show me, show me, show me how you do that trick the one that makes me scream she said the one that makes me laugh she said and threw her arms around my neck
Walt stole Bud's palm circling move! Or I guess Bud stole Walt's, since Walt came first, historically speaking. Regardless... nice move.
So much kissing. I never got to kiss anyone like that in middle school. Or high school even. But I witnessed a lot of it, weirdly enough. This story, like my actual experience, allowed me to engage with vicarious envy. Thanks for not rushing it.
The piece at the end where Walt talks to his son about consent made me weepy. There are so many ways for people to go wrong because they just don't know enough to go right. This moment is so huge and valuable for anyone who's been on any side of consent and the lessons around it. Really powerful stuff, Wil.
They're all moves. Some are just better than others.
I have a distinct memory of seeing the boy I was crazy about in eighth grade French kissing his girlfriend like that at a movie theater. It was crushing. Reading this felt a little bit like that actually. Half can't look away. Half want to run away. You know what I'm talking about. 😂
The specifity of the details make this soooo good. Pulling the phone cord down the hall… Recording on cassette tapes… Going to movies in person… It’s like a nostalgia buffet and I am going back for thirds!!
I love how you’re able to exactly capture the “electric” of being touched in middle/high school that has been coming up in my drafts lately. After reading this, now I see why I always go back to that. The plotting of moves—the circling of thumb in the palm of a girl’s hand. The tracing of fingers. The caressing from wrist to elbow! Such attention to detail—no wonder those days were electric, haha!
Nice work of bringing that pinkie finger from an earlier chapter back in.
The “ghosts” were amusing. Especially the mom, bahah.
And the fisherman.
I love this: “we talked on the phone for a couple weeks more before we never talked together again”
hypercolor shirts, yes. I had one sweatshirt that did that and I wore it out. if I would have had half as much action as Walt, I would not be a writer. I got to make out in a theater twice--both memories I cherish. my days at the movies were spent next to an empty chair, imagining the boy who would sit beside me circling the palm of my hand.
Really nice visuals and sensory details throughout. I really felt like I was in the theater as an innocent bystander.
Thanks Amran!
The phone cord pulled me in.
Walt stole Bud's palm circling move! Or I guess Bud stole Walt's, since Walt came first, historically speaking. Regardless... nice move.
So much kissing. I never got to kiss anyone like that in middle school. Or high school even. But I witnessed a lot of it, weirdly enough. This story, like my actual experience, allowed me to engage with vicarious envy. Thanks for not rushing it.
The piece at the end where Walt talks to his son about consent made me weepy. There are so many ways for people to go wrong because they just don't know enough to go right. This moment is so huge and valuable for anyone who's been on any side of consent and the lessons around it. Really powerful stuff, Wil.
Well done.
Mom could have picked up the phone and started dialing, yelling at me to hang up, she needed to call her sister!
Is it a move, really? What else you going to do with that hand full of desirous energy?
A move would be Morse code tapping consent requests, :)
Glad you got to vicariously linger in my remembered/imagined back row of the theater.
Consent is sexy. Reslife forever.
They're all moves. Some are just better than others.
I have a distinct memory of seeing the boy I was crazy about in eighth grade French kissing his girlfriend like that at a movie theater. It was crushing. Reading this felt a little bit like that actually. Half can't look away. Half want to run away. You know what I'm talking about. 😂
Ouch. Dammit. Still hurts. 🥹
The specifity of the details make this soooo good. Pulling the phone cord down the hall… Recording on cassette tapes… Going to movies in person… It’s like a nostalgia buffet and I am going back for thirds!!
I love how you’re able to exactly capture the “electric” of being touched in middle/high school that has been coming up in my drafts lately. After reading this, now I see why I always go back to that. The plotting of moves—the circling of thumb in the palm of a girl’s hand. The tracing of fingers. The caressing from wrist to elbow! Such attention to detail—no wonder those days were electric, haha!
Nice work of bringing that pinkie finger from an earlier chapter back in.
The “ghosts” were amusing. Especially the mom, bahah.
And the fisherman.
I love this: “we talked on the phone for a couple weeks more before we never talked together again”
So accurate.
And the lesson on no means no. Nice add in.
Good stuff, Wil. Can’t wait for the next round.
Thanks Maegan! Your praise uplifts!
👏 👏 👏
Do you remember the color changing t-shirts? Those must have been designed for making out
hypercolor shirts, yes. I had one sweatshirt that did that and I wore it out. if I would have had half as much action as Walt, I would not be a writer. I got to make out in a theater twice--both memories I cherish. my days at the movies were spent next to an empty chair, imagining the boy who would sit beside me circling the palm of my hand.
Nice musical ear worm to start a story off with! 😀
It’s the best! You know what’s wild to me? Robert Smith married his childhood sweetheart and they’ve stayed together all these years!
I'm a Cure fan, I know. 😊
Bono did the same(I'm a huge U2 fan)
Fits that these forever lovers would write songs that soundtrack the rest of our marriages
Most of U2's love songs are written about Ali ( Bono's wife).
Have you read his recent memoir? The 40 songs one? I haven’t yet, but it’s on my list, so I’m curious if it’s worthwhile
DUH! of course! Yes, it's worth a read. He's a good story teller.