Thanks Troy - I wrote elsewhere this episode was one of the "keys" to Lamb and their relationship, although in some way or other, every episode is adding another layer.
Troy! I’m forever slow to comment but have been thinking of this one since I read it. I am so endeared to both Lamb and the narrator. This moment with the bird, the tender softness of it not able to survive, how that is woven into the ties between the two, seem a metaphor somehow for them and their bond. Can’t say enough how fantastic this writing continues to be.
Thanks Holly, I really appreciate that - it did feel like a special moment between them, especially contrasted with the usual bromance bonding on the playing/battle field. This story is all about a world freed from typical hetero-tropes, but with its own issues and problems too.
haha I have a special fondness for geese, not least of which because a lot of people are deathly afraid of them, they have a reputation for being really ornery which I find endearing... 😂🤎🪿The golden eggs are nice too... ;)
I’ve been waiting until I had a proper moment to respond to this deeply moving chapter. I read it yesterday in a noisy airport and my heart, silenced, wrapped itself around Lamb in recognition and understanding. I’m so drawn to humans who wear their vulnerability like a well-worn sweater—comfortable, comforting, unassuming. I imagine you felt safety in your own vulnerability in his presence? 💛
Thank you my dear - I do sometimes wish I'd had someone as sweetly feeling as Lamb in my young life. Actually, the friend who inspired this story was much more like the nameless narrator - brash but kind - it's all a stew of real life seeds, watered with fiction, rearranged into the strange landscape you're reading. :)
Wait... I thought Lamb was real?!!!!!! You write with such deep feeling and presence, I suppose I imagined it was all part of a tangled past. You're a midwife of words and have birthed him into existence.
I had a feeling this chapter was going to be (especially) heartbreaking so I deliberately waited until the morning to read it, and I'm glad I did, as I have a little time to weep alongside dear, sweet Lamb. I keep forgetting that Lamb isn't someone I know, or someone I'll meet someday. It's strange, and a testament to you & your writing skills MTF 💜
I'm definitely sensing Lamb wants to live, that he feels things intensely and certainly could have benefited from a friend like you, Chloe... :) I've been sitting on this one awhile, it's so sad but between this one and an episode that's coming later, felt like the "key" to the character. Thank you, my dear 💙
This writing feels so brave - the narrative voice isn’t afraid to say things like who he hates or he’s not sure about his friend sometimes. Love getting more background on Lamb. And the bird! Something like this happened to us last summer. A baby bird was slightly injured and clearly not going to make it. We just saw it struggling and my husband eventually decided to kill it. But it was sort of traumatic. Playing with the feelings before and after make a really compelling scene and help us understand the characters.
(What weather would be appropriate for these feelings?? I just don’t know!)
Yes something similar when we were kids, the maids at a hotel in Greece knocked some swallow nests off the balcony and the ground was littered with baby birds, my sister cried and cried, I think I was really too young to understand.
For the benefit of the bird, I'm saying blue skies... ;)🐥
Oh goodness, what a heartrending chapter! Lamb really unraveled himself. Happy anniversary month, my dear! I hope you're celebrating all month long! What a kind thing you're doing in giving away such lovely books. <3
I was definitely typing with a box of tissues at hand... Thank you, my dear, and thanks for the restacks - I'm excited to share those books, Little, Big is an all-time favorite and O Caledonia a new favorite... Fingers crossed! What are YOU doing to celebrate, anything? You mentioned your annv last month I think...
Aww. I can understand that. It's such an aching subject, caring for something little and vulnerable and then seeing they can't survive. It's heartbreaking! It is so exciting indeed! I'm sure the folks in the giveaway draw are thrilled to receive a marvelous book by the marvelous you. Gosh, I didn't even think much on it. I'll publish a post on growth to encourage other writers, new and more established, about Substack. Maybe the hubs will take me out somewhere ;-).
Echos of Lenny in "Of Mice and Men." You've really captured the voice of the narrator at this point in the story. I have a clear picture of him. His tough veneer, his weakness for Lamb's vulnerability. Oh, and your title might be copyright infringement of a certain person we know who writes about the death and the birds! ;-) I'm truly invested in the story. Bravo!
I'm glad - I definitely had Chloe in mind, an unspoken dedication of sorts ;) I have been hoping to invest the narrator with as much personality as Lamb, someone navigating two worlds at odds with each other. Thanks Ben!
Very touching. A hummingbird once fell out of the sky and died on the sidewalk right in front of me. I watched it take its last breathe. It made me sad.
Also I totally misread this line... didn't notice that the sentence starts with a "t"...
"this gangling beanpole standing a head above everyone else".... was thinking everything about Lamb is oversized....
This one was tough for me to read, but the writing is excellent and the way their relationship is coming together is really moving.
Thanks Troy - I wrote elsewhere this episode was one of the "keys" to Lamb and their relationship, although in some way or other, every episode is adding another layer.
Troy! I’m forever slow to comment but have been thinking of this one since I read it. I am so endeared to both Lamb and the narrator. This moment with the bird, the tender softness of it not able to survive, how that is woven into the ties between the two, seem a metaphor somehow for them and their bond. Can’t say enough how fantastic this writing continues to be.
Oh my gosh, Holly! Your upgrade... Thank you so much! 💛🌟💛
Thanks Holly, I really appreciate that - it did feel like a special moment between them, especially contrasted with the usual bromance bonding on the playing/battle field. This story is all about a world freed from typical hetero-tropes, but with its own issues and problems too.
“Circle of life, dude, happens all the time…” I said.
Indeed. It happens as we speak.
