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Written by LoveIsUniversal
He tried to forget it, but it just came back to him. Theo had to keep going. He needed to finish the day even if the most recent painful memory almost severed his high spirits. The science teacher started his last lecture for the day. Sixth period would soon end if he didn't think well enough to keep the separation from his ex-wife as his primary concentration.
For the next forty minutes, he focused his attention on his students, half of them eager to learn and the other half just sitting around and waiting for this class to be over. Nevertheless, he made sure that he didn't leave anything out from his lecture. Discussing biology kept him strong, even if he still felt irate about the inevitable separation. His enthusiastic students also prevented any misfortunes from brewing within his mind. Most of the teenagers in the room expressed their deep fascination with science by quickly raising their hands whenever Theo asked them a question. It was a pleasure for him to work with the younger generation, seeing as how a good majority appreciated the topic of science entering the mainstream once again.
As soon as the bell rang, the students put everything away in their backpacks. Theo reminded them of their homework for the weekend. The students left the room, leaving the science teacher alone for the rest of the day. By now, students would be leaving the campus and returning home, either to play video games or to watch viral videos on the internet. Theo had a good feeling that half of his students would keep procrastinating, right until the last few hours of Sunday night. Sighing, the forty-two-year-old man cleaned his eyeglasses with his shirt. He grabbed his briefcase and was about to leave, but he didn't feel like going home just yet. He sat back at his desk and kept silent.
He didn't want to go back to an empty home. It just felt so silent and lifeless inside. Now that he could no longer see his son again, he had no choice but to accept the big changes that came his way after exiting the family court. He slowly slid his fingers across his short black hair. He needed something to keep his mind off of everything that struck him and placed him in a soulless aftermath of all things.
Theo grabbed his briefcase, but before he could leave the classroom, one of his students had come back and immediately blocked the entrance.
Eighteen-year-old Nathan almost bumped into his teacher and quickly apologized. "I'm so glad you're here."
Theo asked, "Do you need help with something?"
"I'm wondering if there is any extra credit that I should know about."
"I haven't thought of one. You might have to wait until next month for it."
"I can wait. I'm a patient person."
Nathan appeared to be a normal student. The young Korean-American man did well in Theo's class, despite a few low scores on certain assignments. He didn't seem like the kind of student who would consider science as something that only old geezers would enjoy. He remained confident and enthusiastic about the daily lectures, and that was something that Theo felt proud of. Nathan turned out to be one of his favorites on campus. He always had a high regard for people who held the same passion as him.
Nathan suddenly had a concerned look on his face. "Are you going to be okay?"
Theo replied, "Of course, I am. Why would you think I'm not?"
Nathan rubbed the side of his neck. "Because I heard from one of my friends about what happened to you."
Gossip must have spread very quickly in this school. Now, Theo would never dare to lie about something in his life. "It's true. I got a divorce."
"I'm really sorry to hear that."
"I'll be fine. You shouldn't worry about me. Worry about finishing your homework during the weekend."
Nathan took one small step forward. "It sucks that it had to happen to you. I wouldn't want to live if that sort of thing happened to me when I'm older."
"It'll get better when time goes by. Trust me, Nathan. I'll be okay."
The high school senior eyed him from top to bottom before giving a little smile. "I feel like you need some company."
Theo placed his hand on the student's shoulder. "Don't worry about me, alright? Just go home and do your homework. Both of us have things to do. We shouldn't waste our time being stuck in negativity."
Nathan slowly nodded. "I understand. Well, I'll see you next week."
He left the room. Theo took a slow deep breath. It would have been nice to have a little company, to have someone to talk to, now that the house had been completely empty for the past two weeks. But knowing how doing well in science class had grown important for Nathan, Theo no longer desired a friendly conversation with one of his favorite students.
He would have to choose a good alternative. He returned to his desk and plugged in his earphones on his smartphone. He chose the one MP3 audio file that would reawaken his high spirits. He always admired classical music, and Bedrich Smetana's "The Moldau" (from My Country) was no exception. The ethereal melodies played by the entire orchestra sounded like it would come straight out of an impressionist mindset. Theo closed his eyes for a moment as the strings and woodwinds helped relieve his melancholy manner. He stayed seated in the empty classroom while getting lost in the music.
Halfway through the composition, he opened his eyes again. And all of a sudden, he caught something from the corner of his eye. A black-colored notebook lay right underneath the one desk that Nathan had sat at. Theo picked it up from the carpet and examined it to make sure that it really did belong to Nathan. There was no name on the front, and neither on the front page. He checked the last page on the notebook, and found the first and last name of whoever it belonged to. If Nathan stayed a little longer in the classroom, he would have realized that he had left something behind. Fortunately, he left his home address on the last page. Seeing as how he had nothing else to do for the rest of the day, Theo decided to do the right thing. He left the classroom and made his way into the staff parking lot.
But before he could drive away in search of Nathan's home in the suburbs, he used his smartphone to call his ex-wife. When she didn't answer, he called her again. It would take him four tries before he gave up. He wanted to hear his son's voice again, but his attempts to contact the woman he once knew and loved proved to be useless. Instead, he sent her a text message at the last minute.
"He still has a father. Let him see his father."
He sent it and turned on the engine. It didn't matter to him that she would actually read it. He just felt glad that he took the time to show her that he had the right to see their son again.
* * *
Everything in the city of Anaheim appeared to be normal. There were no clouds in the sky, and there were no angry drivers on the street. Southern California remained impervious to unwelcome burdens. Theo opened the windows to let the cool spring breeze infiltrate the small space. The gentle air helped in reminding the man of his love for his place of origin. He had lived in the Golden State for all of his life. He loved everything about it, from the Sierra Nevada to the Mojave Desert. He only wished that his separation from his ex-wife happened elsewhere besides here.
He turned on the radio and switched to the classical station, where he could listen to the first few minutes of Johannes Brahms's world-famous Violin Concerto. It didn't take long for him to find Nathan's house, which was located just four blocks away from school. He parked on the curb and got out of the car. Nathan's two-story house looked ordinary. White walls, a green lawn, and a black metal fence kept it from being different from the rest of the house in the suburbs.
A car had been parked on the driveway, giving fifty percent to the probability of someone staying in the house. Theo brought the notebook along with him and rang the doorbell. He stood still on the front porch, waiting for a response. The door didn't open, so he rang the doorbell a second time. When twenty seconds had passed, Theo called out Nathan's name. Still no response.
Theo was about to leave and wait until tomorrow to give the notebook back. But then, he noticed the door wasn't closed entirely. The lock wasn't entirely put into place. When he pulled the knob without even turning it, the door had automatically opened. Theo would have ignored his natural curious behavior and left the neighborhood without investigating the house. His current instincts, however, could only exclude ignorance as a way to end the day.
Theo opened the front door and led himself inside. The exterior of the house looked clean, free from dirty stains and dusty floors. The living room seemed immaculate. Nathan's parents had certainly chosen some luxurious leather furniture for their guests to see and believe. It was also rather quiet on the first floor. No one would suspect that there would be any activity erupting in either the living room or the kitchen.
Theo closed the front door and looked up at the staircase. He could hear a faint noise originating from the second floor.
"Nathan? Are you up there?"
The lack of a response made the science teacher walk up the stairs and see where the upbeat techno music came from. He stood in front of a long hallway where he could see four doors on the walls. Three of them remained closed. The one on the farthest right had been only partially open. Rays of light flooded the gray carpet and made it just a little brighter. The faint techno music must have come from that room, since it sounded like it started to echo across the narrow corridor.
"Nathan, are you in there?"
Theo could hear a faint voice that lasted for only a few seconds. He couldn't decipher the words, though the voice sounded intimate, almost sensuous for a specific purpose. Cautious, Theo snuck across the hallway and brought himself closer to the partially open entryway. He took a look inside, and he could see everything. And it looked like he wasn't supposed to see anything.
The curtains had been closed, giving the lamps in Nathan's bedroom their turn to shine. For a high school senior, he didn't do much to capitalize on his immature manners. Not a single shirt or sock had rested on the floor, and everything on the desk in the corner had been organized in perfect formations. The tidiness turned out to be something that benefitted his character. The same couldn't be said for Nathan's way of protecting his privacy from unwanted eyes.
The young Korean man didn't wear anything on his body. He sat naked on the edge of the bed. Theo's thorough examination had been completed once he spotted something in Nathan's hands. It looked long and thick. Its blue-colored surface gave Theo the answer that he wanted the least. Nathan held the blue dildo firmly in his hands. Furthermore, he crammed the top half of it deep into his mouth. Thankfully, Nathan looked away from the open doorway as he sucked on the dildo with a salivating mouth. It looked like he enjoyed it. He constantly whenever he pushed the imitation deeper into his mouth. He finally pulled it out of him and gave it a long slow lick.
He whispered, "Oh, Theo. I could give you anything you want. This would be one of them. You know you want it."
