What We See
Viewing comments for Chapter 20 "What We See - Chapter 16"A wrongly accused teacher reinvents his life
19 total reviews
Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill
David has no reason to have his nose out of joint he has been lying. That she has more belief in her friend than a relative stranger should be easy enough to understand. He is a dolt. You write very well. Karen:-)
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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David has no reason to have his nose out of joint he has been lying. That she has more belief in her friend than a relative stranger should be easy enough to understand. He is a dolt. You write very well. Karen:-)
Comment Written 03-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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I think it's more a matter of timing. He had to make a decision early on (before this event which exposed the truth) whether or when to tell her about this. What do you think would have happened had he told her earlier before she got to know him very well when he had no actual proof--just his word? Remember, at this point in the story, he hasn't known her but for about a week or two. Do you think she would have believed him or wanted to take a chance that maybe a child molester lives next door to her? He didn't think so, and as you will find out in a little bit, when she finally realizes the truth, she will agree with his assessment.
He has not actually lied to her about anything significant. He may not have gone to junior college like he said, but everything else he's told her was the truth. He just didn't tell her what he thought would destroy the relationship before it even got started.
What pissed him off was that she immediately believed the hearsay without giving him a chance to explain first. If anyone is, I think she's the dolt.
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You've never been a single Mom with a child. Protecting our children is everything. They come first,always. Karen
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I can see that. Doesn't mean they are always right, though.
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She is a woman. Of course she is right! :-) Ask your wife what she thinks. Karen
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Well, you're right, of course. I should know better by now!
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WRAR.Women are always right! Karen:-)
Comment from Tom Horonzy
This was an unexpected turn.
I presumed the story would come out and his name would be cleared BEFORE Ginnie heard the fabrication that occurred prior to their meeting.
I feel sure "love will be in the air" and the single mom will find a husband, but not until Tina's boy-toy acts upon Alan's gal-pal.
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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This was an unexpected turn.
I presumed the story would come out and his name would be cleared BEFORE Ginnie heard the fabrication that occurred prior to their meeting.
I feel sure "love will be in the air" and the single mom will find a husband, but not until Tina's boy-toy acts upon Alan's gal-pal.
Comment Written 03-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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That would indeed have been nice, but poor Alan gets ripped again due to unfortunate timing. Can this guy not catch a break? We'll see how this plays out very soon.
Comment from Wendy G
I'm glad David stood up for himself with Ginnie - he was right, she was too quick to believe gossip, and although she hadn't known him that long she should have offered him the chance to tell his side of the story. Trust is a big issue in relationships. Gossip, and jumping to conclusions - biggest wreckers of relationships. Very well written.
Wendy
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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I'm glad David stood up for himself with Ginnie - he was right, she was too quick to believe gossip, and although she hadn't known him that long she should have offered him the chance to tell his side of the story. Trust is a big issue in relationships. Gossip, and jumping to conclusions - biggest wreckers of relationships. Very well written.
Wendy
Comment Written 02-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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Thank you, Wendy. I agree with your assessment completely. This will be a hard, but important lesson for her.
Comment from jmdg1954
Wow. What a come back chapter. After saying the last chapter was lackluster (which I still feel bad about) this chapter packed a lot of punch. I debated waiting till Sunday to review in order to give a six, but that's not how I post or review.
David finally let out built up anger and frustration and Ginnie I honestly feel acted like any mom would have, gossip or not. She was angered at how she possibly let her guard down by letting her son into the house of a stranger.
Oh I can't wait to read the next chapter!
Great post, Jim.
Again, six star material in my estimation,
John
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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Wow. What a come back chapter. After saying the last chapter was lackluster (which I still feel bad about) this chapter packed a lot of punch. I debated waiting till Sunday to review in order to give a six, but that's not how I post or review.
David finally let out built up anger and frustration and Ginnie I honestly feel acted like any mom would have, gossip or not. She was angered at how she possibly let her guard down by letting her son into the house of a stranger.
Oh I can't wait to read the next chapter!
Great post, Jim.
Again, six star material in my estimation,
John
Comment Written 02-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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Thanks so much, John. It's hard to know what's right or whose side to take in this. If you read other reviews, you'll find a variety of opinions, which I love! That means people are invested in it, which is the best thing an author can hope for.
I think you'll really enjoy the next chapter (which will actually be two chapters rolled into one posting.)
Comment from lyenochka
Thanks for not dragging out the misunderstanding over another chapter or two! People do precisely that - spread rumors without checking. Unfortunately, new channels do that, too, now trying to keep up with social media. Glad Alan didn't get a dyslexic word in his speech this time!
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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Thanks for not dragging out the misunderstanding over another chapter or two! People do precisely that - spread rumors without checking. Unfortunately, new channels do that, too, now trying to keep up with social media. Glad Alan didn't get a dyslexic word in his speech this time!
Comment Written 02-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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I agree with that, Helen. No sense dragging it out too long. That doesn't advance the plot or the theme anymore than just settling it quickly. The next posting or two should bring this whole sorry episode to a close, and we can get back to the real heart of the story. Hopefully this was a welcome diversion, as readers deserve to know what really happened.
