All Comments on 'The Price of Forgiveness'

There are holes and such but it is very good.

You wrote a good story, but the numerous typos lessen the reading enjoyment. Remember, Spellcheck only spells a word similar to what you typed. It isn't always the correct word, such as "vane" for "vain". Get a good editor and keep writing!

Thank your editor again, but tell them to watch the spelling of quiet and quite, and suit and suite. A couple others and some grammar,but not too distracting. I enjoyed the honesty of the exhusband. She and his kids treated him badly and I can understand not forgiving him. There was a lot of honesty to this story and the characters made sense to me. Good job.

story teller, very entertaining. Thanks. ML

Readityourselffortypos!

I don't think it gave her any comfort in the afterlife.

Fuck her and the kids. They fucked him for years and want to forgive and forget? Fuck that. They moved on with no consideration of him and his feelings and when it doesn't work out for them they want him back? Hell with that he's had to move on as well, it just worked out better for him. Its a pretty sad state of affairs when an ex prostitute is a better companion/wife than his ex wife.

He was lucky and found another life better than the previous one. With my soft heart I would certainly have found space for the grandchildren.

I rarely give 5 stars, but this deserved it. :)

Good job. Good story line and plot, good character development, good flow to the story. And most important to me a happy ending. The feelings and reactions of the husband were more realistic than many other stories. I enjoyed, as you said in your intro, that the poor guy had a good life without becoming an asshole. As one other comment said, grandkids heal a lot of wounds. One last thing, I read these stories to be entertained, if I wanted a essay on grammar I would read a text book. I gave you this score because of the story, everything else is just throw away. Keep up the hard work, I will continue to read your efforts, even if you can't spell perfectly. Thanks.

Could have been in romance rather than LV, but then I may have missed it. In my book he would have got back with the kids eventually, because that's the sort of guy he was.

Well done Slirpuff!

This was your best story. Now that you mostly keep one POV, thank God, your style begins to show. Yes, there are still too many mistakes, (we all have some!) but the improvement is obvious. The thoughts and attitude of the protangonist are uniquely your own, and that makes the story. ( Interest is piqued, not peaked.)

By her or her kids when he needed them so he cut them out of his life. When she got sick and no one was there she realized what she had done but some times sorry isn't enough. Very good story, thanks.

The price of forgiveness is that Ann had to take responsibility for her actions which she <b>NEVER</b> did.

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You'd think after five YEARS that Ann would have been able to find some way to communicate to her husband. It is simply shocking given actions and behavior that even after all this time... when her new husband cheated on her and traded HER up... that she STILL had not told her own children that she was the one cheated ... that she had STILL not told her own family that she was the one who cheated ... that she STILL had not told their mutual friends.

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In the end <b>Ann went to him for some support and forgiveness which amazingly in Ann's view required absolutely no actions to correct her grievous behavior whatsoever!!!.</b> When Ann and the ex husband have that conversation after the auction and he finds out that and has done nothing and told no one the truth...it becomes obvious that ANN thinks that forgiveness is somehow automatic because she has cancer. With a shockingly self-centered shallow immature obnoxious Cunt Ann is.

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Frankly I hope she's burning in hell.

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Without a doubt this has to be the author's best story he has ever done. Not only is a powerful and very moving but it's also very consistent with how the ex-husband's character is developed. It's hard to believe that the same author who wrote the story wrote that appallingly horrible story only a few days ago...

"So sit back with a cold one and be prepared to be entertained."

I chuckled when I read this....but you delivered as promised. Well done.

besides some grammical errors, this was awesome!! maybe this makes me to be a stubborn, hard-headed man, but im so glad they didnt get back together and he didnt forgive her until after she died. also, i cant tell you how many stories ive read where everone and i mean everone, family included, took the bastard/bitches sidea and even blamed the husband and not only did he let them, he acted like they where right. so fuck yea im glad he manned up and didnt take it like a little bitch. now, i understand why you had him forgive ann and thats beacause you didnt want him to obsess over it anymore, didnt want him to hate her with an unhealthy passion. so, in short this is prob one of your best stories ive read and i even liked the ending which somtimes you screw up and lastly, to anyone who thinks he was too harsh and was nursing a hurt pride/male ego, fuck you and fuck everyone who ruined his life. rock on slirpuff

you made... because English is a foreign language to me. But ... this story goes to heart. Very well told. Like HDK I see your improvement. Won't say it's your best but one of them. Thank you for good entertainment. I enjoyed reading.

