At What Cost Friendship

Interesting story-- but the ending ...JENNY?

This is one of this author's betetr stories. There are alot of aspects to consider.

SOME readers will equate Lesley seeing BILl in secret and seeing John openly as Equal to John in High school mistreating Lesely. The Two incidents are NOT equal.

First the Two events were several years apart. Once Lesley agreed to start going out with John and see how much he had grown and matured she was in a NEW relationship.

Second Its clear Lesley was seriously dating Bill... the other guy. The ONLY reason she started seeing John was the Bill was out of the country. Thats OK as long as Lesley was up front about it with John.

the other woman in Johns's life...Julie... whom he was planning to marry is an awful person. She only saw a threat to her from lesley.

Lesely did NOT need help moving her furniture or with plumbing. She was being beaten DAILY... and could of been beaten to death. Yet Julie's #1 concern was Julie.

It is a GOOD thing John did NOT marry Julie. Finally I am not sure I see why John is now dating Jenny. Seems to me... he needs a Fresh start.

This guy is an idiot.

What he calls love is just lust. Lesley at best was a slut good ridance. Julie was right in all regards. He had no business helping her. Jenny was wrong to involve him and Julie was right in saying he should not interfer. And to suddenly jump into a relationship with Jenny is just plain stupid. Wonder if that one last more than six months. As I started out this guy is a stupid asshole, nothing good there.

Hello Woodman

Interesting story as always. But the friendship with Jenny? not sure about that one. But keep the stories coming.

This is a He-man, hero type story

This is very definitely NOT another wimp story!! This guy is the equivalent of Gary Cooper or John Wayne of Hollywood movies. He should be the standard Man go by and Women admire. So now, Woodmanone, you've got a hero you can use as a template for some of your future tales. Where do these stories take place? I'd assume this one occurred, in your mind, in Arizona. The choice of Jenny as his [now] new girlfriend seemed inevitable. RAG

Heaven help me

For once I agree with Harry completely! With the exception of giving Jenny a try I think this is a great story. I think it's time for him to get away from all the women in his past and start over.

Good story even though it didn't have any sex in

Well writen and totally believable. It seemed to me that this guy needs a break when it comes to women he falls in love with. I guess it was really good luck that he didn't marry Julie. She is so self-concerned that she hasn't any compassion for anyone other than herself.Thanks for the good story..............Rich

A good read

The intriguing question for me was whether Julie was correct in breaking off with John. I concluded that her position was indeed valid: John did have some residual feelings for Lesley and it was completely Julie's call as to whether that risk was acceptable or not.

John risked his livelihood, his fortune and his very freedom, to help his former lover. While his actions were commendable, they were also reckless. John exhibited the same recklessness when he gave consideration to establishing a relationship with Lesley's sister Jenny.

Is that town so small, and available single women so few that Jenny should become John's best candidate for a love interest? John needs therapy, and pronto.

Thanks for a very thought provoking read.

TE Ross NO Julie was playing a GAME

Nice try TE Ross... but Julie IS a shallow self centered bitch. You see there IS a way Julie COULD of allowed John to help Lesely BUT also keep him away from Lesley.

Julie should of Gone with John to see Lesley. This would of

1) presented Lesley with a UNITED front of Julie and John together and sent a clear message... He is mine.

2) Julie would see that Lesely WAS in fact being BEATEN.

3) John was NOT making this up as part of some sort of scheme.

But if Julie does that then and Julie STILL says "NO way you cant help her John "... then Julie looks like a Bigger god dman cunt than she really is.

so by NOT seeing the FACTS and REALITY for herself Julie can keep up facade of being reasonable.

As I see it

Well that was soo high school !!

Harry, I disagree. Julie is correct.

Harry, I have to respectfully disagree with your assessment of Julie. She was John's finance, not his wife; and as such her obligations to him are much more limited. There were a multitude of ways that help could have been provided Lesley without such a high price being extracted.

We have a very sophisticated system of justice that includes law enforcement agencies that deal with the problem of spousal abuse every day. And while the failures of the system make their way into the media, the successes are never reported. As a citizen, your first responsibility is to alert law enforcement. Vigilantism is only to be used as a last resort.

Julie was under no obligation to support John in both an illegal and reckless act. She was not his wife. And even if she were his wife, how far does her obligation to him extend if he were to say, kill Lesley's lover? While John was correct in going to her first, it was Julie's choice to accept the risk to her future that John's acts entailed. It was her choice and not her obligation.

