1990'shttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/taxonomy/term/17253/allenProloguehttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/93063/prologue<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/general-audience-pg" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">General Audience (pg)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-5 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/tg-themes/real-world" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Real World</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-6 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/tg-elements/childhood" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Childhood</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/tg-elements/slice-life" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Slice of Life</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/child" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Child</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90782/road-hell" rel="nofollow"><strong>The Road to Hell</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p>Josh's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion as he opened the box and looked inside. His fifth birthday party had been fun so far. The cake, while not his favorite chocolate, was good, the bicycle his parents had gotten him was just itching to be ridden, and the other toys he'd gotten were exactly what he'd wanted. Now in utter confusion, he could just stare at the last gift he'd opened.</p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 04 Feb 2022 06:37:24 +0000RobertaME93063 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 22 - Moving Onhttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92949/chapter-22-moving<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>At very least the confrontation between Judith and Rich ended with, if not acceptance, at least tolerance, which is more than I can say about my <i>own</i> parents when I came out to them.</p>
<p>It went about as I'd predicted. Eventually they just stopped communicating with me, even when I reached out to them. I learned later that Dad died in oh-four of a heart attack, and Mom went last year from the same thing. They never returned any of my letters. I wrote twice a year. I just kept busy at a local salon, while Jenny worked her desk at the medical group.</p>
<p>Jenny's parents were out of the country when I came home, and I never met them the two weeks we were together before that, so we didn't meet 'til July of ninety-eight. They were surprised, but not half as much as <i>Jenny</i> was!</p>
<p>In the mean time, Rich and Heather were getting into the swing of being new parents. Rich <i>loved</i> being 'Mister Mom' to Faith and ran the house like his own personal fire team! Shortly after she was born, they started looking into moving. There were too many sad memories lurking around the home she grew up in, and Rich wanted a place that would be all their own.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 25 Jan 2022 07:59:00 +0000RobertaME92949 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 21 - Surprise, Surprisehttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92923/chapter-21-surprise-surprise<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>I stayed in touch with Jack and Rich while I was overseas. They would call and tell me what was going on in their lives and I in turn lied to them about how great my new posting was. The only benefit of being so bloody far away was that I was still accumulating Leave that I never took, so in the end I got out almost a month early, taking my last twenty-one days as Terminal Leave.</p>
<p>By September second, I was on my way back to CONUS... the Continental US... but things had changed. Jack and Erica were living in Newport Beach and Rich was in New Hampshire, which was where I was headed as fast as I could. I didn't even take the time to call anyone and let them know I got out early. I felt like I was abandoning Jack, <i>especially</i> after all that he'd done for me over the years, but I just <i>had</i> to follow my heart.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:16:00 +0000RobertaME92923 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 20 - New Lifehttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92896/chapter-20-new-life<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>Jenny and I spent the next two weeks together almost constantly. She got her time off of work, though I'm pretty sure Heather had something to do with that! Those weeks we spent together were all that we'd have for the next year. After I went back, I got my PCS notice effective the first of January ninety-seven. They were already drawing down ANAS and shipping us out to other duty stations.</p>
<p>So two weeks after I said goodbye to Jenny, Heather, and Rich, I was saying goodbye to Jack and Erica, too. I was being shipped off to Okinawa, which left me so far from everyone else it wasn't worth trying to get home to see anyone. I poured myself into my job and counted the days. All I had to get me though it was the memory of those blissful two weeks and the occasional phone call that I made off base.</p>
<p>In the interim, Erica graduated with a degree in Psychology, and she and Jack were getting ready to start <i>their</i> new life.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 20 Jan 2022 18:50:46 +0000RobertaME92896 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 19 - Love and Marriagehttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92865/chapter-19-love-and-marriage<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/tg-other-keywords/same-sex-marriage" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Same-sex marriage</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>Jack not only saw to it Jenny and I had time alone that night, he saw to it we had time the next day before the bridal shower <i>and</i> that night <i>after</i> it! I think Jack was a little in love with the idea of Jenny and I being in love! More than anything though, I think Jack wanted to make sure <i>someone</i> would be there to take care of me, because he knew that very soon, he wouldn't be.</p>
<p>The day of the wedding came and everyone was frantic... except Heather. I worked overtime doing everyone's hair, then getting myself put together, but Heather never faltered or got nervous. That woman's a <i>rock</i>! Unshakable! We girls piled in Heather's limo afterwards, and Gregory drove us to the church in good time.</p>