<p>Regards</p>

<b>Nucleus</b>

<p>Gotta admit, I felt so bad for the main character and you did such a good job of expressing his feelings of betrayal by everyone that I almost could see myself in his place.</p>

<p>You did a <i>fantastic</i> job of showing a man who was excluded by everyone and left on his own after his wife did him in. Often it happens this way more than I can count. But you also showed his bitterness at being so heavily screwed over and why it wasn't something that disappeared overnight because his ex wanted it too.</p>

<p>And it made sense. She spent years screwing him over, and the kids did to, and suddenly everyone wanted to pretend it never happened. That isn't something that someone who spends years having happen to him totally forgets overnight, or even in a couple of weeks. Regardless of what you read here often. The story had him build a new life that didn't have him so desperate to jump back in with the ones who so completely betrayed him.</p>

<p>Thanks, one of your very best to date!</p>

-Risq

At last someone tells the story about a man and the real emotions he goes through, loved it , hope the bitch fries in hell.

This is a very well written well conceived story. Please continue these types of stories.

I could never forgive the kids, but the grand kids are totally innocent. Great story Slirpuff. Keep on writing!!! Luis

Some pretty strong words and emotions were expressed. The story fit together quite nicely. Thanks for writing it!

and everything he has done ...i agree with fully....and yes if the kids did what is written in this story ....i would do the same ....when a person does what she did and the kids take her side as they did ....that pretrty well says that they didnt respect me ar want me in their lives....when they realized they made a mistake ...well sorry to late....what kids would take the side of the man that was fucking their mother and knowingly would let her cuckhold him and the nwant him to let things slide because it was hurting their mother....what they should have done was not take sides ....when they did the way they did.....im like him i would have to figure they were not my kids to begin with....yes we all make mistakes but making a mistake does not mean that mistakes have to be forgiven....maybe they should get back in contact with step daddy if they want xmas gifts and time spent with their kids by a father figure....after all they took his side so why not just keep him as grampa also......as for what he now has it seems as if he is now very happy so why bring back bad memories by having the family you have now gotten over come back into your life to remind you that they might betray you yet again...as for hiis property when he dies his wife rhonda will get it as for what she does with it with no kids maybe she has some great nephews or neices to give it to....yes maybe he should not take it out on his grandkids but then maybe his kids should have not taken sides and chosen to take step daddys side back when their mother first cheated and tried to take his home away from him to move in the man she was cheating on hubby with ....seems as if the kids didnt have any respect for daddy at all ...and ok maybe its not fair to an innocent grand kid but then maybe they will come to understand that their parents were wrong to choose sides also....mi9ght be a great lesson to them....maybe when they get older they can come see gdad by themselves and say sorry for our parents stupidy....and maybe then he might have some sort of relationship with them....but the kids lol sorry id still tell them to go see step daddy if he was still alive also

First, I was surprised by the bitterness shown after so many years. Usually we are told that the true opposite of love is indifference. I am not saying that he had to forgive her, just that he had moved on. Another issue I had was his over the top rejection of his own children. Both of these made me not really like him very much. On the other side, you did a fine job covering his rebirth into a different person. Even if I didn't care for the characters too much, you still did an excellent job. Thanks for writing, Ttom

<p>a good story - but I question the treatment of the children. The refusal to even see them is way overboard, imho. They were caught in the middle of the divorce and really didn't have a lot of time to figure out how to handle it before he had shut the door on them, never to be reopened, apparently.</p>

<p>I've actually been in the same situation - I kid you not - and it turned out that while one child sided with mom, the other child was just trying to keep the hell out of the way. That one called me out of the blue and we repaired the damage and are great friends. Child #2 I speak to from time to time, but we'll never be back to a true parent/child relationship.</p>

<p>My point: the story was really written to appeal to the 'throw the bitch to the curb' crowd, and that's fine. But it went a bit too far for my taste and experience. </p>

The author continues to show that he has become a terrific storyteller. This tale was unique in how Slirpuff revealed the depth of Dan's bitterness and that it was maintained throughout Ann's revelation of terminal breast cancer and her last year on earth. Dan's feelings towards his ex were expressed almost savagely ("There is a God,") during his conversation with Ann at the after hours bar.<P> It's a credit to the author that he was able to keep Dan's character the same unyielding, bitter ex-husband throughout the entire story. It would have been so easy to let Dan become a fountain of forgiveness which would have taken the story to just another smarmy Loving Wives ending. Without a doubt this was the author's best to date.