Nathan continued to push it into his mouth while stuck in his candid manner. Theo didn't know how to react to this situation. As soon as he heard his student articulate his most cherished secret, the science teacher didn't know what to do next. He wanted to leave the house and never give the hint that he had paid this residence a little visit. At the same time, however, he was amazed at how Nathan felt this way about one of his teachers.
Nathan closed his eyes for a moment as he held the dildo in his arms and pressed it against his bare chest. His tone of voice stayed as lighthearted as it could. "I can be your little bitch for as much as you want. Let me be the one who will end your suffering. Let me be your precious little toy."
Theo took a slow deep breath. He became so fixated by what he witnessed in the bedroom that he suddenly dropped the notebook on the floor. Its collision on the carpet caused Nathan to snap out of his reverie and see who was at the door. He almost gasped as soon as he caught sight of Theo standing right at the doorway. The young man froze, his look of concern being instantaneous.
Theo didn't know what to say. One look at Nathan's naked body, and he couldn't look away. It was a beautiful body when uncovered by any apparel. Being slim, bright-skinned, and hairless seemed to be the right choice for someone like Nathan.
Theo had to break the awkward silence between him and his student. "This is what you do in your spare time?"
Nathan pushed the blue dildo aside. "This is something new for me, really."
He stood up from his bed. The cock, fully erect in a horizontal formation even after his daydream, may have placed Theo in a state of hypnosis, because he still couldn't keep his eyes off of the young man.
"I don't know what to say about this. This is something that I would never expect from you."
As before, Nathan eyed him from top to bottom. He slowly stepped closer to his teacher with a pair of keen eyes. Theo could see him licking his lip for just a split second. The student no longer looked surprised. His secret pastime being revealed in an accidental manner affected his demeanor for only several seconds. Now, a little smile had returned on his face.
"Maybe it's good that you found out."
Theo took one step back. "It's time for me to leave. I shouldn't have come here."
Nathan reached out with his hand. "Don't go. Don't feel so alone. I can make it better."
Theo couldn't take any further steps in the hallway. Hypnosis in the form of Nathan's nude body didn't reach an effective conclusion.
"What's on your mind, Nathan?"
"I want to see your dick."
Theo shook his head. "It shouldn't be like this. I'd get in serious trouble for it."
"I'm not the kind of guy that likes to brag about what I just did with someone who's old enough to be my dad. Come inside, Theo. I'll show you how you can forget your troubles for the rest of the day."
This sort of dilemma kept Theo in a precarious position. He wanted to go home and forget about what he had just witnessed in this house. On the other hand, Nathan's fresh bright skin couldn't have been more perfect. As a victim of an unstoppable fascination, Theo's pair of eyes couldn't ward off the hunger that grew in his heart and soul. And when Nathan drew closer and grabbed his hand, Theo had no other choice but to follow him into his bedroom.
They left the door open. Nathan brought him closer to the bed. His enigmatic stare didn't cease.
"I can give you what your ex-wife can no longer give you."
Theo could feel Nathan's hands loosening his belt. "And what would that be?"
"My complete obedience to you."
Nathan took off Theo's belt and dropped it on the floor. "Don't worry. My parents won't be home until eight. Just have a seat. It'll be fun for both of us."
Theo sat down on the edge of the bed and watched as Nathan dropped down to his knees and stroked the teacher's hidden talent with his fingers. He looked up at Theo and complimented him on what lurked underneath his pants.
"I've been waiting for this adventure for a long time."
His smile began to become a pleasing sight for Theo, who didn't object to a new temptation added to his code of conduct. Nathan unzipped his teacher's pants and pulled out the prick that he was looking for. He almost gasped at the sight of it.
"It looks better than what I've imagined in the past."
Theo needed to know a little more about this student of his. "How long have you wanted this?"
Nathan whispered, "Long enough."
He lowered his head and gave the erect prick a little kiss. The brief warm touch made Theo remember when his own wife did the same thing many years ago. He closed his eyes and let his student do the work. Nathan grabbed the cock and made his constant kisses longer and harder. His movements were slow, but subtle. It felt as if he had plenty of experience in the past.
"Nothing is as beautiful as this."
Theo looked down to see Nathan using his moist tongue and giving the cock a nice long lick. The slow wet caress on the skin felt so invigorating to Theo. Going back home without finishing the confidential course of action would have been the worst feeling for both of them. Theo made sure that he gave the right signal by sitting absolutely still and letting Nathan provide a little reprieve after a hard day's work.
The eighteen-year-old student continued to lick the cock in all directions. He didn't stop for a little break. A thorough rinse with fresh saliva would be too good to ignore. Theo let out a soft moan. Nathan did a good job so far. It didn't matter if he had become an expert since the start of the semester. Nathan demonstrated his ability to please his master with very little setbacks.
Theo remarked, "You're good, but you can be better."
Nathan chuckled. "I sure can. Watch me."
He grabbed hold of Theo's cock and moved his fingers up and down in slow movements. It made Theo realize the outcome of this situation.
"Don't stop. I want you to show me how it's done."
Nathan's little smile didn't disappear. He kept his fingers in a slow pace.
"I can't wait for it to come out of you."
Theo understood what he meant. He let Nathan take control of the long hard cock and observed the mechanism required for such a long-awaited eruption. It had taken a long time for Theo to feel this way again. But a woman was the one who took the method and gave him a reason to feel so good. Seeing as how another man took his ex-wife's place for now, he should have felt surprised. But he didn't. This was something that he yearned for, and he felt grateful to anyone who gave him what he wanted.
"Yes, Nathan. Make it work."
The man from down below quickened his pace and directed the bulbous tip directly at his naked chest. "I want it to come out of you, and I want to feel it."
Theo whispered, "It'll be amazing. Go for it."
A tingling sensation became the mainstay in his cock and legs. He could feel it approaching ever so closer. He stayed immobile and awaited the final stage of their unexpected encounter. Knowing how this could alleviate a certain distress from his mind, he watched Nathan encourage his external apparatus with only his hands and his determination. The young man's smile provided the appropriate image as Theo tried to let go of his troubles that he had experienced ever since he separated from his wife and son.
And it appeared to be working. Using Nathan's hands as his primary concentration didn't hinder from the current revitalization required for his frame of mind. The smooth acceleration prompted Theo to approve of the new status to their relationship.
"Come and get it, Nathan!"
The eruption took effect in the bedroom. Long bursts of warm cum ejected from his shaft and landed on Nathan's hairless chest. The collision was worth it for Theo. He watched as his creamy projectiles smacked onto Nathan's skin in random parts of his chest and abdomen. Nathan didn't retaliate as he kept pointing the shaft right at himself.
He moaned, "Oh, it's so warm. I want it all on me."
The ejections lasted for several seconds before the exhilaration finally died off. Theo took a deep breath as soon as he started to relax his entire body.
Nathan looked like someone completely different. Before this, he used to be an ordinary high school senior in regular attendance and expressing a moderate interest for science. Now, he sat naked in front of his teacher with warm slimy secretion dripping down his body. He touched them with his fingers and spread them all around his chest and abdomen.
"I never felt like this before, and I don't want it to go away."
Theo's cock still had tiny deposits dripping down.
Nathan noticed this and said, "I'll get that for you."
He leaned down and used his tongue to clean Theo's cock. He licked up the last remainder of cum that exited from the tip and swallowed everything that had been given to him freely.
One look at Nathan wiping his lips with his finger, and Theo brought his common sense back into the spotlight.
He immediately stood up and said, "I brought back your notebook that you left in my classroom. That's why I'm here."
Nathan's current mood didn't change. "I'm glad you did."
"It's time that I leave."
Nathan stood up. "Please don't go. We can stay here together for as long as we want."
Theo zipped up his pants. "That would be a terrible idea."
He no longer tolerated gazing at the sticky deposits that dripped down Nathan's body. "You should take a shower. It wouldn't be very smart for you to look like that all day."
Nathan chuckled. "It's okay. I want to stay like this for a long time."
Without saying goodbye, Theo looked away and left the bedroom. He ran down the stairs and exited the house. He didn't want to look back at the one place that made him take a huge risk to his reputation. He got in his car and drove off. He didn't spot any neighbors giving a good look at the stranger that left Nathan's residence, nor did he see any pedestrians watching him take off in a hurry. He breathed a sigh of relief. Now would be a good time to go home. He turned on the radio station and listened to the rest of Brahms's Violin Concerto as he left the neighborhood.
* * *
He couldn't stop thinking of what transpired in Nathan's bedroom. Even as he arrived home and tried to get paperwork done, all he could imagine was his student engaging in something that had been considered a blasphemous act when regarding typical high school conduct. He only hoped that Nathan would never say a word to his family or friends. This would easily lead to long months of unemployment for Theo, and he had enough troubles already.
The teacher managed to eat his dinner and read the next few chapters of his eBook in a normal manner. But even then, the image of a naked Nathan being soaked by Theo's slime didn't escape from his head. He took a shower and went to bed at eleven o'clock, but he didn't sleep just yet. He lay on the mattress in complete silence. He slowly tapped his fingers on the blanket. Usually, the bed felt comfortable at the right moments. But now, he didn't have the heart to anticipate the next reverie for the night.
He just had to admit it. He did admire what Nathan wanted from their relationship. An abrupt change to their amity would have been a little more refined than this. But the choice that he and Nathan had made felt good enough. Theo wasn't proud of it, but he did acknowledge that he needed something like this. Seeing as how the divorce led to his separation from his own son, Nathan's hands had become a proper way to deal with stress.
Theo wouldn't be able to see Nathan for the next two days, seeing as how it was a weekend. But he certainly wished that he had the chance to see him again tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow.