<p>Later, Jack told me that Rich begged off his own Bachelor Party. Jack still threw it, but Rich didn't go, so neither did Jack! It ended up they spent the evening at a bar around the corner, nursing at beers and reminiscing, while Rich's guests partied hard a block away. It must have been a <i>beauty</i> of a party though, because Jack wouldn't say a <i>word</i> to me about what happened!</p>
<p>So November thirtieth nineteen ninety-six, Rich <i>finally</i> got Heather to say 'I Do'. The wedding was nice. The reception was... well... <i>memorable</i>!</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:27:51 +0000RobertaME92865 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 18 - Turkey Surprisehttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92851/chapter-18-turkey-surprise<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>While Jack and them were greeting Rich's parents, I was inside with a bunch of strangers, the only person in uniform, in a place where I didn't even know people's opinions regarding the military. To say I was a bit jumpy is to put it lightly! Even when someone <i>did</i> talk to me, I always felt like a curiosity more than a Marine, or even the supposed Maid of Honor.</p>
<p>Later on, when Jack and I were talking, everyone else being busy, he told me about Judith and what all happened between them that day. I wanted Jack to know that no matter what, I would be there for him and Erica both. There's not a lot of things you can count on in this world, but I think my friendship with Jack and Rich could be counted as one of them.</p>
<p>Most of the time, you think you know what's going to happen in life. Things like Thanksgiving come around and you... you <i>expect</i> certain things. Turkey, stuffing, football, napping on the couch, talking and laughing with family and friends... You know, the predictable things that are why we <i>have</i> things like Thanksgiving in the <i>first</i> place. To take time together with the people we love and make a memory.</p>
<p>Sometimes things happen that you <i>don't</i> expect though, and would and could, never see coming.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Sun, 16 Jan 2022 11:08:31 +0000RobertaME92851 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 17 - Giving Thankshttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92825/chapter-17-giving-thanks<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>Jack and I had a blast at the pizza parlor that day while Heather and Erica saw to the fittings. We talked for what seemed like hours, laughed, and had a <i>great</i> time. At one point, the waitress that brought us our drinks said we made a cute couple. I wanted to rip her head off at the time, but Jack just laughed. Looking back, it <i>was</i> kind of funny, and I suppose we <i>did</i> make a cute couple, as weird as <i>that</i> sounds! I guess that's why people believed it so easily for so long.</p>
<p>The next several days were a blur. Not only were we getting ready for the wedding on Saturday, but Thanksgiving was that Thursday and Heather had planned a large get together at her family home for both the wedding party and guests and friends of hers and Rich's from their jobs. Sort of a hybrid Rehearsal Dinner, Office Party, and Thanksgiving all rolled into one. I had doubts if even her huge home could fit everyone.</p>
<p>The <i>biggest</i> worry was Rich and Erica's parents. They were invited of course, but none of us knew if Judith would show or not, what with Jack being the Best Man, and even if she <i>did</i> show, if she would make a scene. Erica told me that she was feeling nervous, like a cat on an unplugged electric fence, scared that at any moment it'd go live. Meanwhile, I was struggling with my own issues. I just didn't know if I could be what Heather <i>needed</i> me to be, and I wanted her to have what she deserved.</p>
<p>So Thanksgiving began with a lot of question marks and ended with more.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 13 Jan 2022 17:10:53 +0000RobertaME92825 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 16 - Wedding Bell Blueshttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92798/chapter-16-wedding-bell-blues<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-25 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-language" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Language</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>Heather wasn't kidding or bragging, either. Five huge bedrooms, <i>seven</i> full baths, a great room, a formal dining room, and an adjacent kitchen, all with flawless pinewood floors that shined with <i>two centuries</i> of care and attention. In the wings off the main building was the library, den, music room, and what Heather called the 'Meeting Room'. It had marble floors and it's own huge fireplace, in addition to the one in the great room.</p>
<p>The bedrooms were all on the second and third floors, each with their own private bath, with two bathrooms on the main floor. The attached garage had chauffeur's quarters, as well as a machine shop... and that was just the <i>house</i>!</p>
<p>The property itself was almost beyond description. Forty-five acres with a private pond, apple orchard, woods, walkways, green space, equestrian trails, and, oh yes, lets not forget the 'barn'! The <i>three-story</i> barn with heated stalls and tack room and its own laundry! The second floor was a home for stable workers. Kitchen, living area, bathroom, with the three bedrooms on the third floor, and all of it surrounded by forestlands and fields that were donated to the state as a preserve. It was truly magnificent!</p>
<p>When we first arrived, I thought Heather was trying to show off, but she was just as warm and friendly as she'd always been. She was just very proud of her family home.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 11 Jan 2022 07:29:23 +0000RobertaME92798 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 15 - Homecominghttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92777/chapter-15-homecoming<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>True to his word, Jack called the CO first thing Monday and laid it out for him, that he and I had never had a relationship, that it was always a ruse so I wouldn't be pressured for dates, and Erica backed him up the whole way! He was skeptical, but when Erica nearly bit his head off at the accusation that Jack was cheating on her, that sold him. He dropped the whole deal, with no ticklish questions about <i>why</i>. Within hours, I heard that it had gotten around that Jack and I had been a big lie the whole time.</p>
