Roddy Evens the Score

[gellyfregy (imported)]

Pleased you liked it. Don't know what PM's are or how it might be used. Can't you use this forum?

PM's are just like forum messages, but private (hence "Private Message"). You can turn them on (I believe) by going to the "User CP" entry on the menu bar near the top of the screen, then going to "Edit Options" on the menu bar to the left (which shows when you click on "User CP"). "Enable Private Messaging" is down the page a bit, and the "Save changes" button is all the way at the bottom.

I'd use the forum, but the idea is kind of long, and besides, I'm shy.

No commitments, no restrictions. You can respond or ignore as you see fit.

[C van D (imported)]

PM's are just like forum messages, but private (hence "Private Message"). You can turn them on (I believe) by going to the "User CP" entry on the menu bar near the top of the screen, then going to "Edit Options" on the menu bar to the left (which shows when you click on "User CP"). "Enable Private Messaging" is down the page a bit, and the "Save changes" button is all the way at the bottom.

I'd use the forum, but the idea is kind of long, and besides, I'm shy.

No commitments, no restrictions. You can respond or ignore as you see fit.

I wouldn't dream of giving you the brush-off. I'm only too pleased to read other people's suggestions.

I've tried what you suggest but the system throws me out every time with "Invalid username or password" -utter rubbish since it works every other way.

Had it up a nice slim little blonde girl yesterday afternoon. No, I'm not sorry that mine are still "in" and working!!!!

[Il Musico (imported)]

Nothing to do with the story, but with your workname. Have you kept up with UK news and the TV series "Britain's got talent"? Much news-space given over to a 12 year old called Rowan Something, embarking on a singing (boy soprano) career at the age of 12. Short of a surgical operation that I needn't specify, his career might be over in a year!!!

Yes, I heard about him. And about MANY others. A boy soprano career lasts typically one to three years, counting from when the boy becomes good enough to start singing in public. But to last three, it has to start well before age 12, usually.

Most of these boys, fortunately, take things as they come, and when nature calls them to end their career, they happily embark on something else - everything counts, from playing cello to chasing girls. Some get depressed by becoming a Mr. Has-Been, and I know of at least one who committed suicide at age 30-something, after a failed career as pop singer, which followed his highly successful career as boy soprano. It's sad. Fortunately most fare much better in life.

And yes, there are a few who express that they would like to get a little special help to extend their soprano singing career - lifelong, if possible. Of course they don't get that help, most of the time, but there are suspicions that a very few do get it. What is good and what is bad about it, is up to everyone's opinion. There's not only the matter of morality, wellbeing, human rights, and so on, but also that other matter: A boy voice and a castrato voice are two different things, one cannot replace the other. Some change at that age is inevitable, and only the type of change could be influenced.

I suspect that there are many more boys who would burningly love to get that little bit of help, but don't dare to tell anybody. I was one of those. Which explains the kind of stories I have posted, and the one I have been working on over the last weeks. And it also explains why I keep a special eye on those of your characters who do sing! But I also like the non-singing ones in your stories. They are so lively, clever, and cool!