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End Game

February 19, 2022 28 Comments

By John Holmes

It had become a game.

One played out in absolute silence.

A game without rules.

Every morning, I wrote a note and placed it deep in his lunch box.

A thought, an idea, or a question.

I never missed a day.

He never acknowledged or commented.

I never asked, though I often wondered why.

On my thirtieth birthday, he quietly handed me a beautifully wrapped gift.

A scrapbook, containing every note I’d written to him.

Underneath each one, his inspired responses.

Sketches, poems, quotes, and lines of love.

It had been a game.

His voiceless tactics produced a match winning masterpiece.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Helen C says

    February 19, 2022 at 7:11 am

    That is so beautiful and I loved the last line!

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 19, 2022 at 9:25 am

      Thanks – it was also lovely to write a ‘happy’ 101.

      Reply
  2. Dart Humeston says

    February 19, 2022 at 9:21 am

    Beautiful

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 19, 2022 at 9:26 am

      Thanks – very happy that you enjoyed reading it.

      Reply
  3. Derek says

    February 19, 2022 at 9:46 am

    I enjoyed the story, especially the denouement.

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 19, 2022 at 10:05 am

      Thanks Derek.

      Reply
  4. Geja Hadderingh says

    February 19, 2022 at 9:46 am

    An absolute joy to read this beautiful, short story, and what a perfect last line!

    Reply
  5. John Holmes says

    February 19, 2022 at 10:06 am

    Thanks Geja. Very pleased that you enjoyed it. It was fun to write.

    Reply
  6. Angie says

    February 19, 2022 at 2:28 pm

    A well written story with a beautiful sentiment.

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 27, 2022 at 3:19 am

      Thank you.

      Reply
  7. Emma says

    February 19, 2022 at 3:13 pm

    That was beautiful. Thank you.

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 27, 2022 at 3:26 am

      Thanks.

      Reply
  8. Tom Baldwin says

    February 19, 2022 at 6:44 pm

    A true love story. So uplifting.

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 27, 2022 at 3:20 am

      But, unfortunately not a true story. Almost.

      Reply
  9. Nina says

    February 19, 2022 at 8:02 pm

    So wonderful! What an enjoyable story, thank you!

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 27, 2022 at 3:21 am

      Thanks for the encouraging comment.

      Reply
  10. CJ Harrell says

    February 23, 2022 at 7:24 am

    Beautiful! Though I’d say the speaker was the real hero of the story… writing and sending notes for all those years without any encouragement or reciprocity.

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 27, 2022 at 3:22 am

      Hero – great word.

      Reply
  11. Bob says

    February 23, 2022 at 8:03 am

    I think you structure opens up new possibilities for the genre.

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 27, 2022 at 3:23 am

      Fascinating comment – thanks.

      Reply
  12. Nancy Rule says

    February 23, 2022 at 9:11 pm

    Aww, I hope my kids enjoyed their lunch notes as much as I like writing them. This was inspiring 🙂

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 27, 2022 at 3:24 am

      Keep doing it – you never know.

      Reply
  13. Grant says

    February 23, 2022 at 9:23 pm

    Lovely story – well done.

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 27, 2022 at 3:24 am

      Thank you.

      Reply
  14. detour says

    February 25, 2022 at 5:51 pm

    a breathtaking short – thanks

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 27, 2022 at 3:24 am

      Thanks – fun to write.

      Reply
  15. Trev says

    February 26, 2022 at 7:05 pm

    Another good read. Thank you for your match winning story.

    Reply
    • John Holmes says

      February 27, 2022 at 3:25 am

      Thanks for your team support.

      Reply

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