<p>The funny thing is, it didn't get worse. In fact, I hardly ever got hit on again after that! Seems once they learned Jack and I had never been a couple, that I hadn't dated <i>anyone</i> for over five years, the trouser hounds lost interest. Oh sure, I got a few asks right afterwards, but all I had to say was 'no' and they wouldn't ask again. My rep went from <i>'she must be great in bed'</i> to <i>'she's frigid'</i> in two days. I was never so thankful for being unpopular!</p>
<p>So my Leave started the last week of November and, since I hadn't used any that year, I was able to take three full weeks. I decided I wanted to take a trip back home on the way out to Heather and Richard's place and spend a day to introduce my best friends to my folks.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Sun, 09 Jan 2022 07:30:33 +0000RobertaME92777 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 14 - Everything Changeshttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92739/chapter-14-everything-changes<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/general-audience-pg" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">General Audience (pg)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>That established the pattern. Jack and Erica would go out with me when I had Liberty and I'd trawl for Ms. Right. Never really got anywhere, but the three of us sure had fun <i>trying</i>! We got together with Rich and Heather a few times for dinner, but it was becoming clear that the guys started getting too busy with their own things to spend any real time together.</p>
<p>Jack got a job managing a dry-cleaners in Palo Alto, meanwhile Rich was busy finishing his degree. With Heather and Rich graduating shortly after he and Jack were officially shifted to the Reserves, a full year ahead of Erica's graduation and sixteen months before the end of my cruise, we all knew it meant big changes were coming in our lives. Rich had talked about taking an office job somewhere in LA so he could be close to Jack, Erica, and his parents, but he never got into any details. I guess he was just stalling.</p>
<p>I remember the last dinner we had all together that summer. It was at Heather and Rich's apartment because it was bigger. I'm pretty sure Jack knew what was coming, but it didn't make it any easier to take.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 06 Jan 2022 17:51:59 +0000RobertaME92739 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 13 - The New Normalhttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92716/chapter-13-new-normal<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>When Rich, Heather, and I drove back to the bay area in his car, mine stayed with Jack and Erica after we three had properly 'decorated' it. By then I was feeling a <i>little</i> better about things, but not <i>much</i>. I think I did a pretty good job of keeping the boys blissfully unaware, but not Heather. She knew I was upset, and why, without me saying a <i>word</i>.</p>
<p>That week was hell for me. Once word got around that Jack and Erica had gotten married, I had every single serviceman at that base 'dropping by' the shop to give their condolences on the breakup of our relationship, and not too casually expressing their interest at taking his fictional place in my bed. I managed to duck out of them all that week by saying how I was still kind of heartbroken over the whole thing and just wanted to take time away from dating anyone, but I knew they'd be back.</p>
<p>I never realized before that week just how much Jack had helped my time in the Corps be as <i>enjoyable</i> as it was. After he got married, it was a <i>chore</i>. Just <i>work</i>... and I had eighteen months left in my cruise.</p>
<p>When Jack finally returned the next weekend, I got to hear all the details of their Honeymoon. Romantic evenings, dinners at the lake, feeding ducks at some park, I wanted to <i>puke</i> it was so sweet! I'll admit it. I was <i>bitter</i>. Bitter, jealous, and angry with Jack for taking away my protective cloak. I think that's why he did what he did.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 04 Jan 2022 06:55:56 +0000RobertaME92716 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 12 - Big Things Come in Small Buildingshttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92689/chapter-12-big-things-come-small-buildings<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>They buried Mary in the plot next to his father Danny there in Pittsburgh the following Saturday. It was just the two of them and Erica's father Frank there to say goodbye. They flew back the next day and Jack went to work on his big plan.</p>
<p>Jack told me about his plan for the weekend of March twenty-third, ninety-six. He'd thought of everything, but needed Heather and me to help pull it off. So we spent four weeks between Jack burying his mom and the weekend of the twenty-third plotting, scheming, and basically having a blast planning the surprise of a lifetime for both Erica and Richard. Rich almost caught us once. He walked into the shop while I had stuff out he shouldn't see, but he could be a bit oblivious at times. He never had a <i>clue</i>!</p>
<p>Rich once told me that he thought Jack didn't know <i>how</i> to plan ahead... that he seemed <i>incapable</i> of thinking more than five minutes into the future. He thought Jack was wasting his time and opportunities by not going to college on the government dime. We'd <i>earned</i> it, so why not take advantage? The truth is Jack <i>did</i> have a plan for what he wanted to do, he just had different priorities than Rich. He thought love and happiness, even in total poverty, were better than living in the lap of luxury...</p>
<p>...but Jack <i>did</i> know how to plan.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Sat, 01 Jan 2022 20:30:16 +0000RobertaME92689 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 11 - The Impatience and Patience of Lovehttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92635/chapter-11-impatience-and-patience-love<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-25 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-sex-sexual-scenes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Sex / Sexual Scenes</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15/restricted-audience-r" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Restricted Audience (r)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/tg-other-keywords/death" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Death</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>CAUTION - Sex / Sexual Scenes<br />
