Well, as a big fan of Gunsmoke on the radio (I listen to a 'vintage' radio program every week), I really like this, and I really do hope you will come back to this some day. I note that you're still posting other work. I do hope you'll remember this as it is a very interesting idea.

Thanks for writing one of my favorite radio shows of all time.

Blue

Yes, I do have to go back to this one. I'm very blocked on it. I also can't pack too much into it; the shows were only 30 minutes long.

I envision, of course, June Foray as "Gene," and Bill Scott as "his" "uncle". This would have led six or so years later, after William Conrad failed to get the TV role of Marshal Dillon, to their working together on Rocky and His Friends.

I know it's been a long time since you worked on this story, but darn it, it rocks! Any chance you might finish it? If I begged really hard? Please? Pleeeeease?

After reading reviews - I totally hadn't picked the 'boy' being a slayer, I was leaning towards some sort of training ritual for young were's, some ancestor of Oz or something, someone laconic. Only the last chapter had me leaning towards vampires doing the killing.

I'm enjoying this story. Nice twist from the usual fare.

I was curious and began exploring your story. Due to it being posted here, it didn't take me too long to suspect that Gene might be a slayer - and the squeeky voice that of a woman or teen woman trying modulate. I do wonder if the uncle is a watcher or someone else, and am curious to see if you connect this story to any other part of the Buffy universe or another crossover.

I stated in the first part that this will not be a time travel story, and I believe in not piling on too many impossible things in a story. I don't think I could ever write a BtVS/Highlander/Stargate SG-I/Charmed/Blade crossover the way one author has (not on this site). Think of the "Tales of the Slayer" stories. It will be a few days before I finish and post the next part.

How is this a crossover?

Because I say it is?

Seriously, because it's told from Marshal Dillon's point of view. He doesn't know about vampires and slayers; he has no reason to know. Like Willow and Xander before Buffy's arrival S1, he's assigning all the odd incidents going on mundane causes. He thinks that wolves killed Buckman and the first victim. So does everyone else in town, though no hunter has found one yet. It will become clear in the next part that something more sinister is going on. Perhaps Gene, the 'odd boy' of the title, isn't really--but I'm giving the plot away.

Glad to see this updated! Very enjoyable story, with an unusual crossover. Looking forward to the next chapter.

I've listened to some of those old radio plays including a couple of Gunsmokes. I think you have done an amazing job of catching the style of those shows. I look forward to seeing how this is a crossover. I figure the "wolves" are of the were variety but I can't figure out if the "kid" is actually a Slayer or what. I hope you continue this neat story.

I'm enjoying this so far!
I have a fondness for westerns that is inexplicable, and I'm enjoying the pacing of the story. Radio dramas really took their time to establish character & setting, your narrative reflects this.
Can't wait to read the next part!

You have the characters down right; interesting choice, basing it on the radio show, rather than the TV one.

The "odd boy" of course is no boy, but a Slayer; "his" "uncle" is her Watcher.

Beyond that: I'm just looking forward to how it works out.

I've been listening to old episodes on my satellite radio service. And, of course.

Okay, you've hooked me. The crossover is lovely and original, and (ahem), I remember watching Gunsmoke as a kid and know that the characters really didn't change much when they moved from radio. The point? That you have the characterizations down.

I'm looking forward to seeing where you go with this. At the moment, I'm making lots and lots of guesses about who's who and what's what — which is enjoyable — but I really want to know if I'm right or not!