My Friend Across the Fence
The hardest lesson I've ever learned33 total reviews
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
Your story is a powerful account of how society acts towards those who are different and how you didn't understand what you came to understand later about your friend, Frankie. You told it well, though poignant. The reconnection meant much to him and even to you though at the time you may have thought differently. Best wishes.
Respectfully, Jan
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Your story is a powerful account of how society acts towards those who are different and how you didn't understand what you came to understand later about your friend, Frankie. You told it well, though poignant. The reconnection meant much to him and even to you though at the time you may have thought differently. Best wishes.
Respectfully, Jan
Comment Written 13-Jul-2021
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Hello Jan, thanks so much for your review and your excellent comments. You caught the gist of the message I was trying to convey here.
Comment from Begin Again
Good morning!
Your story touched me. I have a young teenage granddaughter who has been in and out of the hospital the last few weeks because she is struggling with who she is and her immediate family is as well. She's tried to end it twice... It's so sad to have a beautiful young girl to facing something so difficult and far beyond her realm of life.
I loved the ending and how you came to terms with your friend... being just that... your friend. There shouldn't be any other labels, and we should all love the person for who they are and not what we think they should be.
Thank you for sharing!
Oh, by the way.... Your name attracted me immediately. Long ago, I wrote a story about Justin Case... It made me smile.
Have a great day! Sending you a smile, Carol
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Good morning!
Your story touched me. I have a young teenage granddaughter who has been in and out of the hospital the last few weeks because she is struggling with who she is and her immediate family is as well. She's tried to end it twice... It's so sad to have a beautiful young girl to facing something so difficult and far beyond her realm of life.
I loved the ending and how you came to terms with your friend... being just that... your friend. There shouldn't be any other labels, and we should all love the person for who they are and not what we think they should be.
Thank you for sharing!
Oh, by the way.... Your name attracted me immediately. Long ago, I wrote a story about Justin Case... It made me smile.
Have a great day! Sending you a smile, Carol
Comment Written 13-Jul-2021
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Hi Begin Again (that's what I'm trying to do too. Begin again) Thanks so much for your review and comments. And I do appreciate that 6-star rating. It is very encouraging. Take care!
Comment from Cogitator
To err is human, to forgive, divine. The most significant decision a human can make is to allow the divinity in us to make our decisions. Prejudice is the alternative. Great emotion - great topic - deserving of rereads.
Just John...
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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To err is human, to forgive, divine. The most significant decision a human can make is to allow the divinity in us to make our decisions. Prejudice is the alternative. Great emotion - great topic - deserving of rereads.
Just John...
Comment Written 13-Jul-2021
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Hey there Cog,
I remember you from the last time I was on Fanstory several years ago. Hope all is well. Thanks for your review and comments, and thanks for that 6-star rating. I appreciate your feedback.
Comment from Lana Marie
Wow, that's such a sweet ending to your emotional story. I could feel all the feels from the beginning to the end. The ups and the downs, contemplating and having to muster up enough false negativity to reject your best friend. I'm sorry that you went through that and that your friend passed away. But I'm glad that he left a positive mark in your heart to reach across the fence to others.
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Wow, that's such a sweet ending to your emotional story. I could feel all the feels from the beginning to the end. The ups and the downs, contemplating and having to muster up enough false negativity to reject your best friend. I'm sorry that you went through that and that your friend passed away. But I'm glad that he left a positive mark in your heart to reach across the fence to others.
Comment Written 12-Jul-2021
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Hello Lana,
Thanks so much for reading and reviewing this story, and thank you for your thoughtful comments. You got just what I was trying to convey in this story.
Comment from Alaskastory
"My Friend Across the Fence" is a story so well done. Feelings were amazingly well expressed. I certainly wish the world gets a chance to read it. I'm sure you have given an account that benefits the world. Thanks.
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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"My Friend Across the Fence" is a story so well done. Feelings were amazingly well expressed. I certainly wish the world gets a chance to read it. I'm sure you have given an account that benefits the world. Thanks.
Comment Written 12-Jul-2021
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Hey Alaska (it is my dream to go see Alaska some day), thank you so much for reading and reviewing this story and for your comments. And that six-star rating is very encouraging to me. Thanks for that as well.
Comment from lyenochka
Good to see you back, Erik! Thank you so much for this beautiful, moving post! I wish I still had a six for it. I don't think I could help promote it any higher than it already is.
Today I read LisaMay's post about her high school friend who was secretly gay. And now I read yours and I'm moved by the love and compassion it inspires and I understand the difficulty as a teenager maneuvering the unforgiving, judgmental nature of human society.
It sounds like your friend Frankie was a beautiful person and may his soul be in peace and full acceptance with the Lord.