Great writing, my man, as always.
All around us! Like, in a circle! 😂😂😂 Thanks, A!
The bit with the bird was so sad and uncomfortable all at once. But it worked wonders in further endearing us to Lamb.
Wonderful writing, Troy.
Also, I really liked: “gay as a goose” :)
haha I have a special fondness for geese, not least of which because a lot of people are deathly afraid of them, they have a reputation for being really ornery which I find endearing... 😂🤎🪿The golden eggs are nice too... ;)
Wonderful!
Reminds me of when I lived in a place where one of my house mates had a duck. And when it was protecting the eggs it laid that bird was awfully scary.
:)
I’ve been waiting until I had a proper moment to respond to this deeply moving chapter. I read it yesterday in a noisy airport and my heart, silenced, wrapped itself around Lamb in recognition and understanding. I’m so drawn to humans who wear their vulnerability like a well-worn sweater—comfortable, comforting, unassuming. I imagine you felt safety in your own vulnerability in his presence? 💛
Thank you my dear - I do sometimes wish I'd had someone as sweetly feeling as Lamb in my young life. Actually, the friend who inspired this story was much more like the nameless narrator - brash but kind - it's all a stew of real life seeds, watered with fiction, rearranged into the strange landscape you're reading. :)
Wait... I thought Lamb was real?!!!!!! You write with such deep feeling and presence, I suppose I imagined it was all part of a tangled past. You're a midwife of words and have birthed him into existence.
haha I kinda got the feeling that's what you meant, but no - work of fiction - and yes, Lamb is my baby... ;)
I had a feeling this chapter was going to be (especially) heartbreaking so I deliberately waited until the morning to read it, and I'm glad I did, as I have a little time to weep alongside dear, sweet Lamb. I keep forgetting that Lamb isn't someone I know, or someone I'll meet someday. It's strange, and a testament to you & your writing skills MTF 💜
I'm definitely sensing Lamb wants to live, that he feels things intensely and certainly could have benefited from a friend like you, Chloe... :) I've been sitting on this one awhile, it's so sad but between this one and an episode that's coming later, felt like the "key" to the character. Thank you, my dear 💙
I would've been happy to hold Lamb's hand while we felt all the things together :) 💗
This writing feels so brave - the narrative voice isn’t afraid to say things like who he hates or he’s not sure about his friend sometimes. Love getting more background on Lamb. And the bird! Something like this happened to us last summer. A baby bird was slightly injured and clearly not going to make it. We just saw it struggling and my husband eventually decided to kill it. But it was sort of traumatic. Playing with the feelings before and after make a really compelling scene and help us understand the characters.
(What weather would be appropriate for these feelings?? I just don’t know!)
Yes something similar when we were kids, the maids at a hotel in Greece knocked some swallow nests off the balcony and the ground was littered with baby birds, my sister cried and cried, I think I was really too young to understand.
For the benefit of the bird, I'm saying blue skies... ;)🐥
Beautfully controlled writing, with a wonderful sense of build up. Great stuff.
Thank you Jeffrey!
My hand was covering my mouth through the entire scene of the lab to the end! The poor bird. What about the others? I hope they were OK.
Powerful scene, Troy. A defining moment. As always, the flowing voice of your protagonist propels the story with ease.
Yes, what about the other birds? Probably a good thing Lamb was too distraught over the one to ask about the others... 👻 Thanks Nathan!
This is an amazing scene to conjur out of your imagination, very powerful. Right down to no scissors in the lab!
I had a whole explanation for the no scissors, but the piece was veering over 10 minutes so I had to start slashing... 😘 Thanks Donna!
Oh goodness, what a heartrending chapter! Lamb really unraveled himself. Happy anniversary month, my dear! I hope you're celebrating all month long! What a kind thing you're doing in giving away such lovely books. <3
I was definitely typing with a box of tissues at hand... Thank you, my dear, and thanks for the restacks - I'm excited to share those books, Little, Big is an all-time favorite and O Caledonia a new favorite... Fingers crossed! What are YOU doing to celebrate, anything? You mentioned your annv last month I think...
Aww. I can understand that. It's such an aching subject, caring for something little and vulnerable and then seeing they can't survive. It's heartbreaking! It is so exciting indeed! I'm sure the folks in the giveaway draw are thrilled to receive a marvelous book by the marvelous you. Gosh, I didn't even think much on it. I'll publish a post on growth to encourage other writers, new and more established, about Substack. Maybe the hubs will take me out somewhere ;-).
Echos of Lenny in "Of Mice and Men." You've really captured the voice of the narrator at this point in the story. I have a clear picture of him. His tough veneer, his weakness for Lamb's vulnerability. Oh, and your title might be copyright infringement of a certain person we know who writes about the death and the birds! ;-) I'm truly invested in the story. Bravo!
I'm glad - I definitely had Chloe in mind, an unspoken dedication of sorts ;) I have been hoping to invest the narrator with as much personality as Lamb, someone navigating two worlds at odds with each other. Thanks Ben!
Oh poor little Lamb and chick, my heart was in my mouth..💛
I know, me too. 💔🥲
Very touching. A hummingbird once fell out of the sky and died on the sidewalk right in front of me. I watched it take its last breathe. It made me sad.
Also I totally misread this line... didn't notice that the sentence starts with a "t"...
"this gangling beanpole standing a head above everyone else".... was thinking everything about Lamb is oversized....
You saw what you wanted to see... Poor little hummingbird, hardly a mouthful. 😘
that poor bird.... I would have bawled like Lamb...
It was a fraught moment... 😢 Thanks Martine!