The Sound of Silence

A bit too obvious...

and playing too hard for sympathy. Most of thecelt's stories are great, but this one was simply too contrived.

Thanks for writing

Thanks for continuing to write.... I miss your writing.
Thank you.

Good read

Very evocative.

Pretty good but...

I always like thecelt's stuff, but this time wasn't so great.

I pretty much had the story told myself by the end of the first paragraph. I was laying odds on the outcome to myself and the one we got was my most likely guess.

So, yes, it was a bit of a foregone conclusion. And when the reader is distracted enough to have those kinds of thoughts, then maybe the story just isn't working or perhaps it is just too predictable to be enjoyable.

Just Great

Loved it. Too few like this these days. Sometimes it so easy to forget what really counts in this world. Keep writing.

Police phone in a death report???

The police phone in a death report?

Thought provoking

...But not up to thecelt's usual high standards. As it began and as I read on, I was reminded of the quote from Omar Khayyam's The Rubaiyat, which I learned some 60 years ago.
"The moving Finger writes, and having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it."

In today's language: what's done, is done.

A

very moving story from one of the best authors on this site.

The way I see it is that Phillip should

fuck the client or his boss. Who the hell are they to come alone and ruin what is a special time with their money crap that was probably no more than a client stroking his own pathetic little ego...Why didn't Phillip stand up, he acted like a wimp, licking the client and boss's ass for them. I say she should have completed the fuck...

Good Story!

I enjoyed this story. It was another good one from the Celt!

An emotion filled story.

I think we all pretty much saw the direction your story was going to take BUT we usually have a good idea with every story. This one was very emotional because it has happened to every one of us. We really didn't do anything to deserve what happened to us but in that small amount of time our lives change drastically.

I think it is an awesome story Celt. I really enjoy your Consequences stories too.

ho hum

the most boring piece of drivel..I keep hoping you would write..but alas the moron in you has come out once again

evocative story

No doubt, thecelt telegraphed the ending from the start, and maybe he did try a little too hard to manipulate our emotions, but it's still a good, thought-provoking story. Perhaps not quite his best, but still better than 95 percent of the crap that gets posted on here lately. I like the way he has the wife moving through the house as though the husband was there and he does a nice job of creating an underlying sense of impending doom. I did find a couple of things that were a little out of place that other commenters have noted. The phone call by the police informing the wife of her husband's death and the fact that Phillip should have been more assertive toward his boss on the change of plans. But overall another solid effort by one of the site's best writers.

Great to see another Celt Story

I have been lacking reading material lately! Yep it is a story which is very predictable and has been done before except for the stand-in not getting it out of his pants.
But it is well written with feeling. Sounds very true to life. Thanks.

Sad, but Good.

I love this type of sad story. And it shows how a lack of communication can in this case really kill a relationship.
keep on writing Celt. Someone has to write good stories on this site. I keep trying but never get there.

What I have come to expect from thecelt

Sensitive and indeed evocative narrative. Mindlessness could at times translate to the ultimate price we may have to pay in life. The lesson of the importance of living mindfully, not giving in to pettiness is tragically conveyed in this story, but applies to all aspects of our lives. Doing it without going overboard isn’t an easy task, and thecelt fulfills it – so it seems – effortlessly.

It's sad really.

The last excercise Philip got was jumping to conclusions. Seriously, it should have been apparent by his wife's highly intoxicated state that something wasn't quite right. Ah well, we'll miss good old whatshisname. HAHA

A Pox

on all the "Naysayers" in these responses, who, so readily, forget those moments in their own petty lives when they have not been able to "toe the spot" or "step up to the mark" in their relationships with the most significant others in their lives. They should look within their own histories before they peck away at such an excellent effort to encourage us to look at the reality of what we can lose in just a moment of time - a moment which expresses no importance, until viewed with the 100% wisdom of hindsight. Celt, you have done many of us a real service with these words; thank you!!!

Better than most here!

... but not up to your usual standard. In my opinion you telegraphed your punch way too early. Also, I didn't develop much of an emotional tie with the narrator (wife) nor with the husband. This, for me, is very unusual for a "thecelt" story. I didn't have a feel for them as to why she would fly off the handle at him, nor why he didn't just say no. I thought you did a fine job giving the anguish of not being able to have that last moment before death of her husband. I also wondered about how her best friend and husband fared after this episode.
Regards to the author and keep writing!

How tense relationships are?

I am from India, where marriage is a sacred institution and "divorce" is still a taboo. And even with that kind of background, this story is hard to digest.

It simply speaks of the tension in relationships. Whom do you love more? Your kids or your wife? And suppose your kid fails in his exam, what do you do? Simply dump him or her and take suicidal action? And if you do not do so, why you'd do what Phil did after he saw the scene. It's all about possesiveness in relationships. A possesiveness and narrowness of mind that is deeply injurious. It is a sad story with pathetic characters and there is absolutely no message in it, except that one must pause to think before initiating any action.

The stories can be sad, but not pathetic. And unfortunately this story is the one.

Superb

Celt: Once again you have raised the literary standard of Literotica. Wish you would contribute more frequently!

