But It's Been a While
by David James
When I first met Luther he was sitting on the sidewalk, his back pushed up against a vacant storefront wall, thumbing through the “help wanted” section of a few-days-old copy of our local paper and I was moved to offer him a couple of dollars for which he said, “Thanks, I'm making do, but it's hard”, said he'd lost his job a while ago but that he'd found ways to get by, living in a GMC school bus body deep in back of Fitzgerald's Junk Yard and, smiling, said,” Don't ask where I got my blankets or ask me how I get food” and though he was out at his sidewalk spot most days, and we talked, I never asked and when others would stop long enough to listen, Luther would always tell them, as he did me, that he lost his job—but he didn't tell them he lost it when the hosiery mill closed — eleven years ago.
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You are perfecting this art form.*
Agree with Gary.*
Ditto. To do it at all is an endeavor. To do it so damned well is exceptional!*
You know these are my people, David, and you do them justice so well. These sentences are taking you to a new place. *
All of the above, and especially enjoyed the O.Henry ending. *****
I think the reason these work so well is how you manage, in one sentence, to bring the thing around, give it its own small arc and near-resolution and leave the rest for the reader to ponder/feel. *
Folks, I appreciate your taking time to read these –in one breath–things. Thanks. My attention span is close to that of a gnat, as witnessed by their lengths.
Compresses so much grief and adaptation into such a small linguistic space.
Hmmmmm. I've got my guy like Luther. He reads the New Yorker and takes handouts, but doesn't really ask for them. I'm a bit worried. Haven't seen him for some time.
"and though he was out at his sidewalk spot most days, and we talked, I never asked and when others would stop long enough to listen"
Nice work, David. *
The flow in this one reminds me of Sherwood Anderson. Like! *
And, Gary, Steve, Sam and Ann, thanks for spending time reading this.
*
Thanks, Oliver Hunt.
Those last words really make this a stunning piece. "*"
David was at his usual sidewalk spot and I stopped and asked him how he does it.
He just smiled. *
Love the wry--at 1st. sad-down-on-his-luck--Luther character. Amusing turn around in the space of the clause, "eleven years ago." Well done, tight flash piece.
this one is pure.
<3
*