And that seems like a good note to end on.

And that, Curtis, is indeed where the story ends!

Thanks for all your comments - I have been reading them, even though I've not been responding. I've been really busy on my next story, and got really into it, so I've been kind of neglecting this thread a little bit, at times! And, of course, the laptop failure didn't help!

To everyone who's read through to the end ... thanks for sticking with it, and I hope you liked the story!

You are a real talent
 

Thank you for yet another well written story that makes use of "old fashioned" conventions like grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, etc. Personally, I suggest you look into a career as a novelist. You really are that good.