CAUTION - Highly Emotional Content</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>Erica once told me that the night she and Jack talked upstairs was one of the most romantic experiences of her life. Sounds <i>great</i> when you say it, but if you <i>think</i> about it you come to realize that the logical corollary to that is that it must have been all worse after that! Luckily for her, Jack was only getting started. Besides, Erica had a tendency to exaggerate!</p>
<p>Jack told me that they talked, cried, kissed a few times, and professed their love for one another. That and a bunch of stuff about living in contentment with pain and such. <i>Blah, blah, blah</i>. Richard was a <i>wreck</i>. He hid it well, but I knew him better than anyone except Jack, even better than <i>Heather</i>. He was torn between wanting to see Jack happy against his protectiveness of Erica. I guess that means protecting her from ever growing up, having fun, <i>sex</i>, a marriage, <i>children</i>... etc. Men are <i>idiots</i>!</p>
<p>The rest of New Years morning was uneventful, unless of course you count Jack's proposal to Erica, but then I'm pretty sure they both knew it was only Jack being Jack. I told you <i>that</i> story already, though. The next few weeks were hard on them. Jack had no Liberty and Erica was swamped with school. Richard and Heather had gotten to the 'comfortable' part of being a couple, so they were <i>used</i> to the separation. Plus, they were <i>sleeping</i> together, which took off a lot of the tension. Jack and Erica... well... Erica told me what they <i>weren't</i> doing.</p>
<p>It got difficult for them to go slowly after only six weeks. Their needs pushed them father and faster than they'd planned to go, but sometimes you realize you gotta to take hold of life fast, and <i>live</i> it while you still have the <i>chance</i>.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 30 Dec 2021 16:20:59 +0000RobertaME92635 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 10 - Revelationshttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92611/chapter-10-revelations<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>I spent my next Liberty with Erica. She talked while I listened and messed with her hair. I learned a lot about Jack, things he never told me. I understand why he'd kept it to himself, though. He'd endured so much pain, it's amazing he was only as nuts as he <i>seemed</i> to be! <i>No one</i> want's that to show.</p>
<p>I learned a lot about Rich, too. She didn't talk as animatedly about him as she did Jack, but she knew all his secrets! I don't know what it is about being a beautician, but women will bear their souls to <i>us</i> the way guys do with a <i>bartender</i>. They tell us things they won't even tell their <i>shrink</i>!</p>
<p>For Jack's part, he was just so damnably, blissfully, innocently, <i>ignorant</i> of Erica's feelings toward him it was hard to watch! It wasn't that Jack didn't see her that way because she was <i>younger</i>, but because of something much more <i>basic</i>. She was his best friend's sister, and that made her almost like his <i>own</i>. It's a little creepy if you think too <i>hard</i> about it!</p>
<p>Jack wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth, though. Erica <i>loved</i> him, and had loved him through some of the worst times of his <i>life</i>. He wasn't about to let <i>that</i> get away, no matter <i>who</i> she was.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 27 Dec 2021 22:59:38 +0000RobertaME92611 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 9 - Christmas Giftshttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92589/chapter-9-christmas-gifts<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-25 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-language" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Language</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>The next day Rich called Heather and told her that Jack stepped aside, but Heather wouldn't have it. She <i>insisted</i> on a date with Jack and wouldn't take no for an answer. Jack said it was good, friendly and warm, but they quickly learned that he and Heather would never have worked out in the end. She was <i>made</i> for Rich and Jack could already see she was in love with him.</p>
<p>Heather and Rich were inseparable after that. For about six weeks, every minute of Liberty Rich had was spent with her, leaving Jack and I to fumble around on our own. It wasn't until Rich's twenty-fourth birthday that Jack and I got to spend any time with him again, but by then it was a foursome.</p>
<p>Rich was done dating and Jack was stuck as my 'boyfriend' for the interim. We went on a triple date once. Rich and Heather, Jack and... <i>Marie</i> I think her name was... and me and Julie. It was awkward because they were first dates for Jack and me, but Heather and Rich were a permanent couple, so I think it made our dates a little uncomfortable. We never did it again.</p>
<p>By the end of the following year, Jack was in a bit of a depression. He was <i>happy</i> for Rich and Heather, but he'd begun to feel like he was never going to find anyone that would love him. It was shortly before Christmas ninety-five that I found myself in a position to repay all the help Jack had ever given me, <i>plus</i> interest.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Sat, 25 Dec 2021 19:11:33 +0000RobertaME92589 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 8 - Fate or Chancehttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92568/chapter-8-fate-or-chance<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-25 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-language" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Language</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>After that day, Jack, Rich, and I were inseparable. There were rumors that I was dating Jack while sleeping with Rich, but we didn't care. Rich about <i>killed</i> PFC Ricks the one time he called Jack a cuck and wasn't just shitting around. We had lots of fun and I never got caught. <i>Jack</i> made sure of that.</p>
<p>Not that I was sleeping around a lot, mind you, but I went on a <i>few</i> dates, mostly with college girls. I <i>never</i> risked dating a fellow W-M. While Rich and Jack were running cover for me, I couldn't count on any of <i>them</i> having similar arrangements. We also never went anywhere that was near the base.</p>
