Testimony

Has an edge that reminds me in the best ways of Carver. Great pleasure to read.

Mr. Hardaway tells it right.

A great read.

Simple but powerful. Love the voice. Fav!

Superb! Fav!

“Back to where he came from,” she said. Bam!*

"You'd catch a finger if you weren't careful and have to worry about crying." Boy had some good role models. *

I just now looked at the title again. Now I can see him on the witness stand. Bobby burned the house? Probly not, but he's the suspect, I reckon.

Thanks to all you guys for the nice comments. I'm delighted.

Very nice. The voice is successful. “You'd catch a finger if you weren't careful and have to worry about crying.”

This is really great. Tight sentences. Is the 2nd please after sake (about 3/4 ways down) intentional?

Really liked this, John

*

Really like this taut and evocative little piece. Leaves me with questions and wanting more. *

Thanks, Steven and michael and Michael. Yes, the two "please" are intentional, for better or worse.

Nice capture of a lonely kid. So much beneath the surface.*

*. Whoa, John. This is such a well-done, spare piece that tells me a much larger story. I, too, would like to read more from the narrator. Damn this is good.

Just realized I was holding my breath while reading this. Really caught me with this one.

yep. great ending*

Thanks Joani, David, Carol and Jane. Your nice words are encouraging.

A fine piece, John. "He showed me how to make a belt snap by looping the end to the buckle and jerking it from both sides."

Great closing. *

Mysterious, yearny vignette. Wonderful portrayal. Fave*.

This is one of those pieces where not a word is wasted, and the sum becomes so much larger than the parts. Great writing. *

John. Testimony. Terrific. Not a wasted word in it. *

Thanks, Sam & Gloria & Beate & Janice. Your nice words make me proud.

Wonderfully tight, John. Characters to remember. Made me curious.

May I come and live inside your head and watch the thought processes for a while? This short piece hasmore punch than the one I wrote this morning, three times its length. Good on ya.

real tight, man. "I could learn when I grew up" *

Thanks, Marcus, Gita and Bud. You make me proud.

It leaves me wanting more, like a lovely sno-cone in August.

Excellent writing, John. *

Thanks, Sally & Foster

So evocative, I fell in love with this and you managed to cover an expanse of territory in such a small piece. *

Thanks, Isabell

Great ending! Elliptical, suggestive, on the edges of things. Wonderful.

Thanks, Cezarija and welcome to Fictionaut.

Great story, John. Love the implications from the first line.