One minor point -- and I have noticed this in some of your other stories but always attributed it to poor editing -- the objective of a preposition is in the objective case. Consider the following, spoken by the wife:

“That was my usual time to start dinner for Phillip and I.”

Of course, this is speech and might actually be employed to reflect the grammatical patterns of the wife; or, she might have thought that using “I” gave a touch of elegance to her utterance. In any event, mine is a minor quibble and does not at all diminish my admiration for your skill.

I re-read it

The story says he died in a car ACCIDENT, it does not necessarily mean suicide. He could have just been distracted with his thinking and made a bad move. Could have been his time here was just up. Maybe the message is we should live each day and treat others as though this was the last time you may ever see them? It would make us more tolerant and thoughtful before we did something to hurt someone? Yeah, I would have had to kick old Charles' ass, but then I'm an old Southern boy. But then, what do you do with her? Can't kick her ass too............Pop taught us to never lay a hand on a woman unless it was self defense. Then use as little force as necessary to get the job done. Difficult situation to be in.
PS, I like Enya too

A Solid Work on A What If Pride & Anger Issue

KUDO's Author - you write of life and its consequences so well and so true to it.

I hear the hollow Tuesday evening quarterbacking and wonder if they weren't so busy trying to find something to pick upon that they missed the point you made so well.

Anyone with an I.Q. above a carrot would realize at some point that he was gone but were they sure forever. After finishing the story they were but thats like watching the game films.

The expediency of the police call meant obviated another paragraph that some wanted to wallow in. And the accident may have been a meteorite that he directed to a certain place just to make it look accidental. Sharpen your picks lone ones - surely there must have been more to deflate.

Author - your talent is appreciated, your stories within a story are appreciated by the 99.9% -- plus you are anticipated and looked forward to by the 99.99%.

With Very High Regard

Excellent

Well done my friend, I have not frequented Lit for quite some time. Thank you for writing.

OUTSTANDING!

Enuff Said!

Decent but Celt has done better

Its a good read but somethings I did not get. Like why didnt the Wife try and call him after the Husband took off?

the police notifying her as to his death by Phone is silly....

lastly the wife is clearly LYING and in a big way. Her assertions that sh would of NOT fucked Charles is BS.

First the WIFE says she was so drunk she could stand

she says she has no idea how they got upstairs to the bedroom

she says she has no idea why she returned the neighbor's kiss....

but she KNOWS she would of NOT fucked Charles? does anyone REALLY believe that?

and Lastly... how does a wife go on and on about how she loved her husband of 25 years but when an emergency comes up at work that threatens their entire livlihood ...she gets so god dam angry she reacts that way?

rather lame, sorry

.

Hated it!

Are you kidding me? I didn't come here to be depressed. I came for a break from reality. If I wanted to read a tragedy I would have checked one out from the library.

Well "I" Liked it!

I really did! Was it perfect? No, but at least there won't be some lame ass attempt at an ill-fitting reconciliation. Too bad the poor bugger had to die though, aw well as I said nothing is perfect! This is Martyr2002 in Canada, who has forgotten his password. Oh well that's what I get for letting the browser manage everything!

yea!

although im bummed that phil died, that bitch got what she deserved. what a fucking waste of life. dont get married or date seriously if youre gonna cheat.

well?

she lost? what about hm? well? bitch!

its not what it looks like

this phrase uttered here, even in a reality based situation, sometimes is a correct statement, if its permitted to be explained. this time the circumstances and what he saw made it a no win situation for her. she is comfortable financially, in all probability, but that only goes so far. Now, time to make the best of the situation.

Kind of a warning to others.

Your job is not more important than your family.
The husband was more to blame for this than she was.
A pity she is left with the guilt, much of it undeserved. Yes, she did something she should not have. She put herself in a situation she did not belong in.
But he chose his job over his wife. An anniversary is NOT a minor thing. His boss should have understood. And he should have stood up to his boss.
Hopefully she put this behind her and moved on to a better man.

Great Story, as Usual

But, what a fucking buzzkill.

Sadly Despondent

It went for the quick. And I can dig that, however, as much as the story was intended, it would have been better to build it up some. Like fleshing out both characters. The husband dies...Big deal. I didn't know him well. The wife suffers through a blunder of misconception and pays for it through never ending guilt. Again, so what?

What I'm saying, the story as well written as it was didn't come up and thump me where it counts. Although the premise was good, the plot didn't go far enough.

Killed off the wrong person

She could have at the least put a 45 to her head and pull the trigger

Baron Screwtape thinks that because the guy MISSED AN ANNIVERSARY he DESERVED to be cheated on and that she shouldn't feel guilty because he died in the aftermath. Ladies and Gentlement, this is indeed how Screwtape wants you to think - so you can end up with your soul sucked out like the woman in the story.

Priorities are seldom easy -

We all make decisions every day based on priorities - sometimes sacrifice in your personal life are required - Baron - it looked like Phil must have shorted the time with the client and the boss to be home so quickly - he seems to have managed to balance the demands of his boss with those of his wife -

And got the rude surprise and dead shortly thereafter -

It also seems like and excellent reason to avoid letting the day be more important than the occasion - if you work to make the occasion special it can happen on a day of your choosing. Just my 2 cents

Sad Read!

