Voted! Feedback is hidden below, if you care to peek beneath Mandle's fig leaf. 
Spoiler
@ Sinitrena
This was a touching story of true friendship, or at least the feeling of true friendship that is purest with the primary friends of one's childhood/youth. I really liked the running metaphor of death's hand on James's shoulder. The fogginess of thought and vision at the beginning of the story was also clever, although in places it kind of muddled the reader's understanding - I had to reread a bit to ensure I understood what was going on. The twist at the end, with most of the Wild Five being dead, was a bit depressing for me, but true to the tone of the story. Even sadder was the fact that James took refuge in his nostalgia for friends from decades past rather than the relationships in his own family (wife & daughters), but then half the time my own family pretends I don't exist and I'm only 43, so I can imagine after another forty years how one might decide just to check out emotionally. I know you said staring at the story more wouldn't help it, but a bit more proofreading would have helped with some awkward phrases (It is a "Ferris" wheel - invented by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., "the soon stood", "two old man", etc.).
@ Stupot
This was one weird trip, man. There were some great descriptions, especially of how the senses warp reality under the influence of shrooms, and the story was well paced. The sheer craziness of the plot, however, made it difficult to take very seriously. I tried parsing some deeper meaning into the boat, the old woman, and the naked friend, but ultimately all I could come with is that it's all just the random hallucinations of a shroom trip. Disappointingly the friendship element falls apart, too, as Toby abandons his friends on the boat while you yourself (you insist it's a true story and it is a first person narrative, so I assume you are the third unnamed friend) are paralyzed in Simon's hour of need, not to mention that all the friends seem to drift apart as they grow up. I suppose that's the most realistic part of the whole story, but it is a bit of a sad commentary on the long-term endurance of friendship.
@ Mandle
Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. Oh, and mercy killings, which is perhaps the truest form of friendship, making yourself miserable for the good of your pal. But mostly all I have to say is shiiiiiiiiiiiit.
This was a touching story of true friendship, or at least the feeling of true friendship that is purest with the primary friends of one's childhood/youth. I really liked the running metaphor of death's hand on James's shoulder. The fogginess of thought and vision at the beginning of the story was also clever, although in places it kind of muddled the reader's understanding - I had to reread a bit to ensure I understood what was going on. The twist at the end, with most of the Wild Five being dead, was a bit depressing for me, but true to the tone of the story. Even sadder was the fact that James took refuge in his nostalgia for friends from decades past rather than the relationships in his own family (wife & daughters), but then half the time my own family pretends I don't exist and I'm only 43, so I can imagine after another forty years how one might decide just to check out emotionally. I know you said staring at the story more wouldn't help it, but a bit more proofreading would have helped with some awkward phrases (It is a "Ferris" wheel - invented by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., "the soon stood", "two old man", etc.).
@ Stupot
This was one weird trip, man. There were some great descriptions, especially of how the senses warp reality under the influence of shrooms, and the story was well paced. The sheer craziness of the plot, however, made it difficult to take very seriously. I tried parsing some deeper meaning into the boat, the old woman, and the naked friend, but ultimately all I could come with is that it's all just the random hallucinations of a shroom trip. Disappointingly the friendship element falls apart, too, as Toby abandons his friends on the boat while you yourself (you insist it's a true story and it is a first person narrative, so I assume you are the third unnamed friend) are paralyzed in Simon's hour of need, not to mention that all the friends seem to drift apart as they grow up. I suppose that's the most realistic part of the whole story, but it is a bit of a sad commentary on the long-term endurance of friendship.
@ Mandle
Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. Oh, and mercy killings, which is perhaps the truest form of friendship, making yourself miserable for the good of your pal. But mostly all I have to say is shiiiiiiiiiiiit.
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