And you're right: a dyslexic word would have been superfluous here.
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Hmmm.
Pretty hard to get over that. For both Alan and Ginnie. You can't unsay stuff. It would have been better for Alan if he had not rattled on about her being too quick to judge.
Well written.
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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Hmmm.
Pretty hard to get over that. For both Alan and Ginnie. You can't unsay stuff. It would have been better for Alan if he had not rattled on about her being too quick to judge.
Well written.
Comment Written 02-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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You're right. This is a real watershed moment in their relationship. It could go either way at this point. It may have been better had Alan not said what he said to her, but I felt it was time to show some passion in him and not just be the mild-mannered guy all the time.
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Ah- ha! Give your protagonist a flaw, as Jerry Jenkins teaches, put him in a hole, as I paraphrase Stephen King.
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Makes 'em easier to relate to that way. In one of my earliest drafts of my first full-length novel, my protagonist was too perfect all the way through. I ended up rewriting that several times, and by the end, you'd hardly recognize her. She started out weak and grew into perfection by the end. Much more relatable that way.
That's one reason I prefer your current novel to your previous one. Much more character growth seen in Tony. Ben was pretty perfect the whole way through (although I didn't come in until maybe 1/3 of the way in on that one.)
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Ben was, but still, he had a presumptiveness flaw. Might go back and enhance that.
Comment from BethShelby
People are very quick to jump to conclusion and not worry about the fact unless they confirm what they want to believe. There are those who really love a juicy gossip story and are quick to pass it on.This isn well-written. I can blame him for being angry at being thought of in that way. It seems his students weren't so quick to believe him guilty.
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reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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People are very quick to jump to conclusion and not worry about the fact unless they confirm what they want to believe. There are those who really love a juicy gossip story and are quick to pass it on.This isn well-written. I can blame him for being angry at being thought of in that way. It seems his students weren't so quick to believe him guilty.
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Comment Written 02-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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You're so right, Beth. It's unfortunate that gossip has such a strong influence on people's thinking. It shouldn't, but it does. They don't allow hearsay in a courtroom because it doesn't meet the burden of proof. If only that were the case in real life too.
Comment from lancellot
Eating crow? That made me laugh. Even when angry, he doesn't sad bad words nor is he disrespectful. But it's good to see some fire from David. He should have plenty of frustration, he hasn't gotten laid in months, along with his other issues.
That Ginnie may apologize next chapter is a concern. Some women, find a way to turn things, at least partially on the guy, and Alan wasn't completely honest in the beginning. That should come back to bite him.
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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Eating crow? That made me laugh. Even when angry, he doesn't sad bad words nor is he disrespectful. But it's good to see some fire from David. He should have plenty of frustration, he hasn't gotten laid in months, along with his other issues.
That Ginnie may apologize next chapter is a concern. Some women, find a way to turn things, at least partially on the guy, and Alan wasn't completely honest in the beginning. That should come back to bite him.
Comment Written 02-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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Thanks very much, Lance, for your great, perceptive review and for the 6 stars. Yeah, we'll put the getting laid issue to rest pretty soon.
This is definitely a tipping point for the two of them. I think both want the relationship to succeed, but they have to learn to develop that trust in each other, which definitely isn't there yet.
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Well, they don't really have a relationship, unless it is as friends. Many times, on FS, writers act like the Freind Zone is the same as dating. Men know the difference. Alan hasn't shown any romantic interests in Ginnie or vice versa.
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You're right. Not so much yet--just a little hand holding for a few seconds--but it will be coming. And when it does, it will be a lot faster than some other authors around here.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
I'm not surprised David/ Alan finally flipped. He was tired and worn out by people jumping to the wrong conclusion all the time. His patience just ran out and that was very credible. I have the feeling that this will be resolved sooner rather than later and it feels good to have Tommy back in the shop again. I've actually never heard the expression "Do you like the taste of crow" but I can imagine what it means. I wonder if he'd be quite that sharp though? But this is a great story, moving with pace and continuing to engage fully. Thanks for sharing. Debbie
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reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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I'm not surprised David/ Alan finally flipped. He was tired and worn out by people jumping to the wrong conclusion all the time. His patience just ran out and that was very credible. I have the feeling that this will be resolved sooner rather than later and it feels good to have Tommy back in the shop again. I've actually never heard the expression "Do you like the taste of crow" but I can imagine what it means. I wonder if he'd be quite that sharp though? But this is a great story, moving with pace and continuing to engage fully. Thanks for sharing. Debbie
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Comment Written 02-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2024
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Thanks so much, Debbie. Yeah, "eat crow" means to accept humiliation for being drastically wrong about something. Supposedly crow is not a very tasty bird.
I can remember my mother saying something similar to my father who tended to be overconfident about things. She'd say, "I hope you like to eat crow," and he'd say, "I love the taste of crow." Always cracked me up. She was usually right. I guess he learned to love it because he ate it so often.