The next two days went along just fine. No one ever revealed crucial information regarding Theo's encounter with one of his students. He felt thankful that he had been caught by the media or anyone in particular who would be willing to share a secret to everyone on the internet. But he soon became a little concerned. His next encounter with Nathan would certainly become a little awkward. Theo would never see his student the same way again. He began to wonder if he would endure a casual conversation between the two of them.
He got his answer when Monday arrived. Sixth period started once again, and he began his lecture on a specific biology topic. He found Nathan sitting in the exact same desk. The younger man didn't say anything, nor did he give any hints that he mentioned anything to his family or friends. He just sat there with a little smile. Theo found it a little comforting to say the least. He continued on with his lectures and answered his students' questions. He stayed on-topic and never made his encounter with Nathan public at all. The other students stayed on-course, free from unwanted knowledge between Theo and Nathan.
When class ended, the students left the room for another tedious time at home, their difficult homework fresh on their minds. Before he could leave, Nathan gave his teacher a fleeting look that spoke of their relationship. The look on his face made Theo give a slight nod. They understood each other perfectly. The students left, and Theo had been left alone in the classroom once more. He expected Nathan to return after a few seconds of temporary silence. He didn't come back, however. Feeling convinced that Nathan did indeed go back home, Theo decided to do the same. He would have expected a repeat of his performance with Nathan, but he was too professional to keep that consideration in one piece.
He left the campus immediately and returned home. He needed some more paperwork to do in his study room. He turned on his stereo system on the shelf and played Antonin Dvorak's Serenade for Strings. The vivacious melodies displayed by the string orchestra gave Theo the right mood as he delved deep into the documents laid out on his desk. He took a break in the late afternoon, where he read several news articles and watched a short nature documentary on the internet. It took him until eight o'clock to return to his study room. With dinner as an immediate afterthought, he had to continue on with his paperwork.
But something was missing. He tried to find it on his desk and in his briefcase, but the manila envelope didn't turn up in the study room. He sighed, seeing as how it was possible for him to have forgotten it in the classroom. He grabbed his jacket, but then the doorbell rang. He turned off the stereo and went downstairs. He opened the front door, and didn't expect to see one of his favorite students standing on the front porch.
Nathan showed his teacher the manila envelope that he had just sought. "I'm here to bring you this. I came back to see if you were still in the classroom, and all I found was this. I figured it had to be something important. I went back home and did my homework before I could come here and give you this."
Theo took the envelope back. "Thanks a lot."
He didn't know what else to say. He could only stand there and gaze at the young man who helped get rid of his troubles on a Friday afternoon. Nathan appeared ordinary with his blue jeans and white t-shirt, but deep inside, a different persona had already taken effect.
Nathan looked behind Theo as if spotting something in the hallway. "Can I come in?"
Theo replied, "Maybe it's best that you go home and do your homework."
"You look a little lonely. I'm willing to stay if you'd like some company."
Theo looked behind the student to see if a nearby pedestrian in the dark had caught sight of them. Thankfully, no one would be there to see the two of them sharing a conversation. He did see a familiar-looking car parked on the driveway. The same sedan that had been parked on Nathan's driveway made its way on Theo's pavement.
"What would you like to do if you'd stay?"
Nathan shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I guess we could just talk."
"Can I come in?"
Without hesitation, Theo stepped back and led Nathan inside. Once he closed the door, the teacher started to lead him in the living room. But almost immediately, Nathan lunged for Theo and gave him a hug.
Theo, who never predicted the sudden embrace, asked, "Why is this happening?"
Nathan, who was a few inches shorter, rested his head against Theo's shoulder and whispered, "I know when someone just needs a little company."
He gave Theo a little kiss on the cheek. "I can stay here all night. I don't mind."
Theo took a little sniff of Nathan's shoulder. He adored the natural aroma when drawn so close to him. He held the younger man in his arms.
"It's a good thing you know something about me."
Nathan tightened his embrace. "You deserve a special treatment after what you've done for your students, including me."
"Listen...about what happened yesterday-"
Nathan looked up at his teacher with a look of concern. "Didn't you like what I've done for you?"
Theo chuckled. "Of course, I did. I'm just saying that I haven't felt this good in such a long time."
Nathan smiled. "From what I've heard, I knew that you needed a good remedy after the divorce."
"I'm glad you found out about it. I felt pretty miserable ever since she left me."
"Why did she leave you?"
Theo sighed. "She had an affair because she wasn't happy about me."
"What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything. Everything went smoothly, until one day, she decided to be a little naughty with her dentist."
Nathan didn't appear convinced. "And SHE'S the one who's keeping your kid?"
"I know. It stinks."
"You can at least see your son on weekends, right?"
Theo shook his head. "They moved to Seattle three days ago. I don't stand a chance."
Nathan never looked so saddened at someone else's misfortune. "I think you need a vacation."
"That sounds good right now, but I've got a lot of work to do. Maybe it is best that you go back home and do your homework. That way, I'll be able to finish grading the essays that you've turned in."
"That doesn't sound very fun. Don't you think it's time for a second choice?"
Theo suddenly grew curious. "And what would that be?"
Nathan tugged at Theo's black polo shirt and added a seductive tone to his voice. It made him sound like a young man willing to be subservient to his master. "Well, you don't have to do any paperwork. You can just sit back and relax...while I help you get rid of your stress. A massage sounds good, doesn't it?"
Theo narrowed his eyes in an almost devious manner. "You need a little more charisma if you are willing to convince me of something."
Nathan used his fingers to toy with Nathan's shirt. "Well, let's forget about the massage. How about a nice little liaison in your own home?"
"Oh, that sounds about right."
Nathan suddenly laughed. "Man, I felt like another person when I said that!"
"You did remind me of someone who used to do what you did yesterday."
"Maybe it's a good idea to stick with that persona. How about it?"
Theo backed away. "No, just be yourself. I'm trying to forget about her, remember?"
Nathan cleared his throat. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to."
"It's okay. You made a little mistake. You are forgiven."
Nathan pointed at something at the other end of the hallway. "If you're trying to forget about your ex-wife, then why is that still there?"
Theo looked to see what Nathan pointed at. Something had hung on the door to the broom closet. A black sleeveless turtleneck top had been left on a hanger.
Once he caught sight of it, Theo sighed. "I found it in the closet. It looks like my wife forgot to take it with her in Seattle."
"Why would you keep it in the house?"
Theo grabbed it from the doorknob and examined its black color and thick layer. "I didn't mean to. I planned to throw it away last night, but I couldn't because you made me forget about it."
"I don't think I should be held responsible."
"I don't blame you, anyway. I don't entirely want to throw it away, because it brings me nothing but good memories about her."
Nathan touched the turtleneck top with his fingers. "How so?"
"She would always wear this whenever I felt so good about myself. This thing made me appreciate how I managed to live a healthy life. She wore this sometimes, and I felt pretty weak when she did. For a moment, I'd like to think there would be another woman who comes along and would be willing to wear this for my own enjoyment."
Nathan slowly nodded. "I think that's still possible."
"You know someone who would like to wear this?"
Nathan grabbed the hanger and raised it up to his neck. He showed Theo how the size of the turtleneck top almost matched with his own body size. "I'm willing to take a few risks."
It didn't shock Theo at all. "As if you'd ever be comfortable wearing something like that. Only a woman is able to wear it in public."
Nathan did seem to be fazed by the innocuous criticism. "I do hope there are exceptions, though."
Theo took the hanger back. "You'll be fine without it."
All of a sudden, something vibrated in Theo's pocket. He pulled out his smartphone and read the text message that was sent by his ex-wife. It didn't look pretty at all.
It read, "Your son will have a new father once I find him in Seattle. Don't worry. He'll be fine without you."
Nathan asked, "What's wrong?"
"Stay here. I have to make a call."
Theo placed the turtleneck top on the sofa as he entered his living room alone. He dialed his ex-wife's phone number. He waited for an answer, but she never picked up her phone. Fraught with a negative inclination, he began to walk around in circles. He dialed her number again, and received the same cold response as before.
He muttered under his breath, "Come on, you lousy bitch. Answer the phone."
But several more seconds of silence led to his eventual defeat. He ended the call and dropped the phone on the coffee table. He didn't even care if the collision would cause damage of any sort. The mental distress that originated from his ex-wife's loss of interest had returned.
He turned around to see Nathan standing at the entryway. A look of concern provided an obvious proof of his current mood.
Theo waved it off. "You don't have to know."
"It's about her, isn't it? It's alright. I understand what you're going through."
Theo slowly raised an eyebrow. "Do you, now?"
Nathan nodded. "Yes, I do."
Theo looked to see the venetian blinds keeping the living room window free from unwanted witnesses. It made him feel secure about what he desired at a time like this.
He grabbed the turtleneck top and tossed the hanger at the corner. "I want to see you in this."
"But I thought you said I'd be fine without it."
"Let me see if it fits you...just in case you're interested in keeping it."
Nathan's little smile said it all. "I'll try it on in the hallway. You can have a good first impression that way."
Nathan left and hid in the hallway, away from Theo's eagerness for a fresh perspective. The older man waited for him to try it on and come out of the hallway and give him a good reason to disregard his troubles for at least another night.
He could hear the student shuffle from t-shirt to turtleneck. "So does it fit?"
"I'll make it a surprise for you."