Had an almost fairy tale feel to it, very "Cinderella-esque." Personally I think he should have pissed on her at the funeral and not bothered with forgiveness. Probably would have gotten him beat up but what a statement that would have made. The story was very readable, don't worry about the typos, I know what you meant to say, and was not hampered in the least by spelling errors. This story more than makes up for the your other "wimp out" stories which most author's feel compelled to write for some unknown reason.

But a great tale! You hit the heart of HUMAN reaction to betrayal. As my Mom used to say, "Sorry won't milk the cows." If the Ex had TRULY grown, she'd confessed to the kids at least. It appeared to me that the Ex was still the selfish Bee-yotch from before. And for the children to turn their backs on the man who'd videotaped Little League games and recitals for a selfish heifer like the Mom, they learned a valuable lesson: Life doesn't come w/do-overs. And ignore the Bullet. In his world, if you don't eat creampies w/gusto, you're a Bastard.

I agree with the earlier comments about the children. If he really was so devoted to his family he would always have welcomed his children back unless he was a prick. As depicted here, the wife was of course at fault, but in most cases it is a mixture of faults. Had he bought flowers for Ann? In any case it is usually the husband who strays, and divorced middle aged and employed/educated men have lots to choose from; I should know, I am one.

Story was a good read... you are improving. Especially, by sticking to one POV. But in the end it was a story about a man with no real depth... a man after 25 years of marriage and he says great kids, he ignores them. A real man would step up and forgive. But hell, this was a great story of a guy who is not such a man.

<p>In the context of this story the children <i>don't</i> come first.</p>

<p>The children were aware the mother was screwing over their father in the divorce. She kicked "him" out of the house and expected him to walk away with nothing from the marriage. The children were aware that she was cheating, but they ganged up on the father to leave the mother alone so that she could leave him to build a life with the man she was cheating on him with. The children wouldn't have anything to do with him "until after" the mother died.</p>

<p>Pray tell why, in the context of this story, is he the prick when the children went out of their way to make sure they alienated him? And now that their mother died he's supposed to pretend they didn't assist in making his life difficult because he wouldn't walk away quietly into the night so she could leave their father to be with her lover? If anything they should have taken his side as the innocent party, but they didn't. They made it a point to rip into him for not quickly divorcing their mother to let her move on with her life and her new husband.</p>

<p>Statements like that confuse me because all it does is make it so that there will never be consequences for burning bridges behind you like the kids did to him.</p>

<p>And as to cheating. That my have been true in the 60's, but this is 21'st century. Women are just as capable of cheating as men. In the last poll I saw it was with in something like 8% of each other. Its not some wide gap like 75% of the men and 30% of the women polled. And of the 5 divorces I know of <i>personally</i> from cheating only one was because the husband did. 4 of them were because the wife did it first. And of the one, my brother in-law, he cheated with a married woman.</p>

<p>So if you think about it <i>logically</i> those men have to be cheating with someone, and not all the women are single hot 18 year old women running out of the local junior collage straight into the cars of their married sugar daddies.</p>

-Risq

Wow! This is a great all around good story. The hate and hurt felt by a spouse who was cheated on and then dumped. Finally he finding love again and being happy with his life....Well done!!!!! A very good well writen story. Thanks

Most politically correct writers would have made a wimp out of the father. I went through the same thing except I was the one to leave her after she tried to shoot me. (with a younger one yet) She had years of brainwashing the kids against me. I still don't even trust the one that I do talk to. The son I figure has his own life and he choose to shut me out. I am glad to see a writer tell it like it is. It's not a bad thing to be hurt by ones actions and not be the lolling,drooling puppy to come back for more of the same. There is a God...that's why she died.

I just wanna smear Harry Vagina and Nylonsminus' cunt assed microscopic brains over the sidewalk. Sad pricks

Really enjoyed the story. I do kind of agree with those who thought the reaction to the kids was a bit extreme. But, we didn't get a lot of detail on what happened with them other than they accepted the new guy. Hopefully, he will soften that stance. Otherwise, a great job of expressing his sense of loss and despair and finally his overcoming that. Keep up the good work.

Tim

Slirpuff is a good storyteller and developing into a better writer with every story. One of the few writers I read just based on his byline. Other favorites are JPB, Slickman, magnaman.

Loved your POV. I'm sure everyone understood his hate and disgust for his cheating, selfish wife. It's hard to understand the kids position is the story they treated Dad like crap. Too bad for everyone...

