Comment from faragon

Excellent

You had me going at the beginning...I thought it was his wife. Then along the middle I got the sneaking suspicion that it was an animal. Very nicely done and very well written. One could imagine oneself standing next to him while he was on the phone.

 Comment Written 29-Dec-2014

Comment from Michaelk

Exceptional

Deceptively clever Mr. Kuch. I can see why this won the contest. I kept looking for the angle, and finally saw it when you said, 'I got the kids off to school.' I did fall for thinking it was his wife that was being buried. For a few lines I thought he had also done the same to his first wife. But that thought ended when your bubble of deception burst. Excellent story as always. I wish you would write more of these than poetry...C'est la vie.

 Comment Written 09-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 09-Nov-2014

Thanks, Michael, and I used to write far more prose than poetry. However, here lately I've been on a real poetry kick, I'll admit. I had to weigh my options and found that I simply couldn't compete with the top writers of prose here on FS. I do try very hard, however, whenever I do decide to write a story.

I'm really happy that you enjoyed this one. Thanks for the complimentary comments and rating, my friend. :}

reply by Michaelk on 09-Nov-2014

Are you kidding me? Can't compete? You blow them away! Every time your name comes up in my messages, I hope it's a prose piece. Your poems are good too, it's just a personal preference.

reply by the author on 09-Nov-2014

Thanks, Michael, that's very kind of you to say. I feel your stories rank among the best here as well. :}

reply by Michaelk on 09-Nov-2014

Aww...shucks. :)

reply by the author on 09-Nov-2014

:}

It's true.

Comment from Jacqueline M Franklin

Excellent

Hey, Dean,

Congrats on the win. Great story, but sit me down and shut me up! You surprised me, for sure. I never would have figured you to write a story like this one. (*.*)

I kind of thought it was going to be an animal and not a human at the end, but I always associate you with the far out horror stuff. Good going tough. interesting one-sided conversation and great win.

Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'... Jax (*.*)

 Comment Written 07-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 07-Nov-2014

Thanks, jax, and i do occasionally try and throw people off the scent, so to speak, in blind contests by writing something other than horror fiction. Sometimes it works, while other times, well...not so much, LOL.

Thanks again for taking the time to read and comment on the story. I do appreciate it. :}

~DK~

Comment from Acquired Taste

Excellent

Was too good to believe a wife, mother, girl friend or mother-in-law was involved - although mother-in-law may have been fun. Like how you led the conversation down the garden path - bating us with each response. Nicely done - good wishes for the contest. AT=/

 Comment Written 06-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 06-Nov-2014

Thanks so much, Jean. It was much harder to present a coherent conversation from just one side. Then to add a twist to it was really a challenge without giving it away too early.

I appreciate your thoughtful review and comments, my friend. :}

Comment from DDLacy

Excellent

All I can say is outstanding!! An intriguing one-sided poem that truly kept me glued until I found out who was doing what for whom! My first thought was a friend of a malicious woman who was doing her a favor in getting rid of another in a relationship but it turned out to be the older brother helping his younger brother settle the boredom, agony, and health issues of his fat and lazy wife Beatrice with cancer. It was great and thanks for sharing!

Note: However there was a part of the poem where I lacked understanding and I wasn't sure if you meant one name but stated the other as it reads:

Beatrice was a poor replacement for Elise. Beatrice was a couch potato, fat and lazy. Elise was full of life, the outdoor type. Love to run and take long walks they would do together.

Then I read, "Besides Elise was way too old and could barely move around." Did you mean Beatrice here? If so, change it in your poem to make it flow accordingly.
Otherwise it's great!! Godspeed!

 Comment Written 06-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 06-Nov-2014

Thanks, DDLacy, and I've made some changes to this story based upon your thoughtful suggestions.

Thanks so much again for all of your help. It is greatly appreciated. :}

Comment from J Patience

Excellent

Great, much less bumpy of a read, but it still lets the unsuspecting reader assume he's buried a woman rather than a dog.

 Comment Written 06-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 06-Nov-2014

Thanks for your honest assessment and great suggestions, J. I made some changes and edits based on them, I hope you don't mind?

I appreciate you letting me know what worked and what didn't for you. Hopefully now, it's worth at least a fiver.

Thanks again!

Comment from fluffnstuff

Exceptional

wow that really had me going! I'm gonna have to re-read it----I think it was great to fool the reader into believing it was a human being!! sure went through many mind changes...ie. a ypung girl--his friends wife---perhaps a rape. U rate a sixer from me. fluff

 Comment Written 06-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 06-Nov-2014

Thanks so much, fluff, I'm really gald you liked the story. Thanks for confirming for me that the twist at the end worked for you. I appreciate the outstanding rating and comments, my friend. :}

Comment from rjpurdy

Excellent

An excellent one sided conversation. I lovged the surprise ending. The story was brash enough that I expected the wife was put down. Nice job on the surprise. All in all, a very good read. rj

 Comment Written 06-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 06-Nov-2014

Thanks, rjpurdy. I really cringe inwardly when I feel the need to use such harsh language in my stories. But this character had to come across as brash, cruel and uncaring to lead the readers in the direction that I'd hoped they would go, only to make the final reveal at the end. It all hinged on that single character doing the talking, as he was the only one permitted to, of course.

I'm really glad that you enjoyed the story, and I appreciate your comments and opinions immensely.

reply by rjpurdy on 06-Nov-2014

Sometimes my friend FUCK just says it all doesn't it? I appreciate for your respect for language, you do NOT come across as rude. It really is a fine line on how we choose to use these words and you did not abuse that privelege. The story is tasteful in spite of the language.
~Peace & Grace~ Rod

reply by the author on 06-Nov-2014

Thanks, Rod. I'm glad you see it the same way as i do, my friend. :}

Comment from pbroussard209

Excellent

Lol, this reminds me of my husband trying to put my daughters sick hampster down. In the end he couldn't do it and took it to the vet. Cost us more to put her down than it did to buy her. Great job and good luck.

 Comment Written 02-Nov-2014

---

reply by the author on 02-Nov-2014

Thank you very much for your review, pbroussard209. It's greatly appreciated. :}

Comment from c_lucas

Excellent

I have put many an animal out of their suffering. This is very well written with a smooth flow of words, making for a very interesting read.

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2014

---

reply by the author on 31-Oct-2014

I've had to do a couple, Charlie, and I can honestly say it wasn't any fun.

Thanks for the review.

reply by c_lucas on 31-Oct-2014

You're welcome