Those reading this probably feel like I’m dragging it out with so much emotional turmoil this late in the game. The truth is this is the last chance I’ll have to set the stage for these personalities and their worldviews before the climax of the story. A climax that is coming, soon (believe it or not.)

Much of this is based on my own friendship with a co-worker. He and I have many of the same opinions and views, on which our relationship is based. But he grew up in a very different world than I did. Now and again that crops up and I’m forced to remember, “Wow, I really don’t know him as well as I keep thinking I do.” You’d think I’d be able to remember such things when I’m talking to him, but no. And it’s this recurring mistake of mine that made me want to establish this realization in Hiccup. These two intelligences, so different in some ways yet mostly aligned in an amazing harmony, will occasionally have to stop, stare at each other and remember, “Oh, yeah, you’re NOT an exact duplicate of me.”

I’m also still working on the ending. I need some real quiet time to hide myself away from the world and concentrate entirely on it. Unfortunately my job has just been changed and I have even less time for my own thoughts than ever before. I really don’t know how I’m going to pull this off, but I do know I *will.* I can only hope the end result doesn’t suffer for all the distractions I’m facing.