Theo waited for a few more seconds until he obtained the final result through the use of his simple observational skills. Nathan returned to the living room with a new look. Oddly enough, the sleeveless turtleneck had become a perfect fit for him. His arms had been left exposed to the fluorescent bulbs from above. Theo couldn't look away. Nathan, now wearing something that his ex-wife had previously worn during their happy days, gave him another good reason to see it again.
Nathan asked, "Well, what do you think?"
Theo's long sigh didn't mean that he felt disappointed. "You look even better."
Nathan giggled like a naïve individual eagerly awaiting fun times ahead. "I knew I'd look good for you."
Theo drew closer. "Now I know why I shouldn't throw it away."
"It's good to have a second choice, you know."
Theo just had to agree. The forty-two-year-old man reached out with his hands and slid his palms across Nathan's uncovered arms. The warm feeling when coming in contact with teenaged skin would have been a requirement for anyone who needed to stop their anguish from growing nonstop. A closer view of Nathan wearing the turtleneck certainly would have made Theo the pure embodiment of an exhilarating process guaranteed to put stress to sleep. The science teacher leaned forward and kissed Nathan's shoulder. He anticipated a welcome return of his primal instincts just by the touch of fresh warm skin.
He whispered, "I'm so glad that you're here."
Nathan expressed his high regard for his teacher by letting him begin the embrace. It felt as if Theo hugged another woman, only this time it turned out to be a high school senior who blended in with his new occupation. Nathan's slim physique was all that Theo needed to make this a pleasant experience. And he appreciated the visit so much, that the kiss he planted on Nathan's lips sealed their undying trust and respect for each other.
They just stood there, transfixed by this turn of events. Their embrace, made even better by their slow and zealous kiss, couldn't have been done better. Theo didn't even mind that he did it with one of his students, nor did it shock him that he felt this way with someone of the same sex. This would be the only way to cleanse his cerebral duress.
Their kiss had grown so long and so enticing that Nathan stopped it abruptly to say, "I told my parents that I'd be sleeping over with one of my buddies."
Theo smiled. "That's good to know."
There would be only one way to push their relationship even further. He took one step back and took off his black polo shirt. He revealed his well-built figure in front of Nathan, who was simply awestruck by his sturdy chest and abs. Any woman would swoon over the sight of Theo half-naked, and Nathan joined the throng at the right time.
"Oh, it's a good thing that I met someone like you."
He began to toy with Theo's chest with his fervent fingers. Theo let him have his little fun, seeing as how this would potentially lead to something more fun than a simple half-naked festivity.
"There's more to see, and I'm willing to let you delve a little deeper."
Nathan agreed by unfastening Theo's belt and hurling it to the side. He pulled down Theo's pants and boxer shorts before flinging them in the same spot where the belt would be. Nathan almost gasped at the sight of him. Theo almost looked like he belonged in the front cover of a romance novel. The mystery surrounding his ex-wife's loss of interest may never be solved.
Nathan looked down to see what officially replaced the dildo. "It's so good to see it again."
Theo chuckled. "Remind me why you're so good at what you do."
Nathan knew what he meant, because he immediately locked in on his target. He got down on his knees and kept his mouth wide open. Theo pushed his long hard dick right into the open crevice, giving Nathan little room to improvise from within.
Theo loved the feeling of having his cock surrounded by excessive moisture. "That's the spirit, Nathan. Don't give up. Don't ever give up."
He grabbed Nathan by the shoulder to make sure that he didn't lose his balance when exceeding in this particular field. Nathan seized Theo's thighs as the momentum soon gained strength. Theo looked down to see the black sleeveless turtleneck top giving good nostalgic value. Only this time, he no longer wanted another woman to wear it for his enjoyment. The young Korean man below him proved to be a worthy substitute for his ex-wife.
Nathan pulled the cock out of his mouth and rubbed it against his cheek in a cheerful manner. He gladly accepted his new status by showing Theo his current capabilities.
"I'm fully available to be your bitch."
Theo pulled him up from the floor. "I'll show you where you can be true to your word."
* * *
Still naked, the man grabbed his student's hand and led him upstairs. The two of them entered the master bedroom, which had been complete with a luxurious wooden king-sized bed and a thick black blanket. Theo turned on the lamps in the room and made certain that the curtains remained closed for the rest of the night. Without a moment to lose, he commanded his student to take off his blue jeans. Free from giving a gripe, Nathan pulled down his jeans and boxer shorts before pushing them aside with his feet.
"Do you like what you see?"
Only the turtleneck top stayed on Nathan's half-naked body. Theo appreciated the good clear view by grabbing him by the arms and giving him a long moist kiss. Their bulbous tips rubbed together, which stimulated their five senses and made them want each other even more. Their shafts began a light brawl as their tight embrace confirmed their fierce determination. Feeling the turtleneck top in his hands again made the experience more worthwhile.
The master bedroom began to grow a little warmer as the heat between the two jubilant men soared to new heights. Their kiss lasted longer than the previous one, and Theo still didn't put a stop to it. He wanted Nathan more than anything. He didn't want to be alone again. No one would ever dare to tell him differently on how to survive in the world. Once he discovered Nathan's true feelings, an alternative remedy arose from their situation and it never departed from their presence. And Theo felt fortunate that he took advantage of something that he didn't think would ever come across his mind.
He stopped the kiss and whispered, "Forget the dildo. I'm the real deal."
Nathan giggled. "Good thing I'm well-prepared."
Theo turned him around, and to provide a little warm-up, he pressed his erect cock against Nathan's bare buttock. He slid the shaft across Nathan's skin in a constant cyclic motion.
Nathan began to take quicker breaths. "I still can't believe how big it is."
"It's fucking amazing, isn't it?"
It didn't take long for Theo to push his cock right into the student's narrow hole. There would be no time to cover it with lotion. The dry insertion led to Nathan letting out a huge gasp. Theo could feel Nathan's entire body trembling from the sudden push. It appeared that the dildo acted as a substitute to the real thing. And if everything went well, Nathan would never use a dildo again.
Theo pushed in his cock as deep as he could. Nathan moaned loud enough that it hinted at his first struggle with Theo's prized possession. The teacher had already found Nathan's weak spot from deep within his narrow tube, and he didn't stop striking it with the tip of his weapon. He held his student tightly in his arms as he showed him how he used to be so dominant with the woman he once loved.
Nathan panted profusely. "Oh, Theo! Oh, fuck! It's so big! It's so good!"
Those were the words that Theo wanted to hear. The forward propulsion started smooth and unhurried. But Theo's thirst became unbearable. He decided to change his tempo. It resulted in faster, more powerful hips generating a valid response from Nathan's solid interior. Both bodies responded to their accelerating impact without any unconstructive insinuations.
Theo whispered, "You're doing your job well. I'm starting to like the difference."
Nathan chuckled in a lighthearted manner. "I'm glad I'm here to make your wish come true."
Theo's swift movements kept his body's hearty equilibrium indestructible. Nathan, despite the aggressive nature of Theo's intuitive attack, didn't resist the higher temperature from within his walls. The sizzling penetration resulted in a positive effect, because the young man began to move his fingers up and down his own cock. If the insertion wasn't enough, he chose another way to raise his effervescent attitude at its most arduous stage.
"Theo...Let me do the same thing! Let me set my own cum free!"
Theo didn't want to put a halt to his equipment just yet. "We do it at the same time. That's the only way!"
"Oh, yes! Fuck me as hard as you can! Your dick is amazing!"
Theo let his student caress his own cock at his own liking. His strident moves didn't cease. He needed this type of energy to overwhelm his negativity. There would be no chance for his ex-wife to ruin the rest of his life in the city of Anaheim. Fun would still exist in this house. The concept would never be toyed with by unwanted intrusions that ate away his sanguinity with every passing minute.
Nathan's panting grew faster. "Oh, it's getting so hot down there! I'm gonna spurt!"
"Never do it without me! We will do it together!"
The tingling sensation in Theo's hips began to swell. Being well-prepared for his ejaculation benefited his privacy that he gained for him and his subservient student. At this point, he didn't care about his lifelong moral code anymore.
"Just take it. Let it stay inside you!"
Theo held him tight as his finishing moves included the distribution of his seed. An overflow had taken place in Nathan's lower crevice. Every single ounce of Theo's semen made their way inside the walls that had been assailed by the cock jammed inside. At the same time, Nathan had his own fair share of literally blowing his top. He stopped stroking his cock as his own creamy deposits landed on the carpet. Theo observed the consignment that lay scattered down below. He could feel Nathan's body loosen up after their first personal assignment. Their embrace didn't change, but their relationship surely did.
Nathan gave his teacher a kiss. "You're incredible."
"I'd like to think I'm one of the best."
"I'm gonna throw my dildo away. You're so much better than that."
Theo pulled out of him and watched as his warm and thick batch dripped out of his devotee's outlet and slid down his legs.
Nathan almost shivered. "It feels so strange. It's like I'm going to feel sore all night."
Theo's semen joined the same ranks on the carpet. He could have taken a break at this point. But he needed more of Nathan's body. He needed more of what he had yearned for.
"Don't expect it to end like this."
Nathan smiled. "So you want to fuck me again? I can deal with that."
Theo grabbed him and took the turtleneck top right off of him. He didn't need to pretend that another woman had the chance to wear it. He brought Nathan to his bed and he didn't wait for a repeat. He just let it happen.
Nathan, overjoyed by their second performance, didn't give any indication of pain. Instead, he let his primitive vernacular take the spotlight.
"Don't stop fucking me! Please don't stop! Give me more of your cum!"
Nathan had wrapped his legs around Theo and sat directly on his lap. All Theo had to do was thrust his cock upward and hold Nathan tight. The student grabbed him by the shoulders and let him maltreat the hole between his buttocks yet again.
Theo didn't stop at once. Many minutes had passed, and he let his animal behavior extend its course.