Great read with good ideas. More please and thanks for sharing.

Scary to agree with both Risq and Harry, but this is SP's best story to date. Very realistic. As for the kids, yes, it was not their fault, however, there is not one shred of evidence that they made <i> any </i> effort to get in touch with their dad after they became adults. Even young people could have empathy.

You know what I liked so much about this story??? It was consistent. HarryinVa said it. The ex never showed remorse, never took responsibility, and simply wanted her exH to rollover one more time to make her remaining life comfortable.

Also interesting is the kids. The authoer subtly points out they are older, and "our hero" is a grandfather. People of that age know right from wrong or should. People of that age should KNOW why their Dad is hurt and fighting like hell to keep as much of what HE earned as possible. People that age would have called before 5 years IF they cared. People of that age who wanted Dad in their lives would have sent marriage invitation, birth announcements and many other things.

The author in a very low key way explains it all without belaboring it. The dumped Dad is pissed and has every reason to be pissed at the lot of them, for NONE of them made a move toward him until they needed him for something.

I don't see why anyone would be concerned about "the kids", as they were adults and even parents themselves and the author makes this clear.

Nicely done, I look forward to more of your stories.

This is the most realistic cheating wife story that I've read.The only revenge he could administer was a difficult divorce and no vanilla when they meet again.

But this is one exception (I can't recall any other one). <p>

The bitterness --- the years of inability to forgive someone whom you loved deeply and who shit in your drinks, with her lover, and than kick you in the nose, as she laughingly fucks her lover in your own home and bed --- has credibility to it. <p>

Fact is, in real life, as we get older, habits grow and lengthen, and forgiveness becomes more and more difficult to offer or accept. With life's many other harshness, adding on to our own little ones. <p>

I am not what he felt or did was right --- especially towards the kids, whom he said were her kids and not his, once they sided with her and her lover... But his inability to offer forgiveness or accept sorrys seem real and credible, because he felt so bad, for so many years, after what they'd done to him. <p>

But I think good memories also heal. He has found someone who is not ashamed to reveal her dark past but who says, if you take me, all of me, for what I've been, have done, once I decide to love you, you can trust me with your life... <p>

Creating good memories, with someone with faults and willingly admits them, can blunt his bitterness and in time he will bond deeply with that person. I can readily identify with him, rightly or wrongly, so I liked the story.

<p>I am glad that I read "Stuff" before reading this story. That decision allowed me to read "The Price of Forgiveness" with a more open attitude; and I'm glad I did!</p>

<p>I thought that your ending was masterful. Allowing email exchanges with the ex-wife was the perfect response, any more of a relationship would have been unrealistic. This story also brought home the idea of the magnitude of betrayal when those who betray you are your children. Leaving open the possibility of an email exchange with them made the most sense too.</P>

<p>Thank you for a very well structured and entertaining read</p>

I've read everything that you have written on this site and Dark Wanderer and with each one you seem to expand and get better. This one was fantastic. I'll keep reading if you keep writing.

How dare someone say that Dan should not be bitter after this betrayal by the one person he loved the most. I wish I could be sorry for Ann but the Ann we see after the auction is not the Ann Dan divorced. Ann, the cheating wife, allowed Tim her lover to humiliate Dan in his own house. She forced him out of his home and moved her lover in. She made Dan the bad guy during the divorce and turned the kids against him. Note that she never said that she loved Tim. She knew that she was going to get caught but the sex was more important than Dan and her family. Basically, she got caught and proceeded to screw Dan and traded up to a younger man. It is doubtful after 5 years of no communication that Ann would even talk to Dan if things had turned out fine with Tim. Ann sees her life about to end and now she wants forgiveness from the one person she screwed the most in life. That is why this is an outstanding story because it is so true to human nature. Dan got the best revenge by getting his life together and finally closing that sad chapter with Ann. Bravo!

This is getting better. I'm glad to see an editor was used, but there are still lots of typos and other mistakes. Still, good storytelling. I'm glad to see the author is sticking to a single point of view, finally.

We all react differently to betrayal and painful experiences. Dan's way to cope was bitterness. His bitterness helped him get through the day. His lack of forgiveness for what his ex-wife and kids did to him was justified in his mind. As someone else commented, some betrayals are to big to be forgiven. As for the kids, I am assuming they were in their late teens/early twenties when their mother was cheating and the divorce was going on (based on the length of their marriage). Needless to say at that age they were not small kids and could have asked their father what was happening if they did not already know. They either should have stayed out of it or supported their mom and dad equally (not the new stepdad). Great story and I will be looking for more of the same from you Slirpuff.

