Name: shadowkat678 (Signed) · Date: 22 May 2019 04:59 PM · For: Chapter 1

I'm here for a second review. You said you wanted a review on one with no prior review, and this caught my eye.

 

This is a sweet oneshot. Not too much really happens, but it's not really about an exciting tale, but about the characters. 

 

Clark has been alone in his shop for such a long time before Eddie comes along, watching the poorer residents in the area buy parts of other people's lives that were sold after their death or after they start to run out of money. It must be so depressing seeing that, especially around the holidays. You can almost see how detatched he's become though through his interactions. Just being happy this item or that one is finally out of his shop to make room for more. Not bothering to clean the windows because people wouldn't like what they see. The more well off folk would prefer not to look. There almost feels like a hint of shame in the section where he talks about that.

 

Yet when Eddie stops to stare he's so quick to invite him in. I think that says a lot about Clark's character. Clark has so little, just like most who come to his shop, but he's willing to share it with a complete stranger. I'll be honest, I was worried that it might not turn out as well as it did. When I read about an old man dying at first I thought it might be Clark. I'm glad it wasn't.

 

The musings they had together about being able to tell things about a person from what was left behind was also very well done and thoughtful. I've mused on that concept myself. As somene who is a bit of a horder, I often wonder what I own would say about me. Probably that I need to save more money. 

 

Anyway, this was a wonderful story and I wish it had more reads. It deserves it.

Author's Response:

Thank you, Kat, for picking this story and for doing two reviews, not just one.  And thank you for this lovely review.

 

You're right -- this story does not have slam-bang action, but that's how I meant it.  What happens in the story is that Clark, by his uncharacterisic reaching out to Eddie, is changed by Eddie's reaching out to him.  Clark's narrow. lonely world has been steadily getting narrower over the years, and the succees that Eddie has in getting Clark to agree to go to his family's house for Christmas is one small step, but a step in the right direction.  They converse about people dying, and yet Clark is not taking advantage of the life that still exists within him.  The whispered advice is there: "Don't waste what is left of your life."

 

People sometimes ask if the "Orla" mentioned in the final line is Orla Quirke.  Yes, it is.  I always like to tie my stories back to canon, if only at one little spot.  This also gives an idea as to the date when the story occurs.