.

"Oliver" is a SCARY Cole Parker short story. You still should read it.

Check out a new story “Cade’s Way” over on Nifty by Joshua Elston, a writer I don’t know much about yet but now I’ll be sure to watch out for his work. The tale is complete (I think) in this single installment and it is the most beautiful rendition of the moment of gay realization and coming out that I’ve run across in a long long time. If you are as moved by it as I was please let the author know; his is a talent that deserves encouragement. https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/highschool/cades-way James Merkin