A much lesser writer would have had the man's singing evoke ancestral memories of troubadours traveling town to town, mesmerizing loved lorn damsels with his voice.
Instead Anna V. Jones holds true to her first description: someone beautiful as ordinary people are beautiful. We ordinaries don't sing heart-stoppingly-gloriously, but --- when no one is watching --- we do sing with honest emotion.
Returning the guitar was an act of love as powerful as the emotion that inspired the song. It told him someone wanted his song to continue. It stopped a suicide of the soul.
So emotional and bittersweet! It reminds me of the conflicted feelings that come with the end of high school (or any chapter in one's life). I loved the banter between the friend group and it was so heartbreaking, yet emotionally satisfying, to see how they grew apart with time. Great read, and I hope to see more of your work in the future!
Mike! thank you so much. you’re the best & I love your SSL story. I also really enjoyed what you wrote today about how your favorite stories inspired yours!
Hell yeah, man. Isn't it so great?? I don't really have any power over this, but my goal is to get one of these stories anthologized. I'm obviously incredibly biased, but there's a handful of stories on here already that are among the best stories I've read in years.
You know what I think? The Norton Anthology of Short Story, Long. That’s what I think. Like three years from now. I’m speaking it into existence. It is decided.
This line here describes how we all felt at that age: "It was like we were nostalgic for those days while we were still living them—longing for what was right in front of us."
A lesser writer would have had the cashier marry.
A much lesser writer would have had the man's singing evoke ancestral memories of troubadours traveling town to town, mesmerizing loved lorn damsels with his voice.
Instead Anna V. Jones holds true to her first description: someone beautiful as ordinary people are beautiful. We ordinaries don't sing heart-stoppingly-gloriously, but --- when no one is watching --- we do sing with honest emotion.
Returning the guitar was an act of love as powerful as the emotion that inspired the song. It told him someone wanted his song to continue. It stopped a suicide of the soul.
Such a great, smart read of the story! Thanks so much for spending time with it, and this thoughtful reply!
The way you write about it here makes me think you might also really like Pete Witte's story!
https://ashortstorylong.substack.com/p/the-free-throw-shooter-by-peter-witte
thank you so much for reading & engaging so thoughtfully with the story & the characters!
So emotional and bittersweet! It reminds me of the conflicted feelings that come with the end of high school (or any chapter in one's life). I loved the banter between the friend group and it was so heartbreaking, yet emotionally satisfying, to see how they grew apart with time. Great read, and I hope to see more of your work in the future!
thank you so much!
Anna is one of my favorite short story writers and I adore this story!!!
Is this a first read for you? What a treat, if so!!
Mike! thank you so much. you’re the best & I love your SSL story. I also really enjoyed what you wrote today about how your favorite stories inspired yours!
Just reread this on my lunch break. This one belongs in an anthology.
Hell yeah, man. Isn't it so great?? I don't really have any power over this, but my goal is to get one of these stories anthologized. I'm obviously incredibly biased, but there's a handful of stories on here already that are among the best stories I've read in years.
thank you, Mike! & Aaron, I hope that happens for a SSL story
Lovely and evocative
thank you!
You know what I think? The Norton Anthology of Short Story, Long. That’s what I think. Like three years from now. I’m speaking it into existence. It is decided.
This line here describes how we all felt at that age: "It was like we were nostalgic for those days while we were still living them—longing for what was right in front of us."