All Comments on 'The Low Road'

Thanks,

SS1969

What a great piece of work! Beautifully developed with a tear jerker element that got to me!

I usually know where you are going, but with this one I sit here dumbfounded.

Didn't see that coming yet it makes perfect sense.

Why was it that Amber cared when no one else did. However, I understand gratitude for a truly grateful person goes far, but a year's worth of a commitment to someone that by all definition was a loser? I guess the million helped there. Not being malicious, just even the soldiers there at his funeral were there out of duty and not love or friendship.

Still, very interesting story in that it makes one think. This guy had a life destined to be in black and white. Kind of blah person, and blah life. Kind of there; a shadow existence. No friends, even his mother didn't care for him. But at least in the end he got some color in his life. Even if it was out of gratitude combined with money.

Sad that the most amazing thing this guy had going for him was a life insurance policy, and the fact that he happened to be at the right place at the right time to give another soldier the ability to die in another person's arms.

Did not expect that twist at the end, and by this point on Literotica I can usually see one coming. Good, unique, and (most importantly) entertaining story. 5 stars.

There's writer's on here I have a problem with. When that happens I don't read them. I have occasionally left negative comments, although they're usually comments aimed at the nonys who can't be bothered to build a history even with a pseudonym.

I kind of wonder what is the motivation for comments like yours. You have my name (because I don't post anonymously) so if you want you can tell me the purpose of your comment you can (I really am on the spectrum and when something is said that I don't understand I ask for clarification).

I see accusations of sock puppet accounts and cabals and I wonder why you care, what is to be gained. Paradolia and apophenia are my explanations but if you have a better one I'd genuinely like to know it.

That being said I really liked this as a short story. Not quite up to the standards of Raymond Carver but getting there. And @Todd172, if you haven't read Carver I think you should.

Thank you for sharing your imagination.

...one of the best.

Now THAT was a class read and a damn fine story. Absolutely loved the final delivery. Just one heck of a story and well told, thank you.

..to read our tale. Things are a bit crazy out there right now, and we hope we've provided a little distraction from it all.

This really is based on a true story - the Soldier was a Combat Engineer. We hope we've done him justice here.

Thanks again to the editors and beta readers, I learn more from them every time. Of course I have a long way to go on this learning curve. It is hard to express how much I appreciate the support from the readers here - it is truly unbelievable.

I have to thank The Missus, she dreams alongside me and makes my world a much better place.

If this didn't suit you, that's fine, we all have different tastes. Try BurntRedstone or SleeperyJim, or maybe stev2244. There are some remarkable writers out there, you'll certainly find something.

Just a note: Be careful out there and take the virus seriously. Especially if you are over 65 or have health problems already. Hopefully in a few months we can all look back, shrug, and say "that wasn't so bad." But hope is not a course of action, stay safe overtip the waitress if you do go out -she'll need the money - and stay healthy.

Great story and a surprise at the ending.

Another of the highest quality story from another high quality author. For putting this together someone should give Randi a medal...best series of stories I've ever seen here...or anywhere. Thank you

5***** Outstanding!!!!! It's so good, that I really am speechless. Definitely Write On!!!!

Superb!

I don't even have the words to tell you how much I loved this story. In my ten years I knew all of your characters, except maybe the strippers. Sergeants are the heart of the army, and anyone who has served knows your Sergeant Major. Again, a magnificent story. Here's to Sgt. Schnell and everyone else who has ever worn the uniform.

Really wonderful, thank you.

Moving, funny, clever and neatly crafted, as all your stories are. I would be happy to throw some of my meagre funds at you if only to prove the naysayers wrong. In the mean time, thanks for sharing, stay healthy, and please relay my best wishes to the Missus.

You are a tremendous story teller with a real flair for language.

I laughed out loud at "... and I hoped a fair amount of DEET."

Todd - thank you. As always a cut above - quirky, delightful, real, funny, filled with honor and joy. Thank you.

Outfuckingstanding!! Thank you.

Bravo. What a way to go. Makes me want to believe in karma. Makes my wanna click back and reread some of your oldies - maybe TJ and Tammi’s “Soldier Girl”. Many thanks.

This one is my favorite of the night. Perfect description of a good Sergeant Major. They can seemingly make anything happen, good or bad. Just great writing that made me think of people I have known. Who hasn't served with a Schnell, and tried to look out for him when you could?

