Hooked me from the beginning with the backstory that could never be fully shared and the ominous setting of the derelict church. Old Sammy Boy is a powerful symbol for evil, or maybe for good. He could be seen either way I guess. I was happily surprised at the ending and the symbolism of the empty cross. Well done, Brian
Thank you for reading and commenting, Jim! Old Sammy Boy, at least in my mind, is definitely a force for evil. He's the personification of those dark temptations that try to get us to become destructive instead of renewers and redeemers.
Yes, evil. My thought was that his influence may have had the opposite effect on the main character but upon re-reading, perhaps not. In any case, you have created a thought-provoking piece here--the hallmark of good writing.
Ah yes, that's a great insight because it did actually have the opposite effect. Not to get too theological, but Old Sammy Boy made a mistake, and I was conscious of it while writing, which is he pointed to the cross. That put something else into the mind of the protagonist, so it did actually have the opposite effect. If you've ever read C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, there is a lot of that kind of dynamic between the forces of good and evil and how it impacts humanity. Thanks for your kind words, Jim.
Hooked me from the beginning with the backstory that could never be fully shared and the ominous setting of the derelict church. Old Sammy Boy is a powerful symbol for evil, or maybe for good. He could be seen either way I guess. I was happily surprised at the ending and the symbolism of the empty cross. Well done, Brian
Thank you for reading and commenting, Jim! Old Sammy Boy, at least in my mind, is definitely a force for evil. He's the personification of those dark temptations that try to get us to become destructive instead of renewers and redeemers.
Yes, evil. My thought was that his influence may have had the opposite effect on the main character but upon re-reading, perhaps not. In any case, you have created a thought-provoking piece here--the hallmark of good writing.
Ah yes, that's a great insight because it did actually have the opposite effect. Not to get too theological, but Old Sammy Boy made a mistake, and I was conscious of it while writing, which is he pointed to the cross. That put something else into the mind of the protagonist, so it did actually have the opposite effect. If you've ever read C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, there is a lot of that kind of dynamic between the forces of good and evil and how it impacts humanity. Thanks for your kind words, Jim.
I really enjoyed this story, Brian.
Thank you, James!
What a first paragraph. I wonder if Sammy Boy comes up to each of us wearing a different face...
Thank you, Devon! That's a great observation about Sammy Boy. It would not surprise me.