Unheard

And the question remains.

Love it! I want a longer version.

Thanks, Jen! I'll have to work on that...

This kills me, Kim.

"They glanced at his brother, saw something was wrong with him, then at him, noting his dirty and disheveled state, judging them to be human flotsam in milliseconds."

Very strong piece. * (typo: angles)

So glad you liked it, Kathy! It kills me everytime I see that look, too.

Oops! Thanks for catching the typo! Will fix...

oh, this is so wonderful.

Thanks very much, Meg!

Let us bring you silver and gold for this great piece, Kim. The voice of the challenged often goes unheard, even at Christmas. Do you hear what I hear: a song, a song, high above the tree. *

powerful, kim. just the right pick of situations to a strong effect. love the conversation about the tree and the contrasts in this piece. the "man with a black bar in his ear" is my favorite image here.

Thanks for the great comments, Frank and Marcus. I'm glad it touched you.

""No, it doesn't.” He sighed and lit a butt he'd found under a park bench. “It makes sound waves. Someone has to hear it for it to become a sound.”"

"The man didn't hear him."

Perfect offset. Perfect truth. Reminds me of something my son said to me a while back. "Blackberry, Blue Tooth, Facebook, tweets, God, Dad. Everybody's so connected now. It's a better world for all that."

Thanks, James! I like to think your son is right, that all that connectedness will help.

Wonderful form, Kim. Strong piece. I like it.

Love how you brought something that comes down through history, on cobblestoned streets unchanged, except for that man with the ear-phone. Nice.

Thanks for the great comments, Sam and Susan!

..judging them to be human flotsam in milliseconds. They passed without a word, not even a head-shake...this will be my third time trying to post a comment-can't remember what I said first two times--sorry---suffice it to say:fave!

Thanks, Darryl, for both the great comment and your persistence!

Through your creative choice of familiar imagary, significant details, meaningful dialogue, telling actions, and a perfect title, you have created a short read with a lasting emotional effect. Excellent writing. I enjoy.

This delivers, Kim. Great work.

Great snapshot Kim. An off-beat story that resonates. *

Thanks, J, Sara and Jack!

*

Great, but don't explain. No need. Delete "judging them to be human flotsam in milliseconds." Let the reader do this work.

Great, great, great! Yes, want a longer piece.

Thanks, Bill and Jules!

Bill, have edited...

This is great, love the use of the song and the scant imagery is wonderful. Love that sentence with the man on the phone. As always simple is best...!

Thanks, Shelagh! Glad you liked it!

A great food-for-though piece that rewards reflection. Bravo again.

Thanks very much, Paul!

This story makes me angry (in a good way, you know, as in what is going on hits home)--The sigh combined with the "No, it doesn't" explanation really lights my fuse. It is the unspoken question, of course, in the story, but I do kind of want to yell at "He"--so what about those angels, huh, did you hear them? *

Thanks, Jane. Glad the story hit home.

Oh, incredibly powerful ending. (The rest isn't shabby either!)

Ah Kim, beautiful, powerful stuff here. So many trees falling, the mark of our world. Peace *

Thanks, Beate and Linda!