50 Comments

Great story, I am glad you made it a happy ending. I liked the technique you used, no traditional dialog.

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Thank you, Scott, for being such a loyal reader at 🍁Leaves. I look forward to your next!

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Loved this, Sharron.

It felt fresh & snappy.

You go girl!

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Fresh and snappy! Yaaaay! Thank you, Lori. I hope you are enjoying your summer! Any new romance in your life?

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Interrrrrestinggg!

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It was an interesting photo prompt. I hope someone else in our writing group gives it a try! There are a lot of possibilities.

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I hope she waited.

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She probably did, but is it his best choice? Not sure, but I think it is what a 20 year old man would do after such a fiery night...

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Great story told in a unique way. You capture the spirit of adventure and romance that drives a young person to explore the world on their own. Love it!

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Thanks so much for your suggestions here. I was out of my generation with this one. You will be pleased to know that a new chapter of Haylene and Marla is begun. They are planning to take route 66 out to California. I wonder what roadside attractions they will find along the way. Have a great week away!

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Ha! Cool twists and turns there. Fooled me! Very nice, Sharron!

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So glad you enjoyed this one, James Ron! It is not the adventure of panning for gold, but I had fun writing it all the same.

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Well, panning for gold becomes a regular thing after a while. I'd just as soon pan for a story such as this. : )

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I loved this story and wasn’t expecting the ending.

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I think he wasn't either! I wonder what the actual ending will be and why she did what she did? Just like in real life, we don't have answers to everything, do we, Janice.

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Good questions - I guess we will have to wait and see. As you say we don't have the answers to everything.

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This so, so, so sweet...! And it brought back memories.... Five stars, Sharon!

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Memories of being a very young man, ruled by testosterone! It is a thrilling time, and rife with error and possibilities. I am happy it said something to you, AT.

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Its not the ending is it... ))))

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What do you think? I sort of like it to end right there. Life rarely has nice, neat endings. I am sure that yelling at her to wait is what he would do. I am not entirely sure it was a good idea.

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You are the master of sucking me in and leaving me hanging! HaHa!

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Yes, I think life is like that. I don't know about you, but there are a lot of dangling strings in my own life...

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Wow, yay to Gina for redeeming herself! That ending was such a surprise - and a perfect one, at that.

Loved this line: "She made me feel sort of … competent. You know what I mean?"

I DO know what he means. That recognition of something new when you're exploring the idea of getting to know someone.

Such a lovely post, Sharron!

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Thank you, Rebecca. It is challenging for a woman of my age to write from the point of view of a contemporary 20 year old man. I wanted to make him naive, but not dumb, if you know what I mean. And I really don't know the"language" of youth any more. I thought he turned out likable, in any case.

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I love how you present your characters, Sharron - they've all got such depth. Wonderful writing!

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Maybe you're right. She's already proven thief, so not a good candidate for relationship. BYE Girlie!

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It is possible he wasn't using his brain when he decided to stop her. Some other anatomy may have been involved. Just saying...

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Sounds like it to me too hahahaha

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Traveling alone at 20 is just asking for trouble. 🤣

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You think? Thanks for reading over here to this side of Planet Substack, Mark!

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Always a pleasure.

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Thanks

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"she hugged me, right there in the market, surrounded by all these piles of fish". I love the irony of the setting - man gulps down delicious bait and gets pulled to face bad consequences. And then, he's miraculously off the hook. What a delectable story!!!

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Story line: He flounder and was sorry he lobster.( He'd had a whale of a time. ) So he ran after her just for the halibut. Thank Cod, they may get a second chance.

(sorry)

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Hahaha!

Fishy business, this whole romance game...

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Sure is! But I like to trout new things. This time, the one-sided conversation.

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The one-sided conversation technique worked so well in this story. I should try using it more in my writing.

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I enjoyed the one-sided conversation structure, and well done, Sharron. I was in the moment, with every word, and the visuals, the emotions...the open-ended dénouement. Skill and craft well honed. Thank you!

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