They revamped their sensual systems in an instant. Nathan's outlet grew hotter once again. The king-sized bed started to make creaking noises, but Theo didn't mind. He just wanted to hear Nathan say meaningful things.
"Oh, Theo! I'm all yours!"
Theo could feel a drop of sweat forming on his forehead. He already understood that the excessive heat in his body, when colliding with Nathan's high temperature, helped him persist with what he wanted this evening.
"Take it, Nathan. This is how I should treat you."
Nathan's short hair swung in all directions when his entire body bounced up and down. "Yes, treat me like a bitch!"
Now that his narrow crevice had grown moist with Theo's cum, it felt a little easier to feel less concerned about his safety. Theo gathered his maximum force and transferred it directly to his dominant cock. It became an intense activity on his bed. Nathan's moans grew louder. Theo's thrusts grew more aggressive. Their slow progression to the next step would soon be confirmed as an authentic chapter in their lives.
"That's right, Nathan. You're mine!"
Nathan became the right person to spend time with. Being stuck as an ordinary student in science class would have kept him from showing off his true potential. And Theo felt fortunate of Nathan's opportunity. Their first encounter from yesterday did indeed become an accident, but also an auspicious account for their future. Theo already accepted it as a way to help him survive. He enjoyed the way his student took pleasure in being submissive. He enjoyed the way his student squeezed his eyes shut because of how powerful his upward motion had become. He enjoyed how his student used the right words as inspiration for his confidential intentions. He didn't care if the neighbors could hear them. Nothing would ever stand in their way.
Nathan kissed him during his cheerful behavior and yelled, "That's why I fuckin' love your cock! It's the best!"
Theo could feel his second climax approaching. His past experiences with his ex-wife would soon become an afterthought. With the good use of his own student, he had finally found a way to stop his inner frustration from multiplying from the inside.
Nathan swung his head back. "Please don't stop, Theo! Please don't stop! I love it when you fuck me hard!"
Theo breathed hard through his teeth. "This should never end when you're in my home."
Unfortunately, it did. Theo finally put a stop to it once the delightful sensation in his hips reached its highest point.
Their finest moment had finally arrived.
Theo yelled, "We're coming together!"
"Oh, fuck! Yes! Yes!"
The final stage of their little adventure was made official. Theo squeezed him hard as the eruption from his shaft began to take effect. And after Nathan's joyous screeching, they finally loosened up. The last batch of Theo's warm cum had exited from his own tubes and made their way into Nathan's sizzling passage. He could see his student breathing a sigh of relief. He understood the latter's reaction, seeing as how forceful he had been toward his new lover.
Now, they remained close together on the bed. Sweat poured down their skin. Nathan's short black hair had grown tousled after being handled like a personal servant at his most submissive. Theo could have continued on, but he no longer had the energy to move forward. Instead, he spent the next several seconds being captivated by the young man he had authority over. Nathan seemed satisfied with their outcome. His enigmatic stare would officially become one of the things that Theo felt proud of discovering.
Nathan gave him a kiss. "I wish your ex-wife was here to see this. That way, she would see how much better I can be with a guy like you."
Theo smiled, "I can just imagine the look on her face when she sees that you're stealing the show."
"It's too bad she's not here."
"Fortunately, YOU still are."
Touched by his remark, Nathan hugged him tightly. With his high spirits restored, Theo never regretted his private encounter with his favorite student. He held Nathan in his arms. He was still warm from the outside, and it pleased the one who desperately needed a time-out from his ill-timed circumstances. The cycle had been complete. Both men lay on the bed, their bodies exhausted and their contents empty.
Theo whispered, "Stay with me."
Nathan smiled. "Don't worry. I will."
Theo closed his eyes before he grew tired enough to inaugurate the first few minutes of his reverie.
* * *
He opened his eyes and found himself in the exact same spot as before. He lay on his bed, and as he turned his head to the left, he found his student lying beside him. He looked so innocent and elegant in the early morning. A fine-looking body as the first thing to see after a contented slumber made Theo smile, something that he seldom did in the past several years. The digital clock on the nightstand read 6:03 AM. The lights in the room had stayed on for the entirety of their private session. Luckily, the curtains stayed closed so that no one on the other side of the window would be able to see everything.
Theo couldn't keep his eyes off the undressed young man that lay with him. No one would be as stunning as Nathan from now on. His bright skin would be a trademark for his proficient nature. The dried cum that stuck onto his legs and buttocks looked to be quite an accomplishment for Theo. But it wouldn't be a satisfying conclusion just yet. The teacher still had some more juices left in him, and the stillness in the morning provided a little more encouragement for his psyche. His cock didn't shrink, which benefited his appetite for an extra pounding.
Nathan didn't wake up, but it didn't matter to Theo. He needed more of what he deserved. He rolled over and lay right on top of Nathan, who still lay on his stomach. Almost immediately, Theo pushed his cock back into Nathan's salivating hole. The student still didn't open his eyes. Theo's thrusts started slow and smooth, nothing too aggressive. Nathan's warm temperature helped in restoring the teacher's stamina. His thrusts grew quicker, resulting in a higher volume of the collision between hips and buttocks.
Nathan finally showed signs of life by letting out a soft moan. Undeterred by distractions, Theo started the morning with another round of red-hot devotion. He could spot Nathan's hands grabbing hold of the sheets. Nathan opened his eyes, and as soon as he saw his older acquaintance infiltrating his open space yet again, he didn't try to escape. Instead, he lay still and gave Theo his customary little smile.
"Oh, Theo...I didn't think you'd want to fuck me again so soon."
Theo laughed. "With someone like you, there's never a dull moment."
Nathan's moaning grew louder when Theo's forward propulsion gained more momentum as minutes flew by.
Nathan tried to keep his voice at a low volume. "Oh, yes! Let me have it. I still want more."
Theo didn't need encouraging words for this as he already felt confident toward his latest escapade. He spent the next several minutes reminding his student of his authority in both the classroom and in the bedroom. He didn't mind the new sweat that began to form on his forehead and chest. He wanted to acknowledge their changed relationship even further. His penetrations became the strongest he had ever presented to his new lover. Nathan had to bite down on the pillow as his hole started a new temporary expansion. Excessive warmth between his buttocks had reached a higher level than expected.
"Fuck, yes! I wish I could stay here all day and let you fuck me hard."
Although knowing that it would be wishful thinking, Theo felt the same way. He didn't want to go back to work and start his lectures. Today would be a good day to just stay home and penetrate his student for as long as he could.
"Just stay put and you'll get to have my juices inside of you again."
Nathan left his mouth wide open from the powerful insertions that he had to endure.
"Please don't stop! Give me more of what you've got!"
It felt like a repeat of last night's performance. But this time, the two of them gained a little more experience. Theo now felt secure about sharing his body with another male. Nathan now knew the feeling of his narrow passageway having its warmth intensified without proper lubrication. And best of all, the two of them grew less fearful of growing intimate behind closed doors. Nothing would stop them from enjoying themselves.
Nathan started pulling at the sheets. "Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Fuck, yes!"
Once he reached his limit, Theo flooded Nathan's walls with his warm slime. When it finally ended, he lay on top of his student and took a deep breath. His testosterone took a rest from such an ardent interaction. He pulled out of the young man and got out of bed. He looked down to see his favorite companion lying on the bed in a playful manner. Theo couldn't get enough of Nathan's little smile, coupled with his enigmatic behavior. It didn't matter if it turned out to be pure luck that the Korean teenager had been chosen as a student in his sixth-period class. Theo felt relieved that he had the chance to meet someone like him.
"I'd say that you're much better than what my ex-wife turned out to be."
Nathan chuckled. "Thanks very much. I appreciate being your playmate."
Theo checked the clock on the nightstand. It read 6:19 AM. "Join me in the shower. You wouldn't want to walk on campus looking like that, would you?"
"It would be a little amusing, don't you think?"
"In reality, I don't think it would be."
Nathan understood. He joined his teacher in the shower. As he turned on the water, Theo stayed close to his student. The fast-moving warm water felt so invigorating on their skin. Theo watched Nathan cleaning his legs and buttocks with soap. The semen, both old and new, had disappeared down the drain. Nathan continued to cover his entire body with fresh bubbles. Theo's attraction to another man had greatly increased once he saw the latter engaging in his own personal purification with water and soap.
"Don't ever think that we won't be seeing each other again."
Nathan's eyes widened with glee. "I'll be there if you ever want me again. I'm looking forward to spend time with my favorite teacher."
"That's all that I want to hear right now."
They held each other in their arms and let the soothing water energize both their skin and their high spirits. Nathan couldn't help but kiss Theo on the cheek. Theo made his embrace even tighter. This unforgettable experience would be the reason why a smooth progression in their relationship was now in the works.
* * *
The school day started without any setbacks. Theo did everything in accordance to a conventional configuration. He gave his students a casual lecture, and he made sure that his students' questions had been answered with strict accuracy. When the final period of the day arrived, he awaited Nathan's return. Theo restarted his lecture for a new set of students. He didn't leave out any details during his lesson on animal anatomies.
And when class ended, the students walked out of the room in a casual manner. The last student to leave was none other than Nathan, who winked at his teacher. Theo smiled as he watched his favorite student leave the premises. He would never forget the promise that the two of them made in the morning. He could only wonder when it would be the right time for them to reunite again in secret. And when he did find the time, he would make sure that he would never form a doubt in his mind ever again.


