Cynus Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 A brilliant edition to the Sanitaria Springs collection. I loved every moment, and what sweetness there was in this delightful tale. Give Merkin's latest a read, it's wonderful. Link to comment
Guest Dabeagle Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Such delightful characters - I sure do hope we see more of Ray! Link to comment
Lugnutz Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 http://www.awesomedude.com/merkin/lake-effect/lake-effect.htm Link to comment
Cole Parker Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Truly outstanding story. The only thing wrong with James' stories is there aren't enough of them. C Link to comment
Paul Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 The "info dump" is often rightly criticized in both pro and amateur writing, but sometimes it's necessary, especially in a short story. Here is a way to do it right. It set the tone, drew me into the story and made me eager to keep reading. Link to comment
Nigel Gordon Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 A delightful story and I hope we see more of Ray, and I hope that somehow Maurice can be heard of again. He is too much of a character to lose. Link to comment
Merkin Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Thank you all for your warm remarks. I cannot predict if Ray will show up in another of these tales, but I can tell you that he is going to be very busy with his shovel over the coming weekend. Here is the latest weather report for the region surrounding Sanitaria Springs: http://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/feet-of-snow-to-bury-western-upstate-new-york-this-weekend/ar-AA7Yc1C?ocid=mailsignout With schools closed once again, Ray hopes he will have a chance to finish reading The Charioteer so he can include his critique in the letter he is penning to Maurice. Or maybe he will finally get up the nerve to give Andrew that call he has been postponing ever since the cute Library Page helped him find Mary Renault's books hidden away in the dusty town library... Link to comment
JamesSavik Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I felt very bad for Maurice. It is one thing to be a BRAT (Born, Raised And Transferred). The civilian equivalent is not at all appealing. Link to comment
Rutabaga Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 The interesting thing is that Atlanta weather can be pretty brutal in the winter as well. I got caught in a terrible ice storm there in January with my family as a youngster. Would be glad to see Ray in further adventures. Maurice too. R Link to comment
jnwrx1 Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 I do so love these Sanitaria Springs stories and this one is just perfect. I've come across ultra camp boys before and how they can be an absolute whirlwind and a sheer delight. Maurice fit that bill to perfection. They are, more often than not, super bright, the total masters of the witty or put-down come-back, and simply amazing to observe in action. That last line regarding Ray left me giggling as it tickled my imagination wonderfully. Marvellous James...Rick I could've used a whirlwind boy like that when i was that age. Definitely would have been a confidence booster. At first, when the story mentioned the church association, I had thought we were going to be going back in time for a story about Charlie, and then Ray would end up meeting Robin by extension and get pulled into the Sanitaria Springs family. As it is, hopefully Ray will be keeping his eyes open at school from now on: If he joins the swim team he has a good chance of still meeting Chase and Kale, and they will be sure to take care of him. Sounds like he already has a boy in mind at school, anyway. I really like the opening of the story. We could all have been so lucky as to have a grandparent with so much time and attention to spend, and so much knowledge to share, especially since the grandfather was described and warm and compassionate. Great story, Merkin! Link to comment
JamesSavik Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Interesting... A theme for a neat new story might be... Maurice comes to SS to live with his Aunt for some stability and meets a military brat whose father was finally settling down after retiring. Call it Rolling Stones Gathering Moss. Link to comment
Rutabaga Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 We could all have been so lucky as to have a grandparent with so much time and attention to spend, and so much knowledge to share, especially since the grandfather was described and warm and compassionate. I found it interesting that Grandpa's learning and sophistication did not seem to have rubbed off on whichever of Ray's parents was his offsrping. R Link to comment
Gil Saul Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 I really liked this story, especially for the depiction of Roy's parents' reaction to Maurice and for how the story honors the people who change the course of our lives in just one encounter. Link to comment
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