DUEL with the DEVIL
Viewing comments for Chapter 16 "DUEL with the DEVIL - Chapter 16"The problem of creating a non-addictive painkiller
18 total reviews
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Brian and Julia will continue seeing each other. I'm concerned about Brian's upcoming surgery and getting hooked on drugs again. I am also worried about Julia's parents if they are so serious about Julia's musical talent will they allow her in a relationship which would take time away from practicing. I like this story.
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Brian and Julia will continue seeing each other. I'm concerned about Brian's upcoming surgery and getting hooked on drugs again. I am also worried about Julia's parents if they are so serious about Julia's musical talent will they allow her in a relationship which would take time away from practicing. I like this story.
Comment Written 17-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Barbara. All good concerns. We'll have to see how it plays out. Hopefully, the surgery will mitigate the need for drugs again if it is successful.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
You've cleverly got inside these young characters and made them so real. Julia is so reserved and cautious about everything while Brian is still a bit gung-ho, already investing too much into this friendship. I'm wondering if he's heading for another fall? Whatever the case - and still I have this picture of him at the start of the book - he's having all the help he could possibly need (medical, social, therapeutic, psychological) at the moment. And, of course, his sister. So I think his age and those teenage hormones are going to be his worst enemy...? Thanks for sharing another excellent read, Jim. Take care Debbie
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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You've cleverly got inside these young characters and made them so real. Julia is so reserved and cautious about everything while Brian is still a bit gung-ho, already investing too much into this friendship. I'm wondering if he's heading for another fall? Whatever the case - and still I have this picture of him at the start of the book - he's having all the help he could possibly need (medical, social, therapeutic, psychological) at the moment. And, of course, his sister. So I think his age and those teenage hormones are going to be his worst enemy...? Thanks for sharing another excellent read, Jim. Take care Debbie
Comment Written 17-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Thank you, Debbie. I think his real enemy will be his loss of focus and his hastiness, but I have the benefit of being the author and knowing how it will go. He certainly does have a lot going for him now and no real excuse if he backslides.
Brian will be good for Julia in helping bring her out of her sheltered existence. No yet telling quite how this will affect her.
Comment from BethShelby
This sounds like a a healthy relationship since you started the story off with him sounding like he was in trouble I wonder if this will end badly for them. Rehab sounded like it worked well.
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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This sounds like a a healthy relationship since you started the story off with him sounding like he was in trouble I wonder if this will end badly for them. Rehab sounded like it worked well.
Comment Written 17-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Rehab was a good start, but it often takes more than one trip there to really effect a difference, although for some, I guess it is one and done. We'll see how both of them fare in this regard as the story progresses.
Comment from Rachelle Allen
Well, the Jewish Mommie in me just loves the idea of two nice people becoming a couple. From my husband's son, I learned that these kinds of couplings are so common they even have a name: rehab romance. I'll be interested to see if this one works.
You set it up sweetly and nicely, Jim. It felt tender and very authentic.
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Well, the Jewish Mommie in me just loves the idea of two nice people becoming a couple. From my husband's son, I learned that these kinds of couplings are so common they even have a name: rehab romance. I'll be interested to see if this one works.
You set it up sweetly and nicely, Jim. It felt tender and very authentic.
Comment Written 17-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Thanks very much, Rachelle. I've been reading about "rehab romances" since you mentioned it, and they are generally frowned on and often doomed to failure. We'll have to wait and see if these two can beat the odds or suffer the same fate.
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I'm all in!!
Comment from Tom Horonzy
Sniffling conductor joke??? Did I miss a chapter or has a summer haze overtaken a winter's frost?
Schlub... I may have heard of but is foggy to me as well, do tell.
Aah. A first kiss. I was 17. Home on leave when a gal from high school I didn't know came over and planted one on me. It was the only time I ever saw the Irish lassie, Jean. Hard to calculate if one of my five sisters planned it.
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Sniffling conductor joke??? Did I miss a chapter or has a summer haze overtaken a winter's frost?
Schlub... I may have heard of but is foggy to me as well, do tell.
Aah. A first kiss. I was 17. Home on leave when a gal from high school I didn't know came over and planted one on me. It was the only time I ever saw the Irish lassie, Jean. Hard to calculate if one of my five sisters planned it.
Comment Written 17-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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It was the "sniffing" conductor joke Brian pantomimed to Julia in the previous chapter. A schlub is a Yiddish word for an unattractive or boorish person.
Only time you ever saw Jean? Poor guy! Sounds like she may have done it on a bet.
Comment from royowen
How cute, young love is amazing, I can remember being that smitten by girls when I was young, such an idealistic time, not wanting to muck it up, by being a Randy Andy. This is a very touching episode, well done, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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How cute, young love is amazing, I can remember being that smitten by girls when I was young, such an idealistic time, not wanting to muck it up, by being a Randy Andy. This is a very touching episode, well done, blessings Roy
Comment Written 17-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Roy. Something very appealing about young love. Let's hope they take it at the right pace and let it develop naturally without forcing things. That's probably the best way to create a lasting relationship.
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I think so
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Well done.
But I have a couple plotting questions (maybe not plotting).
It seemed odd that Brian didn't have any friends. He seemed like the kind of boy that would have many friends. Also, It seemed odd that neither of them had ever kissed before. Maybe Julia had had boyfriends, but only casual and had never put passion into a kiss.
Good luck with the story.
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reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Well done.
But I have a couple plotting questions (maybe not plotting).
It seemed odd that Brian didn't have any friends. He seemed like the kind of boy that would have many friends. Also, It seemed odd that neither of them had ever kissed before. Maybe Julia had had boyfriends, but only casual and had never put passion into a kiss.
Good luck with the story.
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 17-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Thanks, Wayne. Two good questions.
I said neither of them had "many close friends." That doesn't mean none. Introverts like these two tend to develop only a few close friendships. They may have a number of acquaintances, but only a very few they choose to get close to. All four members of my immediate family are that way.
If these 16-year-olds have never been on a date with anyone before, they may not have had an opportunity for a first kiss. That's what made this one so special. Except for a few brief pecks playing spin the bottle at 6th grade parties, I don't think my first real kiss came until age 15. How about you?
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13
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Yowza! Good for you.
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not really
long, sordid story
frowny/smiley face here
Comment from Wendy G
Excellent writing, and I very much enjoyed this chapter. It was positive, and the relationship will be helpful to both. You've subtly included ways to manage life and pain without resorting to drugs and alcohol, and the kids are working out for themselves what strategies will be helpful. Very well done.
Wendy
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reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Excellent writing, and I very much enjoyed this chapter. It was positive, and the relationship will be helpful to both. You've subtly included ways to manage life and pain without resorting to drugs and alcohol, and the kids are working out for themselves what strategies will be helpful. Very well done.
Wendy
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 17-Jul-2024
reply by the author on 17-Jul-2024
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Thanks very much, Wendy. Often these "rehab romances" don't work out, but these two seem to have it together more than many at rehab, so there's a chance it will work. It's good they are developing alternatives, which are better suited than drugs, to deal with their pressures. That's an important step in the rehab process.