What game do you claim that Julie was playing? Certainly she was jealous of Lesley. Why wouldn't she be? Her finance says he is willing to risk it all on an ex-girlfriend that he no longer has feelings for. Who would believe that statement by John? Were the situation reversed, and Julie was acting to risk it all for an ex-boyfriend would John be right in saying that she still had feelings for her ex? Of course he would!

If you believe that John did not have divided loyalties, that Lesley was just someone he wanted to help, then what should Julie expect of John in the future? Should she worry that he will eventually risk his freedom in support of another mere acquaintance? Should she worry that he has some hero complex? And when is Julie to be the most important person in John's life?

Julie's was a very mature response. She is under no obligation to share her man with anyone, regardless of her man's statements.

And yes, self preservation is by definition selfish. Last I heard, we all have the right to be selfish. Without casting aspersions on woodmanone's story, I could would have liked to have seen a different plot line.

What if, after having been informed by John of his intentions, Julie had called the police and interceded to have them help Lesley, and shortly after she still broke off her engagement with John? How would you feel about her then? Is your objection to Julie based upon her not acting (directly or indirectly) to help Lesley? Now suppose she did and still split with John because of the same reasoning she had about him and Lesley. How do you view Julie then?

The idea that the narrator, the hero in these stories, can do anything he damn well pleases and that his womenfolk should merely follow along, defies all logic.

Fine Story

Like most everything this author has posted. Certainly neither he or Jenny have to hook up but it was a possibility from the previous encounters, but I do not fee he should be in a hurry....

Interesting story, needs better editing . . .

The story was interesting but there were quite a few instances in the story where a little proof-reading could have made it much more readable. I can't see why John didn't just call the police to help his former friend Leslie. Frankly, why didn't Jenny go to the police on Leslie's behalf? Just as well to find out about Julie -- she is correct to be concerned but wrong to be jealous of Leslie. Leslie was not a threat to her relationship with John -- can she really be that insecure? The fact that John fixed Julie's car and then took her home shows he likes playing the hero, he gets something out of doing good deeds. Suppose John had had a girlfriend and did his unselfish deed for Julie, should his girlfriend have been upset and/or jealous to the point that John is to never speak to a woman (other than strictly for business purposes)? He has a generous soul and maybe it is a character flaw in today's world but maybe it is also a good quality. Suppose John were a police officer, or former officer, and he was really just trying to help an old friend? Would it then be OK? Julie's father did not seem to feel John was doing anything to hurt Julie. If Julie really loved John she would understand the idea of selfless courage and sacrifice and would have gotten involved to help Leslie along with him -- she could have gone to the bar and been the lookout, or called the police for him when Bill would inevitably attack John. If John were trying to become friends again with Leslie, that's one thing, but it was nothing of the sort. Better John learned that Julie was this way before he got married to her . . .

TE Ross got it right

First, I enjoyed your story. However, when it came to it issue of Julie I thought it became a little two dimensional. I do not understand why the hero had to set up the brawl. There was more than enough to put her abuser into jail w/o it. Also, Ross is correct that the engagement period is not like a marriage. During that time, if your intended shows character flaws that make you reconsider, you should do so. Julie did have a mature response. As a writer you may have been able to come up with more options for her, where she could assist Leslie but still protect her own. I thought Jenny was a mistake. She willingly double dated with her friend, even though she knew she wsa two-timing him. I think that he is in for more trouble down the line. Thanks for your story! Ttom

Pretty Good

This story portrayed a normal American male today. Screw for the fun of it when young, without any responsibility for the heartache caused. Then he falls in love after growing up a little, but demands perfection from his women now. He wants Julie to understand his personal desire to assist the woman he once loved in her need. Yet, he still does not want Lesley because she lied to him when he loved her back when. Julie refuses to accept his acting the gallant knight he thinks himself as. Jenny helped betray him with Lesley but is his new squeeze because he either did not want, or did not get the other two... Whew! Confusing! Sounds like a very self-centered, really not very loving, prideful, self-serving male with a hero-complex to me! Did I mention he was probably very sensitive to everyone else's feelings and thoughts as he went through life? Sorry for being a smartass...Interesting story!

Not one of your better stories!

The characters all seemed to be sixteen years old.

great story

This was a fun story. I loved the down to earth hero, the friends, and all the little twists and turns. Well done.