<b>OUTSTANDING</b>

Great story but the only sanctimonious prick was the ex-husband. It's one thing to hate your ex-wife, it's another thing to carry that to your children. This guy was a loser with a capital "L"...and then he wonders why no one wanted to date him? Gosh, could it be that he's a bitter, washed-up has been who is mean, petty, vindictive and in general, not a nice person?

I enjoyed reading this and thank the author for his efforts, but I do agree with another writer about his cutting off his children. The wife should have just stayed away, after realizing she made the wrong decision, but the children were between a rock and a hard place.....hard to keep both sides happy, don't you think? Still, a fine effort by Slirpuff!

For all those who say that he should have never cut ties with his kids. I say he did the right thing. His wife cheats brings the Boyfriend into the house then proceeds to milk him for ever cent. Meanwhile the kids tell him off and to just let it them be. After the divorce they act like he was the one that cheated. What more could they have done? oh yeah get DNA tests and have him find out they were not his.

Those kids did everything to push that man to a early grave and he survived. And more then that the mom didnt contact him till she was dying and wanted him to contact the kids so they were not alone? where were they when he was alone.

So I say he did the right think for his sanity. You cant just expect him to just say "Ah its ok even though you pissed on me for years all is forgiven."

Even if I don't agree with the protagonist's actions, I'll say that this is probably your best story to date. Kudos and keep up the good work.

YES! As good as it gets, thank you.

spelling suck; makes story less enjoyable, example(crowed for crowd)

Were it not for numerous spelling and usage errors, this would have gotten 100. I'm torn as are other readers regarding his children. If they really rejected him outright, then I could see why he does not feel like forgiving them. But maybe they were led astray by his ex, and she poisoned their minds. Young, impressionable minds are easily brainwashed in this fashion. I think his ex really got what she deserved. Thanks for writing.

Finally, a story where the injured party actually sticks up for himself and doesn't cave under some bullshit apology from the slut who cheated on him.

First let me agree that this was a very well written and thoughtful story. Let me also say that I think reconciliation should never be attempted unless there is a change of heart in the adulterer.

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I'm not sure if there was a change in heart on the part of Ann or not. I am certain that the one who suffered by not forgiving was Dan, especially where his children were concerned.

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It is a sad fact of life that bearing a grudge doesn't hurt the one we bear it for. It only hurts us. Can't you just hear how many times Dan had practiced what he'd say to his wife? Can't you feel the pain every time he practiced it?

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In this story Ann asked for forgiveness... which is all too rare, but did he really hurt her by not giving it to her while she was alive? Frankly, I doubt it. Real life doesn't work that way. Generally the person we hate just moves on and never thinks about us.

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In this case I think she was trying to help him by accepting more blame than she deserved. Remember she abided by his rules, she humbled herself to him. I think she wanted the best for him and for their kids. My def of a friend is someone who wants the best for you and is willing to sacrifice to help you get it. I think she cried not because she hoped to get him back, but because of the pain she caused him.

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I think it's good mental health to forgive to let God have the vengeance, to let go of the hate. That doesn't mean he is under any obligation to take her back or to be in any sort of relationship with her. (Unless he's a Christian... but even then repentance doesn't mean he has to take her back, just be open to a new relationship.)

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I found her willingness to take full blame for her actions interesting. Yet there are clues that he'd let himself go (want to bet he'd been carrying more than "love handles?" There are also plenty of clues that he wasn't paying attention to the social side of his marriage either. Does a middle aged woman really get turned on by a sports car? Or has her husband stopped doing anything fun? Face it, there is plenty of evidence that she just accepted his view of what went wrong, to accept blame that perhaps should have been spread between them.

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One of the things I loved about this story was how human the characters were. She was sorry, but she still hadn't told the kids (although the clues that she did after their meeting are there.) He says he had given his family everything... but there's strong evidence that his family and fun times took a back seat to his job.

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Then there's the kids. Another big clue that he hadn't been an "innocent" family centered dad is the kids reaction to the divorce. It's pretty plain that life at home wasn't all roses or grown kids wouldn't have so openly chosen sides. Although even there it's likely he's overreacting to their attempt to support their mother. I think it's clear that his feelings of "betrayal" are not warranted. He acknowledges that they didn't know she was cheating, yet he wants them to behave as if they knew. He wanted his feelings toward her mirrored or magnified and anything else is them cutting him out.