<p>If I had a date, which was <i>rare</i>, it was always somewhere remote and out of the way... never any of the usual places the Hellcats or anchor-clankers might go. The only times we'd go places like the Warf or any place we could get seen it was the <i>three</i> of us, sometimes with a girl Rich was seeing, but never with a girl <i>Jack</i> was seeing. That wasn't often and <i>never</i> the same girl more than once, for <i>any</i> of us!</p>
<p>By ninety-four, things got easier with 'don't ask, don't tell', but we kept up the pretense of Jack being my boyfriend because it just made things <i>easier</i>. For <i>me</i>, anyway. Most W-Ms got hit on all the time, but once it got around that Jack and I were an item, I was off limits. Grunts had no qualms about hitting on W-Ms if they we're seeing a civi or were even <i>married</i> to one, but they'd rarely turn on a fellow member of the Corps. I felt bad for Jack, though. It made his success rate with the ladies track nearly to <i>zero</i>.</p>
<p>Even when it looked like maybe Jack had a shot at a terrific girl, <i>something</i> would always screw it up.</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 23 Dec 2021 23:11:58 +0000RobertaME92568 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfChapter 7 - What's a Nice Girl Like You Doinghttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/92536/chapter-7-whats-nice-girl-like-you-doing<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-20" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel Chapter</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Link: <a href="https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last" rel="nofollow"><strong>Every Day Is Your Last</strong></a> Title Page and Description</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><font face="verdana,arial,geneva,sanserif" color="#603">
<p>I came out of MCRD Paris Island in January of ninety-one, days before the start of <i>Operation Desert Storm</i>. From there I went to Camp Geiger for MCT and Lejeune for MOS. By the time I got my first posting later that year, the war was over and the country had a different attitude toward the military.</p>
<p><i>Before</i> the Gulf, most people looked down on a military career, leftover crap from <i>Vietnam</i>, I guess. <i>After</i> the Gulf though, the country almost seemed to be on <i>overkill</i> trying to <i>apologize</i> to every service member for the treatment of Vets after Vietnam by being <i>overly</i> proud of them. I hadn't even gotten a posting outside the <i>US</i> yet and I had people thanking me for my service! It was <i>bizarre</i> when you think that just a year <i>earlier</i> I had every friend I ever <i>knew</i> telling me what a <i>mistake</i> it was to join up.</p>
<p>I was posted to The Bricks... Marine Barracks, Alameda Naval Air Station as an eleven forty-two, Electrical Equipment Repair Specialist, about July of that year. I met Jack about a week later. At first I thought he was rude, boisterous, pigheaded, and inconsiderate. Later I found out he was all that and <i>so</i> much more!</p>
<p></font></p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 22 Dec 2021 02:52:53 +0000RobertaME92536 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfThe Road to Hellhttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90782/road-hell<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-25 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-attempted-suicide" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Attempted Suicide</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-language" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Language</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-physical-or-emotional-abuse" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Physical or Emotional Abuse</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-referenced-discussed-suicide" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Referenced / Discussed Suicide</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature Subjects (pg15)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fiction</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-7" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel > 40,000 words</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-5 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/tg-themes/reluctant" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Reluctant</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/tg-themes/identity-crisis" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Identity Crisis</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/tg-themes/real-world" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Real World</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/tg-themes/stuck" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Stuck</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-6 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/tg-elements/castration-male-chastity-devices" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Castration / Male Chastity Devices</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/tg-elements/childhood" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Childhood</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/tg-elements/estrogen-hormones" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Estrogen / Hormones</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/tg-elements/slice-life" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Slice of Life</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/preteen-or-intermediate" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Preteen or Intermediate</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/teenage-or-high-school" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Teenage or High School</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/caution-intense-scenes-involving-minor" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION - Intense scenes involving a minor</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/caution-highly-emotional-content" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION - Highly Emotional Content</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/gay-friend" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Gay friend</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/forced-feminization" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">forced