A question Popped into my mind...

I read this story a few weeks ago and have pondered it off and on since. Remember how John had changed and grew up from the beginning of the story and asked Leslie to give him another chance after his return from his traveling? Don't you think Leslie hasn't grown up and would never deceive John ever again? Isn't it quite hypocritical for John not to at least give Leslie another chance? After all, he grew up by going through tough times, why wouldn't the same be true for Leslie? John still has feelings for her, or he would not have helped her get free from the abusive boyfriend.

I HATE MEN THAT HIT WOMEN THERE COWARDS . HE SHOULD GAVE LESLEY ANOTHER CHANCE SHE NEVER CHEATED LIED YEAH

GOOD STORY

I ENJOYED YOUR STORY AND FOR ONCE THE MAN WAS A MAN. MAYBE NOT THE DRINKING IN HIS BEER; BUT TO MARRY SOMEONE WHO LIES IS LOOKING FOR TROUBLE. JULIE WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER MISTAKE AND WHO EVER MARRIES HER WILL PAY PLENTY FOR IT. IF SHE HAD DOUBTS SHE SHOULD HAVE CHECK UP OR AT LEAST MET WITH LESLIE TO VERIFY AND SEE IF SHE WOULD STILL HAVE THAT ATTITUDE.

crappy

terrible story someone needs life experience.

Great tale

And so was she!! LOL

Well done Well done!

Losing a fiancee that doesn't trust you is not much of a loss.

John did the right thing by helping out a woman in distress. If the fiancee finds fault in this, well... it is her loss.

And Yes, Life Goes On.

Very good story

I liked how John keeps his balance throughout the story.

Lesley deserved to be dumped. She was dating an old boyfriend, breaking dates with John, and lying about the whole thing. No thanks.

Re:Julie: Julie states that she would have NO objection if John was going to help out a friend. It was the fact that Lesley was an old girlfriend that she objected to. These are Julie's own words. So she doesn't trust John. plain and simple. It's not because the plan is risky. It's because it's to help Lesley. John didn't try to do it behind her back. He was upfront and reassuring about it. She is being overly jealous. Even after when it's over and Lesley is basically out of the scene, Julie is still unwilling to accept that John wasn't still in love with Lesley. Again, Julie's words. Julie is a very jealous woman. Even so, John didn't dump her. Julie dumps him. Good riddance.

As to the choice of baiting Bill into a fight, I can easily accept that as part of the story. People often get personally involved in helping friends, even if it might be better to take other, perhaps more legal, actions. And in this case, if Lesley simply charged Bill he would still be out and about and she would be in danger. Eventually he might end up in jail but not right away. John's approach got Bill into serious legal problems and kept him in jail and Lesley safe. The law DOES have some successes but it also has big failures, especially around domestic violence cases. You never know which way it's going to go. John was pretty gutsy to set Bill up.

Also, as to being a difference between a fiancée and a wife. Bullshit. Marriage does not create a relationship. It is a formal acknowledgment, a declaration, of a mature relationship that already exists. If they are about to be married and Julie isn't willing to stand by John, marriage wouldn't have magically made it any different. This is the same stupidity as someone who is engaged saying they are going to have one last fling before they are married and "have to be faithful". If they are at the point of planning to be married and can't remain faithful by respect for their partner then they are already in trouble and marriage won't make them any more faithful. If Julie the fiancée won't stand by John, Julie the wife wouldn't be any better.

BUT GOD, WHY JENNY? There are only 3 eligible women in this town?

I suppose it is a well written story.

However, there was so much stuff, the story seems fake. Therefore, I didn't enjoy it.

WHAT ONE WANTS

the forest for the trees, as plain as the nose on ones face, open your eyes. TK U MLJ LV NV

Really tired of main male character drunks.

It's too easy a literary device to have the guy drinking at all occasions. I agree that the characters drawn were very immature. That degraded the story. Making the lead a supposedly macho woman protector was lame, as others have explained that the simplistic vigilantism was not realistic.
Other elements of the story were okay since they are the creation of the author.

Thank you

That was a good read Woodman. I really enjoyed it. To digress: jasonnh ... that was the most beautiful comment about marriage and relationships.....also Woodman, I really love your house. TTFN Jim

Sort Of A Mini-Novel

I liked it, except for the excessive drinking.