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It's easy to see those sides of him, because it's what happens when we allow ourselves to hate. Hate causes us to close ourselves to what others are offering. I could go on, but let me close by saying again how well written this was. There is great subtly to the characters. It's very hard to show both sides of a story when you use a 1st person POV. I applaud the author for showing both sides in this tragic tale.

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...25 years and the knowledge that that person is now thoroughly broken would leave most with a shred of forgiveness,this guys self-esteem was not of his own making-pistolpackinpete

Good story, Slirpuff. Characterizations are very well done, especially for just 2 pages and a couple of paragraphs. Dan, Ann and Rhonda are all very believable, and Dan's advice (apparently unpracticed toward the end of his marriage to Ann) to Keith was a gem of recognition by a dumped husband. And to all of you "Commenting Critics" of Slirpuff's characterization of Dan, if you haven't worn the skin of someone dumped on completely in the fashion of Ann and their kids on Dan, then you have no right to make such a criticism of Dan's response.

it would seem so. he said

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<i>"In this story Ann asked for forgiveness..." </i>

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so what you idiot? She did NOTHING to deserve it.

5 years after the divorced she STIL had not told her own kids and family she was the one who cheated

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<i>"In this case I think she was trying to help him by accepting more blame than she deserved" </i>

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please show me One instance where she accepted Blame.

ONE...

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<i>"I think she wanted the best for him and for their kids." </i>

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ANOTHER brillant call asshole. Yes she wanted what was best for the kids... that is why she was STILL lying to them 5 years later.

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<i>"I found her willingness to take full blame for her actions interesting" </i>

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again Please cite one exmaple of her taking Blame.

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lastly is everyone in Tx this fucking obtuse?

This is HighIQ110 and yes from India.

I am a Post Graduate at Mathematics and MBA. An executive in corporate sector.

The story I have written, New Years Eve Party, is not my story. It has written by JPB in the name “The Benefits Man”.

I have just changed the names and reposted it. I have no intention to steal his or anyone’s story.

And I have no intention to write a single story here or any other website.

Then why I have done this? Because I want to show the world two things.

1. This is just what JPB is doing. He has saved a format in his computer and posting a new story changing the names and few things with the same plot.

2. Everyone is not block-headed fool like him.

I got 14 very interesting comments and total 125 nos…lol.

One of them told me that it is better than JPB.

I am really sorry for that JPB.

Who gets the last laugh ???

Very nice story. I liked the characters, and I specially enjoyed the fact that even though his life almost fell apart overnight, he kept fighting and living. I liked the very practical attitude that if life gives you lemons, you'd better make lemonade. Well written story. A pleasure to read from the beginning to the end. Yeah, sure there were some spelling errors, but you know what, I hate perfection, because it doesn’t exist. Nothing is perfect. Like I said a great story!

This is one good story. "MORE" "MORE"

it worked out for the him, and he did not loose himself in the situation. things worked out and he went on with his life, and ex wife was given the chance to know the consequences of her actions.

OK.

I had just about given up hope that Sirpuff could write a story that showed the guy as strong and yet have a happy ending. Finally.

For once the guy held his own till the end that is what makes this story stand out.

I enjoy your story telling. This one is particularly good. 5 years of hate do have an effect on people, and particularly here. It would have been nice to see a death bed meeting between Dan and his former family. A comment about being thankful for the divorce would have been appropriate seeing as how he got a new and better life out of it. Of course that assumes it is a better life.

Some things can't be forgiven, this was one. Just cause he has kids doesn't mean he needs to see them. You can love them but not like them, thats what is going on. Great story, thanks.

I loved the way things worked out for him. Despite how bad the bitch felt about ruining the marriage she ended up going to her death lying to her kids about what happened. She deserved a long and lingering death, not so much for cheating but for letting her lies destroy his relationship with his kids. I'd probably meet with them long enough to tell them the truth, or maybe not. Ignore them and let them know they mean nothing may be better revenge. All you owe children is to raise them right and set them on their path. Anything after is gravey, so no he shouldn't bother to get in touch if he doesn't want to, they made their choices long ago.

This one had a greater sense of realithy to it than most I have read. He was not perfect, and he knew his anger and bitterness were not the best emotions but he had them and kept them and lived with them. They were there but did not effect him moving on and having a life. You did a very good job with this one. Bravo.

You are one of my favorite authors, but this is too harsh and unforgiving.

a long time. Is it keeping you warm? Enhancing your life in any way?