feminization</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/tg-other-keywords/death" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Death</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/drunk-driving" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Drunk driving</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/prom" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Prom</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/2000s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">2000's</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/2010s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">2010s</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Josh Ryan was not normal. He talked different, walked different, laughed different... and everyone <i>knew</i> it. He had two very close friends who always wanted to help him; in fact, throughout his young life, he <i>always</i> had people around who wanted to help him... usually to fend off his parents who seemed like they would do <i>anything</i> for him. <i>Their</i> desire to help however, often made his own life take a back seat to their ideas of why he was so different and who he should become as a result... "for his own good." Determined to raise Josh 'their way' and according to their own ideas of who he is, it would take extreme circumstances and more pain than Josh ever thought a person could endure for anyone to even begin to see the damage his parents were doing to his childhood, his future, and in the end, his very life... all "with the best of intentions."</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 29 Jul 2021 01:00:24 +0000RobertaME90782 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelfEvery Day is Your Lasthttps://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/90780/every-day-is-your-last<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-8 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/author/robertame" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">RobertaME</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-25 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-language" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Language</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-sex-sexual-scenes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Sex / Sexual Scenes</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/caution/caution-violence" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION: Violence</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/audience-rating/mature-subjects-pg15/restricted-audience-r" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Restricted Audience (r)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-2 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fiction</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/publication/publication-7" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Novel > 40,000 words</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-3 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/non-transgender" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Non-Transgender</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/genre/comedy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Comedy</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/genre/romance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Romance</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/teenage-or-high-school" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Teenage or High School</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/college-twenties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">College / Twenties</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/character-age/mature-thirty" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mature / Thirty+</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/buddies" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Buddies</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/war" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">war</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/tg-other-keywords/death" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Death</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/marine-corps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marine Corps</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/911" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">9/11</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/tg-other-keywords/same-sex-marriage" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Same-sex marriage</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/lesbian-service-member" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lesbian service member</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1980s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1980's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/1990s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">1990's</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/2000s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">2000's</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/2010s" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">2010s</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/prequel" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">prequel</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/story-story" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Story in a story</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/topshelf/other-keywords/caution-highly-emotional-content" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">CAUTION - Highly Emotional Content</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-11 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/topshelf/permission/posted-authors" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Posted by author(s)</a></li></ul></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-teaser"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>Jack Dunning was just a poor kid from Pittsburgh, no better or worse than any other. When he met Richard, it seemed to be a one-sided friendship; Jack needing Richard much more than the other way around. As the years passed however, it became clear to them both just how important their friendship was, eventually culminating in both learning the hardest lesson in life; that every day is a gift and you should treat each one as though it were your last.</p></div></div></div>Thu, 29 Jul 2021 00:29:51 +0000RobertaME90780 at https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf
