I'm going to be visualizing this story forever. Also thinking of a boy who was my best friend, Dwayne, the memories of whom have been washing over me lately. The things that children learn about the world without fully understanding because so many critical details are withheld. The way you've written this, bits of memory revealing those bits that only a child sees, makes this story so intriguing. The desire to fill in the adult drama is strong. This story evokes so much from its mysteries.
oh my, Tonya. this is such a tender beautiful story of a sad and broken little boy, who died at the loose end of the thread. that lost place where so many are just trying to hold on. this one will stay with me for some time.
Oh, Tonya...you delivered me into another realm with this achingly beautiful piece. I have known some decent doomed souls as well & cannot even begin to understand why this could happen. Like you, I am willing to live in the mystery...& embrace the beauty where we find it. You gave "Alex" an extraordinary eulogy here.
Thank you so much, both of you, with your generous way of reading and your openness to forming a connection with the words on the page. I’m so grateful to have you both here. ❤️
Thank you so much, Constance, for your kind words! I love leaping into the hearts & souls of others; Tonya provides this (as do all the other JUKE writers) with such generosity of spirit. I love your belief that Alex was benefited by her kindness & humanity back then. It is always a gift, no matter what the outcome. Thank you for that redemptive observation.
Tonya, I find this to be an entirely honest and masterfully written piece, all accomplished with great delicacy and compassion for the human soul, our scarred places.
Thank you so much, Kristen. I appreciate your kind words more than I can say. I have to hope that we can all grow from our scars, and that we can learn to find beauty in them. I'm learning, as I write, that by showing my own scars, I create opportunities for other people to know me, and to connect. Each time I write something difficult, like this piece, I find that everyone I care about responds with an "Oh, yes. I feel the same way." I have to hope that every scarred over place, no matter how painful, can be a source for wisdom.
This is truly beautiful and so, so sad. I appreciated especially that you did not try to fill in the blanks, in part because that's how memory functions. I have stories — as I'm sure many of your readers do — of people whose paths we've crossed who just seem — for lack of a better word — doomed for any number of reasons. This is one I wrote about one of my friends: https://open.substack.com/pub/glenncook/p/weekend-flashback-lou-and-brian?r=727x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I love that philosophy about the power of good. It’s the only way to live in this world, I think. You have to believe it’s more powerful, or else the weight of everything dark would overwhelm you.
I'm going to be visualizing this story forever. Also thinking of a boy who was my best friend, Dwayne, the memories of whom have been washing over me lately. The things that children learn about the world without fully understanding because so many critical details are withheld. The way you've written this, bits of memory revealing those bits that only a child sees, makes this story so intriguing. The desire to fill in the adult drama is strong. This story evokes so much from its mysteries.
Thanks, Sue. Yes exactly, “The things children learn without understanding.” And, every year, as time passes, we look back and begin to understand.
god damn, Tonya. This is an incredible piece of writing. I absolutely love it. Life is an act of repair. That line is fucking brilliant.
Thanks, Russell! I'm so glad it resonated.
oh my, Tonya. this is such a tender beautiful story of a sad and broken little boy, who died at the loose end of the thread. that lost place where so many are just trying to hold on. this one will stay with me for some time.
I'm so glad it spoke to you, Tabby. Thank you again for being such a kind, intuitive reader.
Oh, Tonya...you delivered me into another realm with this achingly beautiful piece. I have known some decent doomed souls as well & cannot even begin to understand why this could happen. Like you, I am willing to live in the mystery...& embrace the beauty where we find it. You gave "Alex" an extraordinary eulogy here.
Thank you so much, both of you, with your generous way of reading and your openness to forming a connection with the words on the page. I’m so grateful to have you both here. ❤️
Grateful to you, Tonya, for putting out all this glorious insight & honesty. It means the world!
Thank you so much, Constance, for your kind words! I love leaping into the hearts & souls of others; Tonya provides this (as do all the other JUKE writers) with such generosity of spirit. I love your belief that Alex was benefited by her kindness & humanity back then. It is always a gift, no matter what the outcome. Thank you for that redemptive observation.
very powerful ....beautiful and terrible at the same time
Tonya, I find this to be an entirely honest and masterfully written piece, all accomplished with great delicacy and compassion for the human soul, our scarred places.
Thank you so much, Kristen. I appreciate your kind words more than I can say. I have to hope that we can all grow from our scars, and that we can learn to find beauty in them. I'm learning, as I write, that by showing my own scars, I create opportunities for other people to know me, and to connect. Each time I write something difficult, like this piece, I find that everyone I care about responds with an "Oh, yes. I feel the same way." I have to hope that every scarred over place, no matter how painful, can be a source for wisdom.
This is truly beautiful and so, so sad. I appreciated especially that you did not try to fill in the blanks, in part because that's how memory functions. I have stories — as I'm sure many of your readers do — of people whose paths we've crossed who just seem — for lack of a better word — doomed for any number of reasons. This is one I wrote about one of my friends: https://open.substack.com/pub/glenncook/p/weekend-flashback-lou-and-brian?r=727x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks, Glenn! I’ll look forward to reading your story.
I love that philosophy about the power of good. It’s the only way to live in this world, I think. You have to believe it’s more powerful, or else the weight of everything dark would overwhelm you.