Not to harsh,just truth!

loved it

Pretty cold regardless of the situation. Been there and lived that to a similar degree but never would imagine anyone to be that heartless. You have us feeling sorry

for the ex wife and hating the husband. Nice touch I guess

The wife was a "size" whore and the kids had to be just as stupid as she was. The jocker was the only smart one (until the whore got his car in the divorce). Hubby got lucky with a professional whore/escort instead of a cheating, amateur whore of a wife. He should have still spit on her grave at the end and not publicly forgiven her.

Got swept up in the ups and downs of the protagonist...really felt for him and rejoiced in his eventual triumphs. Loved the auction to introduce the ex. Brilliant piece of writing. The author provided great warmth to all the characters and I the reader, relished in that warmth. Great short story!

disown his own kids was way to much and he should have shown some forgiveness. I had to dump a cheating wife and after years and a happy marriage I'd have to say she did me a favor. Too bad this guy (and the author???) held on to something that had the power to eat him up...

This was a great story, all these wimps or assholes talking about him being heartless is BS. He did the only thing he could do, everyone made a choice and now they have to live with it. She was worried about life ending when she was fucking cheating, so why should he care about her life ending. Heartless was when she turn the kids against him by not telling them the truth. This is a rightous story.

His wife may have done him wrong, but he sure is no better than her!

Sometimes life forces a person to stand up. He had to deal with the hand that she gave him. Too bad that she died but she put him out of her life. He moved on. His kids turned their back on him. Usually when that happens in a Slirpuff story the husband doesn't fight back. He basically told them to fuck off this time. Good for him. He deserves happiness with Rhonda. Good Story Slirpuff!

Ann never told him that she had any regrets when he asked her point blank. She talked around it but never had the courage to admit that to him. And she never had the courage to own up to the fact that she was the one who had cheated to her friends or her family. I am not certain what she had expected to get from her ex at the end. This was one of Slirpuff's best stories.

His first life was a slut and got hers in the end. His children were worse, they knew the truth and shit all over their father. Good riddance to bad rubbish. He came out better the escort.

The dude was bitter and had a right to be bitter, but he never evolved even when he was supposedly happy he stayed bitter. He did show determination in the gym, but seemed to expect everything.

Aside from little to no character development, his relationship with Rhonda was not detailed, not described as the wonderful thing he claimed it to be, it was just mentioned as part of telling his story. An author/character saying something is wonderful is infinitely less satisfying that having it described. Had Rhonda been the focus of the story, I think I might have enjoyed it.

The sex was sparse and uninspired. The only good thing he did for anyone else was giving his boss, Keith, the great advice about wowing his wife.

When he was talking with Ann, his ex, she told him that he never even asked why she had cheated. This suggested that she had a reason or at least some excuse or rationalization of her actions. I wanted to know. Unfortunately, readers never get to hear it. Sounds to me like she felt neglected by him. If she needed a spicing up of the relationship it suggests to me that he should have followed the advice that he gave to his boss. Sadly, he never realizes that.

I know all about being bitter and can see the points made in the story, but personally I would not go to the wake when it is clear that I want nothing to do with the person while they live why bother when they are dead.

The woman was pure evil - to justify her cheating and destroying his life and taking his kids away. I'm sad that he didn't spit on her corpse, and I'm sad that she didn't die in a more gruesome way.

She got what she deserved - no argument - he failed to learn much but he grew a little - good for him.

He found joy and a future but you cannot ignore your past and that he seemed to do - the children is a totally different issue - as the parent (DNA not withstanding) it is hi job to work with the situation not theirs, he seemed a petulant little boy about the kids. If they never understood his side might it be because he clearly never tried very hard to communicate it???

They supported their mom when she needed it and he resented that and them - his choice and he should be fixing it - would he have resented it if they had supported him and not her?? Should she have?? parent child is not husband wife.

If you cannot love your children enough to move them outside your relationship with your spouse you are missing some needed function.

the kids were adults and able to make and be held responsible for their own decisions. The American idea of crippling your children by never holding them responsible for their choices is sickening. This isn't Peter Pan land, in the 21st century young adults know the score and when they bet on a loser they deserve to lose - it is called learning.

Not vicious, just good parenting teaching people how the world works.

I was married 25 years when sportscar guy moved on my wife. Fought 2 years to get her back, it saved my relationship with my kids. But now 17 years later and a decade of being her post-cancer etc. caregiver (with a decade of no sex or affection) I'm now stuck with the found religon "church-lady". I kick myself at the decision to take her back! I'm more unhappy than when she was cheating on me. Screw the kids and the wake!