text:
AMERICA OF MY HEART
Saint New Martyr Jose Munoz-Cortez
from Chile & Canada who martyred in Athens, Greece (+1997)
& the miracle Hawaii’s Icon of Holy Virgin Mary
Grave of St Martyr Jose (Joseph) Muñoz-Cortes
in Holy Trinity cemetery, Jordanville, N. York, USA
SAINTS OF MY HEART
Saint Jose (Joseph) Muñoz-Cortes (13 May 1948, Santiago, Chile – 30/31 October 1997, Athens, Greece) was an Orthodox man, the keeper of the Iveron Icon of Montreal (Hawaii’s miracle Icon).
Jose was born in Chile into a pious Roman Catholic family of Spanish descent. He was a boy of twelve when he became acquainted with Archbishop Leontius (Filippovich) and under his influence José was baptized into the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia two years later, with his mother’s consent.
A talented artist, he secured a job teaching art at the University of Montreal, and began studying iconography. In the summer of 1982, Brother Joseph went Continue reading “Saint New Martyr Jose Munoz-Cortez from Chile & Canada who martyred in Athens, Greece (+1997) & the miracle Hawaii’s Icon of Holy Virgin Mary”

domain: history


text:
Fruits offer Nyaga new source of life
An oasis full of an abundance of fruits stands out in the perennially dry Ciangera area of Mbeere North, Embu County.
The evergreen farm belongs to Robert Nyaga, a hardworking farmer, who has minted a fortune from cultivating mangoes pawpaws and oranges.
Nyaga is a beneficiary of a community project that supplies water to hundreds of farmers in the semi-arid region.
The project has made irrigation farming possible and its members are producing horticultural crops and fruits in plentiful. Nyaga started farming immediately after leaving secondary school in the early 1990s.
He had a capital of Sh1,000 borrowed from a relative coupled with a passion for farming. His beginning was filled with challenges as he had to draw water from a 100ft well in his father’s compound in Karurumo area to irrigate his tomato, capsicum and green maize crop.
So tiresome was the job that he at one season fell ill and could not haul the heavy buckets of water anymore and he watched his crops wither in the sun.
This did not dampen his spirits and after fits of successes and losses, he finally managed to raise enough capital to buy a water pump, lease land and expand his horticultural farming.
He grew maize and would rotate it with watermelons, capsicum, tomatoes, butternuts, and long chili for many years until he switched for more profitable crops. Eventually, he saved enough and in the year 2012 bought the 12-acre land in Ciangera area on the border between Embu and Tharaka-Nithi counties, where he has distinguished himself as a productive farmer.
Source of life
River Thuci separates the two counties and is a life-giving source of irrigation water for farmers living near it.
The river supplies water to the Green Paradise Community Water project which supports irrigation farming to some 750 households, among them Nyaga’s.
Through a donation of pipes from Upper Tana Natural Resources Management Project (UTaNRMP), farmers tapped water from River Thuci and channeled it downstream to their farms, a distance of 11 kilometres, according to the project chairman Nyaga Kidole.
Nyaga has 500 mango trees and 200 orange trees and keeps on increasing them gradually over the years. The crops are at the maturing stage and he has made a sale of mangoes this year. A sale of oranges is also in the offing. “I shifted from horticultural crops farming to fruits farming in that pawpaw, mangoes, and oranges do not require a lot of farm inputs such as spray chemicals thus lower production expenses. Fruits such as pawpaws and oranges do not suffer from wide price fluctuations,” he explains.
The farmer also reasoned that the fruit trees are long term and their tending is less demanding hence suitable for him as he grows older.
He has 1,000 pawpaw fruits of vega F1 and red royale varieties and is planning to experiment malkia variety the next planting season.
Nyaga uses hybrid seeds for all his crops. Hybrid seeds are tolerant to disease and early maturing.
He did not want to take short cuts. He sought advice from agricultural experts on the best source of planting materials and followed their advice. He traveled to Plantech Kenya Ltd in Naivasha and bought clean paw pawpaw seedlings at Sh40 each.
“Extension officers advised that I should observe a spacing of 6X6ft between one seedling to the next and dug holes measuring 1.5ftX1.5ft. I also applied a pail of manure in every hole,” explains Nyaga.
An acre accommodated 600 pawpaw trees and the cost of production came to about Sh100,000.
He adds that when grown under the optimum condition in this area, pawpaw takes about seven months to maturity and start producing.
“The highest harvest from a single pawpaw tree I have made was 30kgs. Grown under best conditions one tree can attain 30kgs. I’m confident I will reach there,” the farmer says gleaming in hope.
He picks an average of one tonne of pawpaw fruits every week that he sells at Sh50 to long-time brokers. The brokers supply the fruits to Nakuru and Naivasha.
He makes about Sh50,000 every week from the sale of pawpaws.
Just like other farmers in the region, Nyaga’s orchard has been affected by mealybug and spider mites’ pests.
Fruits affected by mealybugs are covered in a whitish powdery substance. The pest destroys by sucking the juice from pawpaw. Spider mite, which causes yellowing.
Nyaga says for affected pawpaw trees, even after spraying, the pest recurs in four days.
Farmers say controlling the pest is expensive as the agrochemicals do not come cheap.
Through farming, the farmer who is married and has two children has bought tens of acres of land, educated his children, build a decent house, among other developments.
Nyaga gives back to the community by mentoring and training budding and new farmers on the intricacies of agribusiness.
“Companies perch at my farm to teach farmers about dryland farming and agribusiness. I extend the same education to others,” he says.
In the course of the interview, he receives several phone calls from farmers enquiring on fertiliser and pesticide applications.
He appeals to the Embu County Government to empower farmers through starting up of value addition industries to raise the value of the fresh farm produce.

domain: economics


text:
Landlords prosecuted over unsafe living conditions by Shaun Moore | Gloucester News Centre - http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/
Two more landlords have been prosecuted as part of Gloucester City Council’s continued crack down on unsafe privately rented accommodation.
The council joined forces with Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) back in March, in a bid to improve conditions in multiple occupancy houses and raise awareness of unsafe environments.
This followed city council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee pledging its commitment to improving privately rented housing in the city.
On Tuesday 14th June at Cheltenham Magistrates Court , Gloucester City Council took enforcement action against two landlords. They had both failed to manage and maintain their ‘house in multiple occupation’ (HMO) to an acceptable standard, placing their tenants at risk of harm.
The two owners of the accommodation above The Hilltop Restaurant in Worcester Street, Gloucester pleaded guilty to failing to comply with management regulations and for failing to complete the work required in an improvement notice.
The property was refurbished after a fire in 2004 had seriously damaged the building., with the tenants in residence at that time having to be rescued by GFRS. However, since those repairs were made, the rented property had been allowed to fall into disrepair.
As part of the council’s on-going proactive work, the property was visited by officers and was found to have a faulty fire alarm system, which was permanently sounding, and ineffective fire doors.
In addition there was damaged electrical wiring and ceilings in danger of a collapse, caused by a long standing roof leak.
Each defendant was fined a sum of £1,000, plus £300 costs on top.
Julie White, Private Sector Housing Manager said: “Whilst the majority of landlords operate within the law and offer a good standard of housing, there are some who don’t.
“Landlords have to realise that they must comply with the law. Failure to do so is an instant offence.
“Our joint working with GFRS has already brought us a lot of success in prosecuting rogue landlords, and should serve as a warning to others.
“This council will not tolerate landlords that place their tenants at risk of harm from poorly maintained and managed property.”
Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk
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domain: law


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The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is back again for its 29th run. With the world premiere of the Asian Three-Fold Mirror, spotlights on animation director Mamoru Hosoda and director Shunji Iwai, this year’s TIFF continues to deliver its blend of thoughtfully curated films both international and Japanese.
As the only Japanese film festival recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, the Tokyo International Film Festival has become one of the major film festivals in Asia and is dedicated to supporting Asian talents and extending Japan’s international cultural reach.
This year’s animation section spotlights director Mamoru Hosoda, whose film credits include The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars, and Wolf Children. Most recently, The Boy and the Beast was the number one domestic film in Japan and will be distributed in France. The story follows a boy, Kyuta, who slips into an alternate universe and finds a surrogate father in a bear-man, Kumatetsu.
The Japan Now section’s Director in Focus will be Shunji Iwai, who rose to fame with Love Letter, and whose later films—Swallowtail Butterfly, All About Lily Chou-Chou, Hana and Alice—have garnered attention and praise from eminent sources, including Quentin Tarantino. His most recent film, A Bride for Rip Van Winkle, follows timid Nanami as she hires actors to play her friends and family at her upcoming wedding.
Other events include the three competitive sections, in which submitted films compete for the Tokyo Grand Prix among other prizes. Special Screenings will screen high-profile films that have not yet been released in Japan, with celebrations including a Red Carpet welcome. These include the opening film Florence Foster Jenkins (with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant) and the closing film Satoshi: A Move for Tomorrow.
For the Japanese Classics section, the festival will also be hosting special events at the Kabukiza Theatre. This year the classic Showa-era silent films Chushingura, a classic remake of the famous revenge story of the 21 Ronin, and Blood’s Up at Takata-no-Baba, a drama about a masterless samurai, will be showcased alongside live benshi narration. Kabuki actor Onoe Kikunosuke will dance and sing in a live performance in the female role of “Heron Maiden,” or “Sagi Musume” in Japanese. It’s worth mentioning that traditional kabuki actors are all male and thus, female roles are filled by men as well.
Partnering with the Japan Foundation Asia Center, this year TIFF will premier the Asian Three-Fold Mirror project, bringing together three directors from Japan and other Asian countries to create a thematically-linked series of omnibus films. This year, the first in the series brings stories from characters who journey between Japan and Cambodia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. This year also debuts the Youth Close-up section, which features stories about childhood and adolescence. TIFF hopes that teens will be exposed to as many films as possible, though the stories can be enjoyed by all ages.
TIFF also boasts the addition of EX Theater Roppongi as a new venue this year, to host the Opening and Closing ceremonies as well as the main Competition films. Other venues and theatres around Tokyo will also be showing films from TIFF from October 25 – November 3. There will even be open-air screenings at the Roppongi Hills Arena for four days at the end of October.
Tokyo International Film Festival 2016 runs from October 25 – November 3 at various locations. Check tiff-jp.net for details.

domain: artistic


Flying Monkey Stretch High Rise Straight Leg Jean
Comfort-stretch denim 5 pockets, High-rised, relaxed stretch straight, regular length
Fabric: 93% cotton | 5% Polyester | 2% Spandex
Rise: 10” | Inseam: 30.5” | Leg Opening: 15"
Machine wash cold with like colors, inside out. Colors will bleed. Do not bleach. Tumble dry low. Warm iron if needed. Dry clean optional.
This quality denim is hand-finished for a unique look. It will wear like your favorite jeans, with each hole and tear continuing to destruct over time. You will love the comfort of this denim that has the look and feel of years of wear.


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TIG BRUSH TB30ND WELD CLEANING SOLUTION
This non-dangerous, biodegradable weld-cleaning fluid is kind to the environment and is widely used in manufacturing and maintenance of equipment for food and beverage industries. It cleans as effectively as TB-25, but does not polish – an advantage if the surface appearance must not be changed during cleaning). For best results, neutralise with TB-41 after cleaning.


Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s nine-year-old daughter won the best music video trophy for her mother's hit “Brown Skin Girl” (featuring Wizkid and Saint Jhn) on Sunday (14 March) during the Grammy Premiere Ceremony. She shares the award with her mother.
The video, in which Blue Ivy stars and sings, was up against Harry Styles’ “Adore You”, Anderson .Paak‘s “Lockdown”, Woodkid’s “Goliath,” and Future‘s “Life Is Good” featuring Drake.
Leah Peasall of The Peasall Sisters is the youngest Grammy nominee, and winner, in history. She was one of the credited artists on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, which won album of the year in 2001 when she was eight years old.
In addition to best music video, Beyoncé, who is this year’s leading nominee with nine nods, won best rap performance for “Savage” with Megan Thee Stallion.
Beyoncé has 79 nominations in total, making her even with Paul McCartney as the second most-nominated artist of all time after her husband Jay-Z and Quincy Jones, who share the top spot with 80 nominations each.
The Grammy is not even the first award Blue Ivy has won this year for “Brown Skin Girl”. Last year, she won an NAACP Image Award, a BET Award, and a Soul Train Award.
See the full list of Grammy 2021 winners here.
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In this life of absolute hustle and bustle, there hardly is any time to enjoy home cooked food since there’s hardly anybody cooking food at home! To manage your work schedule or your other routine tasks along with you kitchen routine, there need to be simplifications made! Well, here’s putting an end to your issues with a certain easy Kitchen Hacks that most of you are unaware of!
Here are 14 Kitchen Hacks that will make your life easy!
1. How toÂ remove seeds from vegetables quickly
The sharp edges of an ice-cream scoop can help you peel out or pull off the seeds from vegetables, saving your time, making your job easy!
2. How toÂ remove excess fat from cooked food
Ice cubes could be your life saviors if you are aiming at losing weight!Â Wrap the ice inÂ the towel and wipe itÂ over the top ofÂ the food. The ice will act asÂ aÂ magnet, drawing floating fat towards itÂ toÂ congeal onÂ the tissue. Easy enough??
3. Use film wrap like aÂ professional chef
Keep Plastic Wrap inÂ the fridge, like professional chefsÂ do. Cold food wrap behaves better, sticking and tearing less, leading toÂ less ofÂ that familiar feeling ofÂ exasperation.
4. Peel Citrus Fruits Easily
Sticking oranges and lemons in the microwave for 20Â seconds makes them easier to get separated from their wrappings. Easy much??
5. Make peeling boiled eggs easier
Add soda orÂ vinegar toÂ the water you boil the eggsÂ in. Makes it easier to peel them off!
6. How toÂ squeeze more juice out ofÂ your citrus fruits
To squeeze juicy fruits thoroughly,Â first cool the fruit inÂ the fridge, and then zap itÂ inÂ the microwave for 15-20Â seconds.
7. How toÂ grate soft cheese with less mess
Keep it in the freezer for half an hour.Â The cheese hardens, and doesn’t stick toÂ the grater. It’s easier toÂ sprinkle itÂ too. Easy much??
8. How toÂ cut onions without tears
Put the onions in freezer for 30Â minutes before chopping them. Not for the purpose of making a salad but for the purpose of cooking onions this would help!
9. The smart way toÂ boil pasta
Put aÂ wooden spoon orÂ stirrer over the top while boiling pasta. The wood will stop the foam from going over the edge. This boils them faster! Easy enough?
10. Parchment paper for cupcakes
Parchment Paper can be used in absence of mold for baking cookies or cakes!
11. The right way toÂ warm upÂ baked items
While baking pizzas, put aÂ cup ofÂ water inÂ alongsideÂ it. The moisture will stop the pizza from drying out too much and preserve crunchiness.
Helpful much?? Stay tuned for more updates!

domain: food


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Mumbai witnessed a complete shutdown in its Muslim-dominated areas on Wednesday (January 29) as shops and offices participated in the ‘Bharat Bandh’ in protest against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens (NRC).
According to police, shops and offices remained closed in Muslim areas in Dongri, Byculla, Nagpada, Mahim, Bandra-Behrampada, Kurla Pipe Road, Kasaiwada, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Malad-Malwani and Vikhroli, the police said. The call for shut-down received good response in Mumbra in neighbouring Thane district and Taloja, Vashi and Panvel in Navi Mumbai.
A clash erupted between two groups during the ‘Bharat Bandh’ in north Maharashtra’s Dhule district, while sporadic incidents of violence were also reported in Yavatmal, Aurangabad, and other places. The police fired four rounds in the air and lobbed six tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob in Dhule, an official said.
The incident took place on Hundred Feet Road in the limits of the Chalisgaon Road police station on Wednesday afternoon during a rally against the CAA and NRC. The clash erupted when a group started shouting slogans in support of CAA and NRC at the rally, a police officer said. Both the side resorted to stone-pelting, he added.
To disperse the mob, police fired four rounds in the air and lobbed six teargas shells, he said. The situation was under control and police personnel have been deployed in large numbers in the area, he added. Besides Dhule, there were incidents of blockade on railway tracks at Balapur in Akola district and stone-pelting in Washim and Yawatmal districts, police said.
At Yavatmal, police used baton-charge to disperse the mob after two groups clashed. In Aurangabad, a civic-run bus was pelted with stones at Harsul while a state transport bus was attacked near Himayatbag. In Palghar, 10 persons were detained for trying to enforce the shut-down. Protesters also tried to block the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway near Vasai.
In Thane district, impact of the shut-down call was felt mainly in Bhiwandi, Mumbra and Ulhasnagar. At Ulhasnagar, police detained some persons for trying to take out a protest march in defiance of prohibitory orders. The suburban train traffic in Thane district was not affected, the police said.
Queer march denied permission
Mumbai Police denied permission to a march organised by the LGBTQ community from August Kranti Maidan, fearing that it may turn into an anti-CAA protest, an official said. The decision led to the organisers shifting the venue to Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, he added.
City-based Humsafar Trust had sought permission for holding the ‘Queer Azadi March’, an annual event, on February 1, the police official said. It was to start from the historic August Kranti Maidan and conclude at the same place after passing through Nana Chowk, Kenedy Bridge, Opera House and Maharshi Karve Marg.
Officers of the Agripada police station denied permission to the march on the ground that slogans against the Union government, CAA and NRC might be shouted during the event, the official said. Though the Queer Azadi March is about the rights of the LGBT community, the police feared that it may be hijacked by anti-CAA-NRC protesters, he said.
(With inputs from agencies)

domain: sociology


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Five seconds remained in the Elon University women’s basketball game against Hofstra University on Sunday, Feb. 15. Just before the buzzer went off, Pride forward Anjie White scored a go-ahead layup to seal the win.
The loss marked the second straight for the Phoenix in which it lost during the final minute. Elon has lost its past two games by a combined six points.
The losses drop Elon two spots to fifth place in the CAA with a mark of 7-6.
So without a doubt, Elon has some work to do with just five games left in the regular season leading up to the CAA Tournament. Beating Hofstra and the University of North Carolina Wilmington at home this past week would’ve been a big boost, but it didn’t come to fruition.
Two issues, in particular, are highlighting Elon’s struggles as the team hasn’t been hot from 3-point range and the rebounding performance has been bleak at the least. In fact, Elon turned in conflicting offensive performances in both games. The Phoenix scored 82 points against UNCW, the second-most it’s scored all year, but managed just 53 against Hofstra.
But the defensive performance irked Elon coach Charlotte Smith, too.
“Defense is the biggest thing,” Smith said. “Our goal is to hold teams to 60 points or less.”
Against UNCW Feb. 12, the Phoenix shot just 25 percent from the 3-point line. In the Hofstra loss, Elon made only 29 percent of its 3-pointers.
Defensively, Elon has struggled to rebound and make stops in crucial situations.
The Phoenix was outrebounded 39-27 against UNCW and 45-34 against Hofstra.
Sophomore forward Jenifer Rhodes, who averages 8.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, wore a walking boot on her left foot, missed the game against the Seahawks.
Smith said Rhodes was day-to-day, and she returned against Hofstra. Elon will need her healthy to be competitive in the CAA Tournament.
“I feel like with Jen out, we have top look to go to other people more,” said freshman forward Malaya Johnson, who felt the weight of filling in for Rhodes in the post. “Obviously, she’s a big factor. She does a lot for us.”
In the last month of the season, Elon takes on three of the four teams ahead of it in the standings, including the University of Delaware, Hofstra and Drexel University. The Phoenix travels for three of its last five games of the season, starting against Northeastern University Feb. 19.
James Madison University has run away at the top of the standings with a 13-0 mark. Drexel follows with a 9-4 record, and Hofstra and Delaware are behind at 9-5 and 8-6, respectively.
Needless to say, these last few matchups will be vital in determining seeding for the CAA Tournament in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
“Defense and rebounding—those are the two things we have to focus on,” Smith said. “We have to find a way to get stops.”
Senior reporter Kyle Lubinsky contributed reporting.

domain: news


text:
Happy Monday everyone.
This weeks Christmas chaalenge over at ABC is Bells & glitter.
I have used my new Alva from Magnolia has she has got a little bell on her hat!
She also has a sprinkling of glittery snow around the mushrooms.
To start with she didn't look very Christmassy,
so I added the snowflakes to make it a bit more festive.
Thank you all for looking.
Your comments are always appreciated.
Me again Fleur,your card is just so sweet and love your mushrooms.Little bell,glitter and a lovely Christmas card.Lou.xx your crafty fingers are back.x.
This is just adorable, love your choice of colours and sprinkling of glitter.
Was great to see you Saturday.
Me likes ! alot its gorgeous Fleur
it is just perfect love the colours and well everything.
see you soon love chris xx
Thanks for joining us at the ABC Christmas Challenge!
Gorgeous card, very cute, love the extra glitter and also the sentiment you have used!
thanks for joining the ABC Christmas Challenge,
Hi Fleur, how cute. The bell is a fantastic idea. Love those little frosty mushrooms. Perfect colours.
hugs Debbie xx
Post a Comment


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The phrase “independent author” can bring mucho confusion. What the heck does it mean? Well, Miss Thang, I’m here to explain. Take a seat, grab a rice krispie treat, and chillax:
Sometimes, words can be better described by what they aren’t, than by what they are. I think this rings true when discussing an ‘independent’ author. ‘Independent’ means you are NOT dependent. So, an independent author is NOT dependent.
Let’s move on…
What is an “independent publisher?” Well, because it’s ‘independent’, the company is basically saying “We are NOT dependent on something.” In this case, that something is essentially Big 6 publishers and/or the more classical ways of doing business. These indie houses are basically indie because they choose to do things a bit differently than the largest publishing houses. Examples of independent publishers are Sourcebooks, Entangled, Flux, etc.
Okay, so if you are an author published by an indie publishing house, does that make you an indie author?
Why? Because you are dependent on them. You depend on an editor to get back to you with their notes whenever they feel like it. You depend on a graphic designer to provide you a book cover…which depicts whatever they think works. You depend on a publicist to get your book into the hands of people he/she believes are influential. You depend on your house to get your books printed and stocked in bookstores. And mainly, you depend on your publishing house to send your ass royalty checks.
You are not independent.
So, who is an independent author?
It’s someone who hires and fires individuals (not a single company) to work on their book. They hire who THEY want for their book cover. They hire someone else to edit their work, etc. Or, maybe they say “F it” and do all those jobs themselves. This is what makes an “independent author.”
If you sign a contract with any publishing house that offers their services for free, and the house pays YOU an advance and/or royalties, then you are a traditionally published author.
Neither one is better than the other. My advice would be to try both avenues. A traditional publishing house will better your book’s quality more than you would on your own (yes, they will). And publishing independently will teach you how hard the people in traditional publishing work. It’ll also teach you how to be more business-minded, and grant you complete creative freedom and higher royalty percentages.
Hope this helps!
I’d love to hear your feedback! Is this how you perceive things? Have a different idea? Let me know! 🙂

domain: literature


text:
By Aletha Adu On Wednesday 18 November, Gulwali Passarlay enlightened a packed audience at the Frontline Club into his journey as an unaccompanied child refugee from Afghanistan to the United Kingdom. Joined by former Afghanistan correspondent for the BBC David Loyn, and Nadene Ghouri who co-authored his book The Lightless Sky, Passarlay was keen to […]
Gulwali Passarlay was only 12 years old when he left his home and family in Afghanistan. He would be shot at, imprisoned and almost drown before he reached his new home in Britain. We welcome Gulwali Passarlay to the Frontline Club to share his story as documented in his memoir The Lightless Sky, and to offer his personal insight into the current refugee crisis.