I don't know

He broke up with Leslie for lying to him; but I can't help but think he lied to get into her panties so what's the difference? She didn't sleep with bill.... His finance is a insecure bitch! He should be praying up to the heavens that he didn't marry her instead of drinking his life away. She seems like the type he'd need an iron clad pre-nup with. She should be proud that he wanted to help a woman get away from her abusive boyfriend instead she calls of their wedding. At least he talked to her about it he didn't have to tell her shit! The marriage wouldn't have last she would've taken him to the cleaners.

What makes a short story Worthy?

What makes a story worth writing? If continued reviews are a measure then "At What Cost Friendship" measures up through the years. I just read for the first time and commend Woodman on this early posting. Life isn't always a bed of roses or screwing every other paragraph. LOL. And every reviewer proves that 'typos' Happen so can't beat an e-pubed author for weak editing. Interesting how Harry and Jason can over analyze 'what already IS' when Ross and i see it for what it is - a temporary diversion for those of us with nothing better to do with our time but read and relax ... and encourage writers to do what WE can't, or won't attempt to achieve.

Woody, all your stories are more than Worthy and Entertaining. You continue to prove to be Thought Provoking. Do you suppose your high school teachers realized the impact they might have on just this one single student.s future.

GOOD WORK.

What an idiot

He should have convinced her to go to the police. That's the right thing to do. All this bullshit was stupid and dangerous. Julie was well rid of that fool.

I agree with solotoro

he was a dumb ass, why risk you life over a whore that fucked you over?

#2 AFTER THE BREAK-UP

life goes on just like before, TK U MLJ LV NV

Huecuck, the admitted cuck, asks

a question that has no answer, thank god there is an admitted cuck around to pose rhetorical questions.

Why did you bother writing this?

Interesting Choices

John did a lot of different things. Its unrealistic that things would work out the way they did but that's why it is fiction. Good read anyway.

traitor

gobbling a fat cock, his pooper took the meaty one, betrayed!

#3 SOMETIMES YOU DONT SHOOT THE MESSENGER

your fall in love and marry them, TK U MLJ LV NV

I know it is just a story, I want to point out one thing...

Even if this thing with Lesley had not come up he probably have not made it with Julie, would have just wasted how ever many years for her true personality to come up. With his luck with women it is a surprise that he stayed straight, LOL. I guess he just got paid back for being a big-time player early in life. Good story.

I liked the guy, liked the story

I sort of knew he'd end up with Jenny. I felt bad about Julie though; she had a point. I found a couple insignificant errors, but they didn't interrupt the story. I'm glad I read it. Of course if was a five. Keep writing.

Huh?

Very interesting story but really freakin stupid main character. Main character has to be an idiot to go through the actions he did. His idiocy killed it a little for me.

Quite liked it...

...not much more to say then that. Ok, one thing to say. Was good that the Julie relationship blew up BEFORE they married because it became evident that it would have eventually no matter what 'our hero' did.

Very Entertaining Story****

Thanks for sharing I liked the twists and turns in the story very different.

Very Entertaining****

Good read. A lot of twists and turns. Thanks for sharing.

Great Writing

Good story, great writing, thanks!

good writing but stupid story

Why put everything at risk for someone who fucked you over. You guys didn't have kids, you were never married. Let's ask the real question, If Billy asked Les to help him what would have John said. I can answer that....hum "fuck no" and that BS about telling him the truth about Bill, yeah right. Gave it a 3.

Julie

Julie was the one in the right.
He could have made her part of it.
She was an ex lover,with his personality if the roles had been reversed he would have said the same thing to her.
Still all's well that ends well.

Julie, take 2

Julie said that John acting to save Lesley told her about John.

Julie being opposed to helping an abused woman says things about Julies character as well, things that are not good but better to find out before marrying her.

Thank you

I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't a 'Hollywood' story, with some depth, some moral ambiguity, and tension. The fact there was a bit of action also helped.

One gets tired of these main characters who don't need a bridge to cross a river, they can just walk. Perfect men who all are utterly devoted, pack serious wood, good providers...who are all these things...and yet their wives cheat on them.

This main character, in contrast, felt more real. He was a snot in the beginning...and he grew. It would have been nice to see Julie perhaps conflicted over this. She made a decision which worked for her, but considering even her dad was not on her side, a bit of self reflection on her part would have been natural...unless she had a history not outlined.

These are quibbles. I had read this before but hadn't commented. A trifle dry, but compared to most of the fodder here, this was a delight to read.

FD45