“I didn’t understand that a broken thing couldn’t be wanted.” This sentence. My heart aches for some reason. Probably lots of reasons. I really enjoyed this story. Thanks Jimmy.
Wow, Jimmy, this is outstanding. I could feel the protagonist's tension -- the uncertainty, shifting ground, being demeaned, dreams stolen. I've experienced that. So relatable. Thank you for sharing. I think this is one of my favorites of yours (and I seem to keep writing that) -- it just hit home in such a raw, punching way.
Touched me deeply Jimmy. I moved all the way across the country three times before I was 8. Ten different schools before high school. I understand the box.😥
The box could be so many things, can the child understand he is going to have to leave a part of his life behind ? No!
Life is a mystery box and we are going to leave it all behind and be happy with only a little portion of what we are left with and we are expected to go on...make a new and more boxes when we arrive at our next destination.
All your life remembering and wondering where is it...that stuff that didn’t fit in the box...very deep Jimmy
Ouch.
I know. I had to get the ouch out
You’ve crushed me now.
Please don't leave me. I'll write some lighter ones.
I’m sticking no worries but whew
I want many things.
I need very few things.
The things I need won't fit in the box.
I'm not sure I want to write this child's similar adult struggle
I still had hope for the child at the end of the story, but it's a long way to adulthood.
But hope is a powerful motivation - if it can be held on to.
This kid has hope. But being faced with a similar decision as an adult would be brutal.
Powerful, immersive....it makes you feel..
All art ( visual, musical, written ) should make people feel something
“I didn’t understand that a broken thing couldn’t be wanted.” This sentence. My heart aches for some reason. Probably lots of reasons. I really enjoyed this story. Thanks Jimmy.
That's the sentence that made me publish this one.
You weren’t kidding. This is bleak. It be like that sometimes.
Yes it does.
Wow.
Poor kid growing up in a sick, twisted environment.
Emptying the box, indeed.
I think one of the worst things is assuming a kid is stupid, or is simply there to acquiesce.
Sad. Sad. Sad. Makes me thankful for a mostly happy childhood and stable home.
That's a beautiful takeaway from it. I knew it was a sad piece, obviously, but if it can pull gratitude out of people I'm extra happy about that.
Wow. Hard family life.
You captured it.
Wow, Jimmy, this is outstanding. I could feel the protagonist's tension -- the uncertainty, shifting ground, being demeaned, dreams stolen. I've experienced that. So relatable. Thank you for sharing. I think this is one of my favorites of yours (and I seem to keep writing that) -- it just hit home in such a raw, punching way.
Thanks Ben. I keep trying to write new favorites for people. In this case though, the story just had to escape its cage in my head.
Given the subject matter, I completely understand.
Thanks for responding to this one. To any and all of them , but this one I thought might send people to the exits.
Not so for me -- it grabbed me on the collar and forced me to look and remember.
I love that. And I love that Mark said it reminded him to be grateful for a happy childhood.
Touched me deeply Jimmy. I moved all the way across the country three times before I was 8. Ten different schools before high school. I understand the box.😥
That had to be brutal. We would move a few blocks and I hated it.
Mostly I didn’t understand. But I understand the box and the lack of control.
This story seems to have hit a nerve with a lot of people. Really didn't anticipate the response. Thanks for letting me know.
Heart wrenching sad!
I know. It really needed to come out.
The box could be so many things, can the child understand he is going to have to leave a part of his life behind ? No!
Life is a mystery box and we are going to leave it all behind and be happy with only a little portion of what we are left with and we are expected to go on...make a new and more boxes when we arrive at our next destination.
All your life remembering and wondering where is it...that stuff that didn’t fit in the box...very deep Jimmy