I simply cannot believe that no one has started a thread on this story before, perhaps it is too gentle for some of the general run of lurkers.

Anyway, even if I am the only one:

Thanks a lot Charlieje, I am enjoying this immensely! (But, I always enjoy your work, it is so good).

LOL

Kenny is a wonderful story. The changes from its previous incarnation are minor, but important. I'm certainly looking forward to the new, and extended, conclusion.

I have come to know Charlieje largely through his stories. From everything I know about him, from both the Archive and personal communications, I know him to be a kind and caring person. I am anxious to discover more of how he came to be the person he is.

My only gripe with Charlieje is that he labels all of his stories as "G" for "Gay." This straight male finds the "gay" aspects of his stories to be far less important than their fine written style and the many kind and gentle characters that populate them. Charlieje's stories are filled with the sort of people I would certainly want as friends, and their sexual preferences are irrelevant. If anyone here has avoided reading ANY of his stories because they are labeled as "Gay," hop to it. Read them NOW! You'll be glad you did.

Maybe the Archive needs to add a separate classification:

G1 = Gay

G2 = Gentle/Good/Glorious writing/etc.

Charlieje: keep up the great work, and spend as much time as you can with the grandkids. They need and deserve as much time as they can get with you.

Thanks, guys. I really appreciate your comments.

I just posted the rest of Kenny, including the greatly modified 16 and new 17. I was going to hold off a day because I wanted to be sure it was right. As one might expect from the story itself, this one is very special to me.

As an added note, my wife has just informed me that she has to make a business trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana in September, and we're going to be able to arrange the date of the trip to coincide with the Indiana Tech Homecoming. I am excited - I have not been there since 1964! On the other hand, it will be the first time I have ever been there without U know who, and that's gonna be tough. But I'm going all the same.

Charlieje,

I have just finished chapter 16 - unfortunately only one more to go, but your description of Western Youth shows where some of 'Andy' came from. It obviously affected you quite deeply.

I can only find one word to describe Kenny - beautiful!

Thanks for posting it.

Charlieje,

I have to admit, I'm only halfway through the story, which I printed out. (The Xerox DC12 helped a lot, 100 pages a minute ...)

But so far, I am just in AWE. This is truly a masterpiece, a close rival to "Andy."

Not to mention some of the frightening similarities again.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

Colin, Paolo,

If you look closely enough you will find parts of Kenny in just about every story I have written, because those events affected me so much!

Some have even suggested that I should title this story "Charlie" because it really is the story of my life. But I disagree. Yes, it recounts many of the significant events of my life, but so many of those events would never have happend, had it not been for Kenny. As one reader emailed me, it is impossible to differentiate between Kenny's life and mine, they were simply too close, too intertwined.

Thanks to all who have read it... I only wish... No, I'm not even going to say it.

Charlieje.

I do not agree with those who suggested that it should have been called Kenny. That it was mainly your autobiography was very plain but the way you wrote it Kenny was probably the single most important influence in your life.

All of your writings are a tribute to his influence so it is only right and proper to acknowledge it in the way that you did.

With regard to your last line "I only wish .....", well we all have regrets and there is no harm in expressing them. You had Kenny for just over 40 years by my calculation and whilst you might have treated him less well than you feel that he deserved, He obviously did not feel that.

From your writings you indicate that you have quite a strong religious feeling, so when you are down just remember, that there is a better place. And, when you get there, Kenny will be waiting for you as he always has done.

Many thanks for your story.

LOL