Thanks for the read.

TitusLucretius..

.. should never marry a human, as (s)he is already married to the job.

And it needs to learn to read.

I did not say he deserved to die. Nor did I say she was innocent.

But...

The jackass blows off his anniversary like it is nothing, and then runs off like a cowardly little shit (a common theme in LW) instead of sticking around to hash things out. Amusingly, he would have survived if he had the balls to stick around and talk to his wife. So no, he did not deserve to die... but she should not endure a lifetime of guilt over such a weak man who obviously cared less for her than his work.

So yes, she should never have let another man into her home for a drink... that always ends badly as alcohol + anger = bad decisions. But all that is a given. It does not take away from the fact that her husband was already more in love with his job than her, and a chickenshit besides.

Not A Man

Phil needed to take care of Charles but No - he is self centered, selfish and with no self esteem (others control his motivation) he walks out on 24 years of what he knows damn well - a good woman.

I'm a guy but I have no use for these kind of assholes. He took 24 years of her life - Not A MAN!!!

Anoher sad story

Just a moment in time, a misunderstanding, an unexpected possible indiscretion that wasn't, was enough to ruin lives and end a life and a future together that they both deserved, Again, just sad.

wow 2nd thought you sound just like a woman

what would have been next, she got so mad and almost fucked the milk man. shit it was saying the wrong shit that put them where they were at. what's next if the husband disagrees with his wife, he an asshole, why because he has balls. takes your's back man....have some pride. 5 stars

Good story

Just goes to show you what a moments indescretion can bring.
IF this were real life, I could see the husband walking out like that. It doesn't mean he was abandoning her, just that he had to get some distance. If he stayed, in his anger he could have said things that did more damage to their relationship.
The point of the story isn't that the husband abandoned her, it's that, in that one moment where he walked in, she was ABOUT to stop Charlie. If Hubbie had been a few minutes earlier, it would have been awkward. If he was a minute later it would have been awkward. But it wouldn't have been what it looked like it was.
That one moment made the difference.

Good story

Good story. It was sad to see the husband die.

Great story!! *****

This story was very well done! 5 stars!!


To Ms 2ndthoughts:

Sooo.. does he forgive her... or does he "take care of" the lover?

No self esteem? How does deciding not to go to jail = a lack of self esteem?

He walks out on 24 years of a good woman because her mouth is mere inches from another mans cock. Thats a good reason.

A DAMN GOOD REASON
Staying and doing nothing would make him not a man, not leaving.

Valundar and Huedog

I really shouldn't have to explain myself, in fact - I didn't receive any E-Mail from either of you so - A Real Man would not have loudly announced himself by raising his voice and asking what was going on.

A Real Man would have walked in, blocked the doorway and demanded an explanation, maybe how long has this been going on and/or does someone want to explain this befopre I lose my temper? Why, because he had 24 trusting years and the scene in front opf him did not match up with what he knew how his marriage existed.

Noone trusts and believes in someone for 24 years and despite initial bad appearance just loses his demeaner and runs...Not Likely so...Not much of a man, run, assume the worst without verifying and then carelessly allow himself to be somewhere where he ended up dead...instead of being home?

Note, after 24 years and knowing his business, she was incinsiderate with her attitude and conduct but only a slight bit of that character should have had any influence.

Again, I was critical (BTW - it's a story and by a very good author) but he over reacted like a hurt sissy teenager and I was led to believe that as a upper management for his bank that he would have been a great deal more confidant in his social abillity, his relationships, his work AND his wife!!!

Finally, she was out of line but she was hurt, a little angry and a little tipsy and good old neighbor took advantage of that. Would she have stopped his advances...I think so - 24 years meant something to her. Hubby, a little immature - Not A Man!!!

Oh - Celt, Thanks for a quick short read!

Karma

is a bitch for her. After reading some of the other comments, I'll put in my two cents worth. He had a split second to decide what to do. I sure hope most of you don't have to make any, cause you will fuck yourself over. The first time I made a split second decision, it cost me jail time for assault and a law suit for medical bills and only temporary satisfaction. So when years later I caught my wife cheating, I did like Phil and got the fuck out of there. Jail is not fun. Did I get revenge on both of them? You betcha. He ended up on a short leash when his wife found out, she didn't divorce him because she is in very ill health. He lost his position as deacon in the church and most of his friends. His vacation house burned to the ground but I have no idea how that happened. My ex had to move out of town, taking a much lower paying job, she just had her car repossessed, our three children refuse to have anything to do with her and she has used up almost all of her retirement funds just to keep going.
Revenge is best served cold and keeps your ass out of jail too.

Great Cautionary tale

When we take the safeties out of our lives we risk getting shot. Being alone with a member of the opposite sex, drinking alcohol together, nothing to stop you from having sex.

sad but true

women on average move on from a dead mate before the bodies even cold and they punish by sex.