43 Comments
User's avatar
Bram E. Gieben's avatar

God Ray, that last passage. Absolute gut punch. Fantastic writing

Expand full comment
William Dean Thurmond's avatar

That’s not writing…it’s a serious insight. I can’t wait to read your first novel.

Expand full comment
Ray Downs's avatar

It's coming

Expand full comment
William Dean Thurmond's avatar

Good. Maybe a pop-up illustration for “Big Frank?”

Expand full comment
Candice's avatar

You nailed it with the getting out of prison. Happens all the time.

Expand full comment
Trevor Kuether's avatar

The scariest short story I've read in some time.

Expand full comment
Michael Arturo's avatar

Good writing, great title, fucking nightmare life. Enjoyed it, Ray.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Goodall's avatar

Oh damn I really liked this one. The whole way his brain just unravels and spitballs. Soo good!

Expand full comment
Sudana Krasniqi's avatar

Man that last passage took the wind outta me, great writing Ray

Expand full comment
Ray Downs's avatar

🙏

Expand full comment
Adam Brown's avatar

That was hilarious! Many thanks. You're a talent.

Expand full comment
Stephan Cook's avatar

Good story. I can relate Boys mature very very late in life as we don’t have to face reality like young women. It’s a sad fact but a fact. Why we need to give women a huge thanks. This story is thousands of years old.

Expand full comment
carmen's avatar

found myself smiling then had my hand covering my mouth as it all unraveled. absolutely beautiful.

Expand full comment
Jeanne S's avatar

You sure can write Ray.

Expand full comment
Ray Downs's avatar

Only way to keep sane!

Expand full comment
Prince Kudu’Ra's avatar

Sheesh.

Expand full comment
ava's avatar

Fantastic. What a way to start the day.

Expand full comment
Judith Duportail's avatar

Poor Mona. People hyping themselves on being the savior for the ego high.

Expand full comment
Reena Kapoor's avatar

Read it - and made me get inside the head of a teenage boy in America from "back then". I wondered if he ever found out what happened to her years later... there was a sad undertone to it obviously -- that came through for me.

Expand full comment
ARC's avatar

Fun story. Good decision.

Expand full comment