Powerball

[Jamie Hogan]

The only thing I knew how to do was make brake calipers for Pontiacs, and of course they would fit other cars but the General didn't see it that way and when they shut the plant down they basically shut us down, didn't they baby? So instead of soup we ate promises and instead of milk we drank dreams and we told each other that those low sounds in the night were the gatherings of our greatness, the stirrings of a dawn resplendent.

 

I remember your face when you came to me, holding that little white piece of paper like it was an angel just born, like God had chosen you as a foster mother for one of his seraphim. We had exactly six dollars and twenty three cents in the world, the rent was three months past and we were fresh out of formula for Jonathan, and you were smiling and what preposterous miracle could cause a woman in those straits to smile?

 

I just thought I would write you to let you know that I still laugh about it, about how we ran around yelling like crazed fiends that night and then blew through most of it in a rushing, frothy torrent of cars and diamonds and blow and pretty soon we couldn't see where we had been for the wreckage we'd caused. I want you to know that you're a flower, Katie, something yellow and winsome waving in a breeze and for all the hell we rained down on one another I hope that you are walking under a warm sun, something soft under your feet and something cold in your hand and your heart resting in a man who looks at you like I did before those twelve numbers blinded the both of us.

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

You must expand this exquisite writing.  It's a fabulous story.

[bolton carley]

i think the term i was looking for is "wow" - i love that no matter the topic, you find the human side of everyone and make them worthy of our love, time, and respect.

[Stephen Torelli]

this is amazing... delicately worded with a power-packed message concerning tough economics and fragile lifestyles.

[Teresa]

"...your heart resting in a man who looks at you like I did..."  I really want to use the F-word, something with a hard consonant sound to express the power this has, the talent it showcases.  This fever to let you know how impactful your writing is has something to do with wanting to see your words grow outside the box of the web because other people need to experience this f-----g greatness.  You do not use flashy language.  You do not try to impress or stir us up with crazy ideas or shock value.  You simply put your finger on the soft pulse of mankind.  We feel all you have to say.  Melph!  Damn it!  Melph!

[Bill Floyd]

Very imaginative way of inhabiting your character, J.  I daresay most folks would still take million dollar disasters over $6.23 ones.

[Paul de Denus]

How you pack a full story and emotion in just six sentences is uncanny- the poignant ending is terrific. by the way, you don't happen to have those 12 numbers handy, do ya?:-)

[Gita]

As always, I stare at the screen for five minutes before respondingto one of your pieces because I have no new superlatives. THIS IS FLAGRANT USE OF THE LANGUAGE TO SEDUCE INNOCENT READERS  ARREST THIS MAN!

[Brittany]

Aw... damn... words like that and I'd run right back to him. Beyond silver-tongued Mr. Metaphor Man.

[Sandra Davies]

Jamie you never fail to take me somewhere unexpected, and the journey is always wonderful.