20 Comments
User's avatar
Kara Westerman (she/her)'s avatar

Real heroes, you and her.

Expand full comment
Joe's avatar

Your writing is powerful Geoff. Thank you for sharing a part of you with the rest of us.

Expand full comment
Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

Thank you so much, Joe. I really appreciate it. And so glad to have you.

Expand full comment
Alan Strowd's avatar

Geez and there are so many out there with such hard lives.

Expand full comment
Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

My next novel, I think, is going to involve what I term "the invisibles," the people who quietly struggle with two or three jobs who are just trying to keep ahead of all the bills and to stay healthy and to stay on course knowing that one misstep, one calamity can knock them off.

Expand full comment
Deborah Kirk's avatar

Thank you for helping me see and care about B. A vulnerable stranger partially known now with some of her struggles laid out and I hoped for her and felt glad of her connection to you.

Stunning photo by the way!!

Expand full comment
Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

thanks so much, Deb.

I wanted to get the sensation of gardens. and what better way than to show the attraction of G's gardens!

Expand full comment
Clarice Dankers's avatar

What a lovely, delicately told story, Geoffrey.

Expand full comment
Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

thank you

Expand full comment
Douglas Bruton's avatar

This is truly brilliant and it packs a huge emotional wallop. Loved it. Loved the human in Joffrey and the bright toothless smile of B. Wonderfully observed.

Expand full comment
Kurt Landefeld's avatar

Geoff, poignant. Insightful. Heartbreaking.

Well done.

Expand full comment
Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

thanks so much, Kurt.

Expand full comment
Sidney Eley's avatar

Well written. I could feel her through your words.

Expand full comment
Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

Thank you Sidney. I'm so glad.

Expand full comment
Tricia Brennan's avatar

Geoff I love this so much.

Expand full comment
Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

TB! Thank you so much. I am so glad you read it and thanks for commenting.

xxox

Expand full comment
Kathy Folley's avatar

One of the stories that will be in your short story anthology? Every day, for everyone, addict or not, is a hill to climb. It’s just a sisyphean task for the former!

Expand full comment
Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

what a great way to describe it. yes. every day pushing that rock. every day pushing it again.

Expand full comment
Tom Carlson's avatar

I believe she latched on to her Joffrys as connection to others that, together with her daughter, started to fill the void she was filling with drugs. Great story. We are all hollow, yes?

Great courage in her, matched by the fuel of you and her other Joffrys seeing her. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

Thanks so much Mr. C. Means a lot to me that you drew so much out of the story.

Expand full comment