This was a really great story, thank you!

perfect story in every way

The plot twist even caught me by surprise

Ps The thing about the virus is that mostv dumb for rednecks who voted trump and thinks it all Bs .... are the ones who are going to suffer the most.

Great stuff.

Thanks for the story.

Cog

You bring to life the military experience, mindset, and emotions in ways that continue to surprise and delight me. Looking forward to more.

An average guy gets a great ending.loved it. Your writing justs gets better and better.5

Lovely story, really well put together. Thank you.

Once again, I am treated to read a tale by one of the best writers around. You have an incredible gift, sir. Thank you for sharing it.

Reasonable story.

His wife left him with all the money, his mom turned on him, he gets cancer and dies painfully. And somehow you managed a happy ending. Amazing. I really needed a lift today and this did it. Thank you. I wish good health to you and your family.

You pack an astonishing amount of depth and emotion into such a short story.

Great. Had to go back and recall who Campbell was. Makes it a real tear-jerker.

Oh, CHUTE! Impressed that Todd learned about shoots! Thanks for the read!

5*

unlucky in life but lucky in death. a very good story there tyvm for the read

I didn't read past the five comments shown below page 2 but the four comments by ribnitin, ender2k2k, cloakndagger and Spencerfiction covered what I wanted to say. THANK YOU and please keep writing.

he ended it with the envy of everyone. VERY VERY good story. Gave it a 5

Btb in the finest way. Everybody looking out for him. Now that's a life.

When I was a young lawyer, I had several clients who were topless dancers. General attitudes toward them in society in general were that they were all just whores. I won’t lie, some were. However, most were just victims of the environment that they came from, mostly poor, with bad men involved with their mothers or bad choices in men by them. They had kids to raise alone, poor education, one or the other or both. They were just trying to get by, most without actually prostituting themselves. Some were even attending college, and many graduated to a better life. Judge not that you be not judged. Thanks for the story.

Awesome as always, you folks can capture human interest as well as anybody I've ever read.

Good story. Moving, with a few surprises. I liked the romance angle to it. -- JB

Short and impactful. Thank You very much!

It touches on so many levels!!!!

Blew me away.

How I envy a mind that can create such unique storylines combined with the writing talent to communicate them!

Wow, yes I really blurted it out loud. Yes I am a former Navy man so appreciate a well written military story. This had some great twist. I also knew someone just like Schnell in the service who just got by but stayed in. A really enjoyable story that will stay with me. Yes I will favorite it. A whole lot tucked into a short story. Really shows how well Todd172 can write.

Please keep writing and I will keep reading.

Great stuff

Loved it.

Thanks for your efforts, creativity, and talent. Great Story.

A really sad story but a nice one.

Thanks for another wonderful story - a beautiful set up, and one heck of a kicker right at the end. You make my reading even more enjoyable.

- Austin

Loved the ending, so sweet.

Your writing here reminds me a bit of Tobias Wolff, my favorite contemporary writer. It's terse and restrained, but it also contains flashes of understated brilliance. Like this line:

"It ran so deep in him that it made you secretly wonder if it was the Soldier that was wrinkled instead of the uniform."

That sentence was such a shockingly perfect and succinct encapsulation of Schnell's character that it actually pulled me out of the story for a moment to admire the craft. The twist at the end was great and caught me by surprise, but this is my favorite line in the story.

Like in some of Wolff's stories, there's also an element of the surreal that seeps into an otherwise straightforward narrative and throws the reader off balance. In this case, it's when the three women walk into the funeral.

Masterfully executed from start to finish, and a joy to read.

I constantly go to your author page looking for new tales. Would really like to see a new Needles/Delaney story!!!!!

The very end was a lightening bolt. Nicely done!

Enjoyed it and that's the best compliment to give an author

Yep, this is why I keep reading Lit.

Todd give us a reason as to why he (and the missus) is/are one of the very best teams of the site. Short, precise without innecesary words, but the story flows natural and the twist at the end it is fitting.

Now about my theory as to why the 2nd wife go those lengths to get payback to the 1st wife and MIL of our MC is rather simply, what begin as a way to repay a debt of honor changed to love maybe even true love for the sergeant once she pass time with him.

The end its bitter sweet but in line to the story.

All the more because it's based on something that happened.

