I usually do! It was just that Old Weirdbeard Mason was playing all the time, it was miserable and as a coping strategy, I apparently decided that Conklin had suffered some grievous end (capped by a suitably wacky funeral) and that was why he was never playing. Your boy is pretty great, still. :D

It's a really intriguing choice for the story, and honestly I puzzled over it, but when coupled with the non-textual elements, it worked really well. So, however that happened, it's great.

Disjointed, hmm. There's certainly some of that, and it might be that there are sections that read in that way, but the ways in which it becomes a complete story are very interesting, and fairly compelling. (not that the rest is uncompelling! why do I say things in this way.) Halak is a mystery here, and that's elegant, with something like,

"...We're like the same side of a magnet. You know?"

There's a hint of more there, and if that stays on the ice, great, and if it powers the narrative, also great -- although likely to have to some consequences. And that always draws everything in closer, the thought that actions are interconnected just like that.

Cool, we have a little appreciation society going on here! :) It's just that whenever you write, it always makes me think. Which is good, if you don't mind diatribes about characterization and form? Sorry.

also, wow, embarrassing mistakes in that first comment, I am sometimes dumb.