Comment from GeraldS

Excellent

This was certainly a "fun" piece. You have a good sense of humor. I wonder if this is the first disqualification by the new contest rules police. If it is, that designation might be a better tribute than a first place ribbon. I think they should at least affix some sort of a badge of dishonor to mark the occasion.

Sorry about your loss. I wish you better luck next time!

 Comment Written 17-May-2014

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reply by the author on 17-May-2014

I believe that it is the first, Gerald. But,leave to me to be the first to acquire such a distinction.

Thanks for the fine review, my friend. Much obliged!

Comment from Nosha17

Excellent

Master of the art of play on words! I feel bad for you, I much prefer a tongue in cheek version to a stolid go by the rules one. But, then I am a non conformist! Enjoyable read, my commiserations. Faye

 Comment Written 17-May-2014

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reply by the author on 17-May-2014

Thanks, Faye, but it's all good. I couldn't really understand why it was disqualified at first, but their explanation was sufficient enough. I just spent all I had left entering the contest and promoting it, I felt it would be a shame to let it languish in short story purgatory with a scant seven reads and reviews, so I bumped it up the charts considerably, to see what y'all thought about it. I'm really glad you liked it.

Comment from evilynne

Excellent

This is fun and funny to read, although I had to read it twice to get it. It was certainly suspenseful. And you did take liberties, but it is great!

 Comment Written 17-May-2014

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reply by the author on 17-May-2014

Thanks a bunch, evilynne, I appreciate the kind review!

You say you had to read it twice, huh? Thank goodness it was just a 500 word story then, right? (LOL)

reply by evilynne on 17-May-2014

I would have read it anyway if it was longer!

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Cute. I thought I was a fan, but I happened to see this on the front page. I will become a fan. I rarely ever left our four boys with my husband, and there was a very good reason.

 Comment Written 17-May-2014

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reply by the author on 17-May-2014

Ha, ha, yeah, probably for exactly the types of reasons I wrote in this story, right, Barbara? I recall when my wife left me alone with our kids for the first time, when she, her mother and grandma took off to a women's bowling tournament in Toledo. I was lost, and petrified, praying that she would come home. I never knew how difficult moms had it until that day, and I gained a whole new level of respect for them. believe me!

Thanks for the kind review, and comments, Barbara. I really appreciate it!

reply by barbara.wilkey on 17-May-2014

I left my husband home with the 3 youngest once for a few minutes while I went to pick up the oldest. I was only gone a few minutes and the whole house was in shambles when I returned. NEVER AGAIN!!!!

Comment from A Matter Of Words

Excellent

Sorry about the disqualification...this was fun and I liked the idea of the play on words. My dad has never "baby-sat" anyone let alone all eight of his kids, and the sitter was usually Mr. Osopoff and his wife...he was a cop and she was a saint. Thanks for the laugh...Stephanie

 Comment Written 17-May-2014

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reply by the author on 17-May-2014

Eight?! Good heavens, and I thought three were bad, LOL!

Thanks for the excellent and entertaining review, Stephanie. I appreciate it.

Comment from Louise Michelle

Excellent

LOL - good for you for taking such creative and amusing liberty. I always enjoy gruff writings about the kiddies because it's so much fun. Two year olds are known to be extremely inconsiderate. They drop their toys on the floor just to watch Mom have to bend over again and again. I blame my bad back on my two sons, lol. Hugs, Lou

 Comment Written 17-May-2014

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reply by the author on 17-May-2014

Hah, and you're probably right too, Louise! I was just trying to lighten up the mood a bit, give people a good laugh. We all laugh far too little these days, I fear.

Thanks for the outstanding review!

Comment from Maureen's Pen

Excellent

Dear Dean - I thought this was a creative way to approach the prompt. Looking at contest rules you quoted I'd say you met them. Interesting take on disqualification. At any rate a well penned post with a nice dose of witty humor - anyone who has children will get the depth and meaning in this one.
I thought you did a great job on it.
Thanks for sharing it.
Maureen

 Comment Written 17-May-2014

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reply by the author on 17-May-2014

Thanks, Maureen, and I really thought I'd met the requirements as well. Unfortunately, the newly formed Contest Rules Committee watchdogs didn't think so. I'd spent so much of my hard earned member dollars entering it and promoting the story, I promoted it even further in the hopes that more than the six people who read it while it was still a contestant would read it and give me their opinions. I sure do appreciate yours, as always, my friend!

Comment from Michaelk

Excellent

I have kids and I agree that it is truly terrifying when they are supposed to be napping but you hear them, cackling, the sound of little footfalls as they go about some ungodly mischief.
But I liked your story. It was funny and I could easily relate to it. I could picture the dad cowered in a corner, slowly coming out like a jittery deer, jumping at any little noise. Great job. Very entertaining.

 Comment Written 17-May-2014

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reply by the author on 17-May-2014

Thanks for checking it out, Michaelk. It was disqualified from the competition, after I'd spent all of those hard-earned member dollars, so I'm promoting the heck out of it in the hopes that more than the four who read it while it was still a contest entry would read it now. I thought, what the hell, right?

Comment from livelylinda

Excellent

Dean Kuch: now, you know that not everyone enjoys your style of writing. And, I know that you enjoy pushing the rules and doing it your way. . .such is your life and the consequences that follow. Is that huge, red notification saying that you are disqualified, really necessary?? I thought your story was original and should have been considered for the contest. . .but, what do I know? Anyway, I liked it, enjoyed reading it and got a few chuckles, wondering what else is doing laps within your brain and ready to take the swim across the channel, any channel, anywhere. Linda

 Comment Written 17-May-2014

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reply by the author on 17-May-2014

Hah ha, thanks Linda, I appreciate the kind review. Oh, and the disqualification thingy at the top? Let's just call that tongue-in-cheek humor, and leave it at that...heh-heh!

Comment from elchupakabra

Excellent

Lol it may have been disqualified from the contest but I sure got a kick out of it. I only have one but she's a handful, I couldn't imagine having three cornering me like a wild animal lol. Really great work on this piece, thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 17-May-2014

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reply by the author on 17-May-2014

Ha ha, thanks, 'Chup, I drew from personal experiences while writing this. The flashbacks I had while writing it all down caused nightmares and scars that I may never quite fully recover from. Then came the indignity of being disqualified...Oh death, where is they sting! (LOL)...