Comment from Eric1

Excellent

Hi Bev, what a heartwarming story for this festive season my friend, beautifully written with a good understanding of loss in family life, I wish you the best of luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 23-Dec-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Dec-2014

Hi, Eric. Thank you much for this very kind review. And I really appreciate your good luck wishes! Your insights are most appreciated.

:) Bev

reply by Eric1 on 28-Dec-2014

You are most Welcome Bev, unfortunately been ill all over Xmas hence the late reply

reply by the author on 28-Dec-2014

Oh, goodness. I hope you will all be on the mend soon! :) Bev

reply by Eric1 on 29-Dec-2014

Thank u Bev.

Comment from Antoine Charlemaine

Excellent

Interesting little yarn, Bev: a complete stranger turns Jan's life unexpectedly upside down, and serves as a catalyst to bond mother and son. I was a little confused, though, and can only assume that the driver of the truck at the beginning is this same chap? This doesn't seem to fit, though, and I am wondering if I missed something??? In any case, a lovely story and very fitting for the Christmas season. Thanks so much.

May I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a blessed and special Christmas, filled with delights and much joy.

Ant

 Comment Written 23-Dec-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Dec-2014

Hi, Antoine. Thank you for the very kind review. I appreciate your insights and your generosity.

To answer your question, the first fellow was a family friend whose wife wanted him to invite Jan/Jason to dinner. The second fellow was a previously unknown visitor. I include the
first part mostly to show that when there's a death, friends and family are very uncomfortable with what to do and say.

Thanks again, and a very Merry Christmas to you.

:) Bev

Comment from JackiO

Exceptional

This is definitely one of those rare beauties!
You had my interest from the first word and kept it till the last.
Such a beautiful and genuine Christmas story! It's rare pearls like these that one re-reads and never forgets!

 Comment Written 23-Dec-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Dec-2014

Hi, JackiO. Thank you so much for your awesome review. I really appreciate your generosity and encouragement. It does my heart good to know that you resonated with my story.

Merry Christmas,

Bev

Comment from IndianaIrish

Exceptional

A heart-warming story, Bev, and a perfect story for the contest. You don't answer all the questions raised in the story, and I like that. Fantastic characterization, great imagery, and a story that kept me reading with interest. Best wishes in the contest.
Smiles,
Karyn :-)

 Comment Written 23-Dec-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Dec-2014

Thanks so much, Karyn. I really appreciate your very kind and generous review. Yes, there are questions which I would have liked to get into further, but that would make the entry really long LoL. Thanks, too, for your good wishes.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Bev

Comment from Annette Gulliver

Good

Hi - A well written story with good dialogue. I admit I was just a little confused. There is a driver and a woman named Julie at the beginning with a reference to Jan and Jason and then the story goes to another character named Rick. Is there some more reference to Julie and the driver. good all the same
regards
Annette

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 23-Dec-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Dec-2014

Thank you, Annette. The opening goes to showing a reluctance on the part of a family friend to deal with the a family's recent loss. The second half is pretty self-explanatory.

Comment from Aussie

Exceptional

This is a wonderful entry for the contest and I wish you all the best. It is a story with much deep and meaningful emotion, plot is well thought out and one can see a future friendship developing between the son without a father and the friend of the father. Well written with lots of colour to the story and a great entry for the contest. Happy Christmas. K.

 Comment Written 23-Dec-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Dec-2014

Kay, thank you so very much. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story. It's hard to deal with both loss and addiction issues at the Holidays. Faith, I think is the key to rising above, whether that's faith in the basic decency of human beings or faith in the Savior. In the end, I think they are one and the same.

Sure appreciate you! Happy Christmas...

Bev

Comment from CR Delport

Excellent

What a lovely but sad story. It is very well written and had my attention until the last word. I suppose even people that we know very well still have their own little secrets. Good luck in the contest. It should do well.

 Comment Written 22-Dec-2014

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reply by the author on 23-Dec-2014

Thanks for the good luck wishes and lovely review, Christelle. I appreciate both!

:) Bev

Comment from Selina Stambi

Excellent

Merry Christmas to you, too, my dear friend, Bev.

Took a wee break from giftwrapping and menu planning and popped in for a while. You warmed the cockles of my heart with this lovely, touching story.

Hugs and love,

xxx

Sonali


Raindrops had morphed into the size and substance of snowflakes since leaving the plant a half hour earlier, a ... 'since leaving' doesn't seem quite right ... since his departure from the plant ..? ... since he left the plant ...? (Or maybe it's just me ... dunno!) xx

 Comment Written 22-Dec-2014

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reply by the author on 22-Dec-2014

Hi, Sonali. Thanks for the grand review and for taking time out of your busy schedule. I'll check out your suggested change for sure. Happy Holdays, my friend. :)

reply by Selina Stambi on 22-Dec-2014

Ho! Ho! HO! :) Will be in touch in the New Year. Hugs xxx

reply by the author on 23-Dec-2014

Sounds wonderful! XX Bev

Comment from Connie C

Exceptional

What a great little story this is, Bev. It reminds me of some very nice things that have happened to me in the past week or so due to the kindness of strangers. You always have such a good way with dialogue, as proven once again with this story. I like how you end this with Jan deciding to get a Christmas tree and offering Rick the opportunity to do something nice for her and her son.
Have a wonderful Christmas, Bev, and good luck in the contest.
Hugs,
Connie

 Comment Written 22-Dec-2014

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reply by the author on 22-Dec-2014

Hi, Connie. I'm honored by your lovely and very generous review. Thanks for taking time out this busy season to read my story. And I very much appreciate your good wishes. You must be getting excited with Christmas only two days away! Jack is such a beautiful gift, as I'm sure I don't need to tell you.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday, my friend.

Hugs, Bev

Comment from LIJ Red

Excellent

Too trusting. Death wish! But if they get extremely lucky maybe all they have picked up is a freeloading parasite. Your story, though wishful thinking, is well written. Bah, humbug.

 Comment Written 22-Dec-2014

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reply by the author on 22-Dec-2014

Thanks so much! :) Bev