Minor comment on " I sneaked up into our attic to read it,"
I had to ponder sneaked vs. snuck but American English uses "snuck" more commonly so if you're interested, there's a fun article on it:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/snuck-or-sneaked-which-is-correct
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Good to see you back, Erik! Thank you so much for this beautiful, moving post! I wish I still had a six for it. I don't think I could help promote it any higher than it already is.
Today I read LisaMay's post about her high school friend who was secretly gay. And now I read yours and I'm moved by the love and compassion it inspires and I understand the difficulty as a teenager maneuvering the unforgiving, judgmental nature of human society.
It sounds like your friend Frankie was a beautiful person and may his soul be in peace and full acceptance with the Lord.
Minor comment on " I sneaked up into our attic to read it,"
I had to ponder sneaked vs. snuck but American English uses "snuck" more commonly so if you're interested, there's a fun article on it:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/snuck-or-sneaked-which-is-correct
Comment Written 12-Jul-2021
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Privet Elena,
Thanks so much for your review and comments. I enjoy your writing as well, but you already knew that. Take care!
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It's a rare thing to see you post so I was happy to read your contemplative post! I found that the notification said Erik Heen but this reply came from Justin Tyme so you have two identities here.
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I don't have 2 identities. Just changed my screen name.
Comment from Ric Myworld
I hope that some day we can learn to accept people for all our many similarities and forget those tiny differences. From 5 to 16-years-old, me and my best friend were inseparable. We spent most nights at each others homes, took showers together, wore each other's clothes, fought each other's battles. Then, in our sophomore year he said, "I think it's time I spend time with my own kind." No, and neither of us were gay or queer. He was black, and I'm white. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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I hope that some day we can learn to accept people for all our many similarities and forget those tiny differences. From 5 to 16-years-old, me and my best friend were inseparable. We spent most nights at each others homes, took showers together, wore each other's clothes, fought each other's battles. Then, in our sophomore year he said, "I think it's time I spend time with my own kind." No, and neither of us were gay or queer. He was black, and I'm white. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 12-Jul-2021
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Hey Ric, good to hear from you again. I remember you from when I was on Fanstory years ago. Yes, race is of course another huge social issue we're dealing with these days. It's good to get these things into discussion. Thanks for the review, and thanks also for that exceptional rating. That is very encouraging.
Comment from Jay Squires
You've written a powerful story, Erik. But how could you not know that? Sexual orientation has gone through such unprecedented change over the last 25-30 years. And people who were part of that bubbling crucible were terribly courageous, like Frankie ... and like you for embracing your friend across the fence. I wish you the best of luck in the True Story contest.
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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You've written a powerful story, Erik. But how could you not know that? Sexual orientation has gone through such unprecedented change over the last 25-30 years. And people who were part of that bubbling crucible were terribly courageous, like Frankie ... and like you for embracing your friend across the fence. I wish you the best of luck in the True Story contest.
Comment Written 12-Jul-2021
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Thanks, Jay, for your review and comments on this story. Yes, times have changed with a lot of social areas. Thanks again!
Comment from LovnPeace
Wow, what a wonderful writing. Though I can't accept homosexuality, you are able to cross over and do as the Bible says, condemn the sin, not the sinner. Bravo. I still struggle with that, with all I find offensive. Blessings, Barbara
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Wow, what a wonderful writing. Though I can't accept homosexuality, you are able to cross over and do as the Bible says, condemn the sin, not the sinner. Bravo. I still struggle with that, with all I find offensive. Blessings, Barbara
Comment Written 12-Jul-2021
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Thanks so much Lovn. I guess whatever we think about alternative lifestyles, people are people in the Lord's eyes. And thank you for that exceptional rating. It is much appreciated.
Comment from humpwhistle
I feel like I've just reconnected to a friend, too. Where've you been, you big jerk?
This is a very touching account, Erik, and I imagine in wasn't wasn't all that easy to write. I rarely find the courage to write about most bone-headed blunders. But Frankie was right--it wasn't so much your fault as it was the society that misled us.
Well done, Erik. Good to hear from you again. Peace, Lee
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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I feel like I've just reconnected to a friend, too. Where've you been, you big jerk?
This is a very touching account, Erik, and I imagine in wasn't wasn't all that easy to write. I rarely find the courage to write about most bone-headed blunders. But Frankie was right--it wasn't so much your fault as it was the society that misled us.
Well done, Erik. Good to hear from you again. Peace, Lee
Comment Written 12-Jul-2021
reply by the author on 13-Jul-2021
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Hey old buddy, good to hear from you again. I see you're as prolific as ever and let me know if you're getting anything published. If not, it's long overdue.
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I publish on-line with Page & Spine, but that's about all. I really don't have the drive and patience to pursue more traditional publishing.
What about you? Have you written the Great American Novel during your absence from FS?