Loving this event. The fact that you're one of the authors pretty much says it all.

Can't wait to see the new ones you bestow upon us mere mortals. Lol.

Great story with fun twists and turns. Each character rings clear and true - Army folks included. Nice pace and easy to read.

The military portion of the story rang true. You made me cry, jerks. ;)

Concise.

Well done.

Love the fact that Schnell found some degree of happiness at the end. Also the bitch ex-wife and ex-mother were aces out of scavenging his carcass. Nice touch giving the cheating whore of an ex-wife an album of his greatest hits with 4 beautiful women.

Campbell was the dying soldier Schnell comforted. Did he know she was pregnant?

Should be a 15...woo rah

"Simply the best..."

Wish I had just a little of your talent.

Yes indeed. Sister he never knew. Paid to have him come to the club she worked at. Dann what a wonderful thing...family. Wish I had more blood family.

One of your best, and that's saying a lot. I loved the penny drop at the end; a very nice twist, with a good sized helping of karma. Thanks Todd, for another excellent read; I'm waiting (as patiently as possible) for your next offering. But hey; I can do patience. ;)

You have a knack of writing the most entertaining short stories. Can't wait for more. P.S: Paul Harvey would be proud. "Now you know the rest of the story" Thanks again.

Keep 'em coming, Todd.

Dat was a helluva story mon, sweeet‘a and‘a pinch of wicked.

Ya got from my da juicyses five Spliffs I have, thumbs‘ar up, mon

You are a fine, fine writer and your body of work here is professional quality. Now you have to learn it’s barbecue, not barbeque.

I keep coming back to your stories and I’m always glad I did!

Thank you for writing, and thank you for sharing your work.

I was only going to give this a 4* until the last paragraph. That one sentence made this a 5* story

Great job

Perfect.

What an ending!

If you haven’t read this author’s story called “Duty”, read it. Military themed also, but an excellent, if somber story. One of the very best stories from one of the very best authors on this site.

Great Story.

One of my all time favorites. Write a followup story on Amber, she deserves it.

Really liked your take in this story. Surprised me, hadn’t thought of that ending - loved it. Going to check out you other output. Thanks for a great story!

Short, but one of your best. Amazed by your talent. 5*

Excellent writing and very good story. What goes around comes around. Eat your heart out ex-wife who never was a wife. Some woman don't deserve a good man and some men don't deserve a good woman. Keep writing.

Really, that was as great story. All he could do was comfort that soldier before he passed, and wow what a difference. All the time I was reading about him being some average loser, I kept thinking he sounded like a decent guy who did his best. Glad it worked out for him.

I had just recently come across one of your stories that I thoroughly enjoyed. I decided to check out more of your stories. Each one of them seems to outdo the next one. Then I found this story. I was teary-eyed when I got to the end but was befuddled by the reference to Campbell. I had to go back and reread the story. I hate to say that I lost it, but I did. There are no words to describe my feelings and my enjoyment of this story. Thank you!

not much else to say other than cancer sucks

What a story! I must confess this is the first time I can recall laughing and crying at a story's ending. Outstanding. Kudos to you and your team.

Damn; why can't I give this 6 stars?

‘Strange funerals’ is a morbid subject, but the story was very good.

This was a short story with a profound impact delivered at the funeral. Not only did he go out in style, but he left his uncaring ex-wife and mother with the message: what goes around comes around. Excellent writing! 5 stars CC

THUMBS UP !!!!

👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 ....

Needs a couple more stars. 5 isn’t enough. Really good delivery.

When I get to the end of a story as good as this and find that I have already marked it with 5 stars, I feel cheated. I willingly read it this second time and enjoyed it immensely - again.

Keep 'em comin'.

Second time reading this...perhaps one of the best stories, on this site or any other, that I’ve read. Bravo Zulu!

Excellent surprise!

Great story! Thanks!

What a wonderful and heart-breaking story. It was kind of sad ...all the way till the funeral. Loved the 'heart-of-gold' angle of the girls and the Twist at the end. Thank You,

Thank you for this fantastic story.

How is this still as poignant on the third reading as it was when I first read it? You have this magical touch in all of your stories.

More, please!

Damn hell of an ending!

Outstanding story.

2nd or 3rd reading. It is still so poignant it gives me shivers. 5*

That brought tears, Bro! Great story

just superb thankyou.