A Valentine's Day story by Cole Parker

[Camy]

'A Valentine's Day story' by Cole Parker is ... well the fact there is a Cole Parker you haven't read should be enough for you to click the link now. If it isn't you're mad. It's a Cole Parker for goodness sake!

'A Valentine's Day story' by Cole Parker is a super sweet story about an outgoing sort who falls for a quiet introverted type. He ties his shoelaces a lot, too - that's the outgoing one, not the introvert. See, it's complicated. And there's dancing as well. And it's Valentine's day. Umm ... have I mentioned it's a Cole Parker?

[Merkin]

Did you mention the dancing? And the chasing around a tree. Plus some rolling about.

Happy Valentine's Day!

[Gee Whillickers]

And he has to pick up his books and papers and stuff. 'Cause he's tired of tying his shoelaces. Or something.

And yeah. It's an awesome story. Go. Read it. Then report back.

[Chris James]

Oh yes, another great story from Cole Parker. It takes courage to enter the minds of 13 year old boys, but Cole does just that to bring us such a wonderful fiction for Valentines Day. Can't wait to see what he gives us for St. Patrick's Day, besides green beer.

[Gee Whillickers]

Mmmm. Green Beer.

Actually, I'm not all that picky. Mmmm. Beer. Of any colour.

[Rutabaga]

Another dandy Pick from the Past. 

Read it.  Again. 

R

[Altimexis]

I've really loved this story since it was first posted seven years ago. It's one of Cole's best short stories. It's particularly apropos today with xenophobia on the rise around the world, and Trump trying to build a wall to keep all those 'depraved' refugees from entering the U.S. and raping our women. I wonder if the Canadians will build a wall to keep the Americans out, should the worst predictions of climate change come true. Demonizing whole populations has always been a favorite tool of the demagogue. Why should America give shelter to a poor Muslim boy from Kyrgestan, and his whole family? Why should we offer refuge because he says he's being prosecuted because of who he is? He and his family should have stayed and fought for their rights. They're probably just economic refugees anyway.

I doubt Cole could have foreseen the Trump presidency or the rise of the political right worldwide, but he did such a superb job of putting a human face on a refugee family - one with a persecuted gay kid.

[Rutabaga]

How nice to see this story again.  

R

 

[Merkin]

This charming story is fast becoming a Valentine classic and I look forward to reading it every year.

[Cole Parker]

YOU GUYS ARE TOO KIND.

BUT THIS MAKES ME THINK: ARE WE DOING IT THIS YEAR?  ONLY 8 DAYS TO GO.

C

[Camy]

On 2/14/2012 at 10:29 PM, Camy said:

'A Valentine's Day story' by Cole Parker is ... well the fact there is a Cole Parker you haven't read should be enough for you to click the link now. If it isn't you're mad. It's a Cole Parker for goodness sake!

'A Valentine's Day story' by Cole Parker is a super sweet story about an outgoing sort who falls for a quiet introverted type. He ties his shoelaces a lot, too - that's the outgoing one, not the introvert. See, it's complicated. And there's dancing as well. And it's Valentine's day. Umm ... have I mentioned it's a Cole Parker?

Not a lot more to add except an exhortation to read it. Go on, you know you want to. 👍