It amazes me when everyone is mad at the husband for not forgiving his ex whore. This bitch fucked him over stole his house, money and his family. She lied to everyone and some how he is the unforgiving monster.The kids made their choice to stay with their mom and embrace her lover as dad. So they died to him and he moved on. And all you jack-ass say how harsh and unforgiving he is. He showed forgiviness, he didn't piss on her grave did he.

My parents had a friend. His wife took his daughters with her and his daughter did not go to him, because his kids remained with their mom.

After their mom's death they went to their dad with the grandchildren (after almost 20 years), however they made peace and he forgave to his 2 daughters. I think he should forgive to his kids.

Shit! another story about old folk so I gave it 1 and only read the first couple of paragraphs until I read age 50.

of his reputation by her not telling everyone that she was the one who got it wrong.

She wasn't asking him to forgive her, just to get in touch with his kids for his own sake. He could and should have demanded that she tell everyone the truth so he could forgive.

He robbed himself by his attitude to his kids.

Rhonda had more sense than he did and I could see their relationship going down the drain as he makes the same mistakes that made his first wife vulnerable to the con man.

Too many men like Keith forget that what you take for granted will go without saying. ALL relationships need tender care. This man let bitterness destroy his.

Great writing but a sobering story on the damage done through adultery. Dan is no longer a whole person emotionally. It's as if Ann caused him an emotional stroke from which he can never fully recover. His unyielding hatred for Ann will affect the rest of his life. How comfortable will Rhonda be knowing that she could do something wrong and then she too has earned a mortal enemy for life. Not forgiving and carrying a grudge extracts a horrible toll. Forgive her, forgive your kids and leave all that baggage behind you. Want satisfaction? Show her that you are living well without giving her another thought. No harm, no foul, much more happiness and you end up as the good guy.

Stupid whore deserved the painful death of cancer and the fucked-over former husband should ignore and disown such pathetic kids. The slut wife made her choice and so did the idiot kids [namely both ex-wife & kids were looking only for an everlasting meal ticket and deserve what they end up with]. Now only fags like shoe-no-fucking-clue and MattM will not get the theme of this tale.

Strange title since he clearly has not forgiven anyone. Man, something is wrong with you if many of your characters hold an absolutely crazy grudge and hatred to their grave.

All too often people, mired in Hallmark-inspired sentiment, not only expect, but actually _demand_ forgiveness for any and all trespasses, citing that it's the "right" or "civilized" or "merciful" or (gods forbid) "Christian" thing to do.

It's easy for people incapable of critical thought to forget why Christ's admonition to forgive one's enemies is so radical: because someone who's hurt you before has proven that they can and are capable of hurting you, and may do so again. Pragmatism and hard-headed practicality virtually demand some form of permanent retribution -- if you don't leave live enemies behind you, they can't stab you in the back again.

It's easy to criticize people who give in to the hate, and accuse them of letting it poison their minds, to turn into obsession, forgetting (or never even having considered) that love can also easily turn into an all-consuming passion. Hate, like any other emotion, is not right or wrong in itself -- there is no right or wrong way to feel. What you feel is just what you feel. Self-delusion is even more certain to be self-destructive than allowing oneself to feel and acknowledge feelings of hatred. Trying to act as if one did not hate, because of societal pressure to "be the better man," without an outlet for the hatred, will eat one up from the inside even more surely than giving in and reveling in the hate.

Consider my mind blown that was deep and inspired.

For making clear the danger in allowing a smooth talking con artist to take you 100%

For showing the need to confess ones part in destroying the marriage 100%

For showing the pain of betrayal 100%

For not revealing the debilitating affect of maintaining hatred on ones own health -100%

to show his wife his constant love and devotion throughout their lives together, and not to trim his marriage down to equations: money, appearance, kids, and sex. Once he starts putting his marriage on scale, it's only a matter of time before the marriage ends. If he can't, his relationship with Rhonda may very well follow the same path.

He mentioned something about "communication", which is a sad, and irresponsible excuse. How could his spouse tell him to "love and cherish her more, to fight for her, to stop her from falling for other people"? He didn't even do that himself. He saw signs of reduced affection, yet never acted on it. He could have saved the marriage, or broken it off way before it could destroy his family. He didn't, and he's left with nothing but a grief that will destroy his next family.