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Human Player in my game has not rolled dice in over 15 minutes.
Re: In Game - SupportI was in a game with two Human players. One players internet connection was lost and they were kicked out. The last player, doesn't have a name - notthing displays for user name. The dice have been stuck on them and the player has not rolled the dice in over 15 minutes. They should have been kicked out. I have to leave and don't want to be penalized.
This is a big problem that seems to only be getting worse. It's ruining the experience of the game. I've noticed it with other players, and then finally it happened to me and happens almost every game now. The other players think I'm taking too long, so I finally force quit the game (iOS and Steam versions) and relaunch it to rejoin the game in progress. Most of the time I only had to do it once, but just now it was me and another player and we both got kicked due to "disconnected from the internet for too long," which clearly is not the issue, so I'm guessing it's some sort of issue connecting with the server, presumably on the server side. It's ruining the game. So much of it is spent trying to sort out who is having the problem and explaining in chat how to do the work around. Very disruptive. Please address.
Just experienced a similar situation. Ultimately me and the other player had to quit as no kicktimer triggered for more than 15 mins. I saw a similar topic on Steam community as well - it seems to be a common bug.

domain: hobby


WLU cancels classes as region goes dark
Shortly after 2:00 p.m. on the afternoon of Feb. 29 Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus lost power. It quickly became apparent that the power outage affected most of Waterloo Region with reports of a blackout as far as Guelph.
Between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m., power began to be restored to areas surrounding WLU, as well as a few buildings on campus. On Wednesday evening power returned to all buildings on campus.
As of approximately 3:28 p.m., the university announced that classes on its Waterloo campus would be cancelled for the remainder of the day. Around the same time it was announced that the WLU Athletic Complex would be closed for the remainder of the day.
According to Laurier Special Constable Services (SCS), the campus will be closed for the night of Feb. 29, to re-open at 8:00 a.m. on March 1.
It is likely that the university will follow protocol for school closures due to snow days and assignments and tests will be pushed back.
According to Dan Dawson, the director of student services at WLU, the Fresh Food Co. is currently selling pre-made items at base prices, accepting cash and first-year students’ OneCards. Dawson added that should the power be restored at a reasonable time, the dining hall will stay open later than its regular hours.
Students’ Union business such as WIlf’s have re-opened and will resume normal operating hours for the rest of Feb. 29. The Terrace food court and International News, however, will re-open the morning of March 1. Foot Patrol will also be open Wednesday night.
The power outage has also reportedly affected Research In Motion (RIM) causing delays on the BlackBerry network.
According to the City of Waterloo, the Waterloo Recreation Complex did not lose power, so game one of the Ontario University Athletics women’s hockey final between Laurier and Western will go ahead as scheduled at 7:30 p.m.
This story is developing. Stay tuned to thecord.ca and follow @cordnews for updates.


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STORIES FROM THE BUSH
BUSH TELEGRAPH XPRESS is an online broadcaster of extraordinary stories by Liezl Shnookal, an Australian author.
Journey alongside Nikki and Jess as they challenge the gendered social norms of the 1980s, in Liezl Shnookal’s latest novel.
Encounter exotic wildlife and amazing people in far-flung destinations, in her visual stories.
Discover her satirical short story about Australia’s attitude to the climate crisis, and her personal account of survival after a catastrophic bushfire.
NIKKI VS JESS
United Against the World
In Liezl Shnookal's gripping novel, Nikki vs Jess, two young women find themselves locked in a fierce competition at the pool table, where neither is willing to be the loser. Beyond the white ball, they wage a battle against the oppressive gender norms of the 1980s, each blazing her own unconventional trail.
Nikki's passion for cars thrusts her into an all-male industry, where she fights tooth and nail to protect her dream job. Jess, on the other hand, rejects traditional values and expectations, wanting to make her own life choices. As they navigate unrelenting pressure and opposition, their friendship is tested.
Can they conquer a male-dominated era and emerge victorious? Dive into this inspiring story of empowerment, resilience, friendship, and the unbreakable spirit of two women determined to shatter the status quo.
FIDDLING WHILE ROME BURNS
The title short story of a collection
As the sun rises over Powertown, Tony Nero strides purposefully to his desk. The federal election has just been called and he is a man in waiting no longer. He locates his laptop, scans the headlines on screen, and groans.
There are floods or bushfires in several key marginal seats, again. Why the hell, he wonders, can’t natural disasters be confined to safe Red Party electorates?
Nero calls for coffee, then remembers that it’s too early for the girl to be at work. He sighs and begins a two-hour exercise program in the private gymnasium annexed to his office. It’s going to be a marathon race to the finish line and the seasoned veteran knows he needs to be in tip-top shape.
When life goes
Novel - Second Edition
Embark on a remarkable journey through Australia's 1970s with Lucy in Off Track.
When Lucy finds herself in the back of a panel van with the larrikin Scotchie, her life takes an unexpected turn. From love and beach adventures to protesting the Vietnam War, Lucy's story captures an era of profound transformation.
Based on a true story, Liezl Shnookal's captivating novel vividly portrays a time when life veered off its intended course and ventured completely OFF TRACK.
SITTING BESIDE BUSHFIRE SURVIVORS
I was one of the lucky ones. Some of us who lived in St Andrews on 7 February 2009 escaped the Black Saturday inferno, simply because the wind changed and took the bushfire to others instead. I didn’t lose my house or possessions; I lost no family members. There are many stories of those who did – stories of devastating loss, heroism, death and miraculous escape. My story is a parallel story – although a much smaller one – and I write it with distress, humility and grief. I also write it with love. I mean no disrespect to those who lost so much, and I make no claim to universal truth. This is just my own personal story.
THE SHNOOKALS AT SHOREHAM
"On the way home from a day at the beach, we normally made a stop at the Shoreham General Store. In 1960 my father borrowed his friend’s movie camera again and managed to capture some priceless footage.
It must have been a very special occasion, because instead of having our usual icy poles, we were eating ice creams!"
Bush Telegraph XPress acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We acknowledge that these lands were stolen and sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.


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Alfred Buxton was New Zealand's leading garden designer in the first few decades of the 20th century. His firm undertook large-scale projects for wealthy farmers and urban professionals, and also did work for local councils. He designed the grounds of 'Wharanui', the rural Marlborough property of Charles Murray, in 1909. The curved entrance drive, pond and built structures are characteristic of Buxton's approach to garden design.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.


text:
Data: GeoComply; Chart: Tory Lysik/Axios
The NFL’s opening weekend saw a record amount of legal online betting activity — hardly a surprise given the proliferation of legal wagering across the country.
By the numbers: There have been 103.1 million sportsbook logins from Thursday through Sunday night across the 21 states (plus D.C.) where online sports betting is live and legal, per geolocation firm GeoComply.
- That is up from 60.1 million during last 12 months’s opening weekend, a 71.5% increase.
- Recent York, which did not have legal online betting last 12 months, led the way in which with 15.7 million logins, or 15.3% of the overall. Pennsylvania, Recent Jersey, Michigan and Illinois rounded out the highest five.


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Photovoltaic panels in Wenzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: wenzhoufabu]
The new energy industry in Wenzhou has gained strong momentum in 2023.
Wenzhou, located in East China's Zhejiang province, boasts rich renewable resources such as wind energy, solar energy, hydropower, and tidal energy thanks to a coastline spanning 1,293 kilometers. It secured the 28th spot on the 2023 list of Hurun China New Energy Cities.
In 2022, 664 above-designated-size new energy enterprises in Wenzhou achieved a total industrial output value of 133.03 billion yuan ($18.3 billion), marking a year-on-year increase of 14.5 percent.
Continuing its upward trajectory, the city's new energy industry recorded a total output value of 85.52 billion yuan during the first seven months of this year, up 8.7 percent year-on-year. Over the same period, the city attracted 22 new energy projects, each with an investment exceeding 100 million yuan.
But that's not all – Wenzhou's new energy landscape is expanding rapidly, particularly in the realms of nuclear energy, offshore wind power, photovoltaics, pumped storage power, and power batteries. Its power storage capacity has been rising significantly as well.
Wenzhou has set ambitious goals, aiming to construct 50 new energy projects this year, with a combined investment of 368 billion yuan. These efforts will position it as a national powerhouse in new energy production and a model city for innovative applications.


K-19: The Widowmaker
Source: Catholic News Service
Fact-based, Cold War submarine drama set in 1961 as the captain (a grim Harrison Ford) and executive officer (a convincing Liam Neeson) clash onboard a Russian sub whose malfunctioning core reactor could melt down with catastrophic results. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the tense tale of honor, courage and human drama is marred by its sluggish pace and some blunt characterizations. Brief violence, images of injured seamen and fleeting rear nudity. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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