STORY INFO
Home of the Brave
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Author
Thom Brodkin
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Categories
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Danh mục
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Update
6 months ago
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Part Chapter
1/??
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Reads
111
Content
A mom’s job is never truly finished—Elise knew this instinctively when her son was born. For at least the hundredth time, she sat next to his bed in that chair mending his quilt. There was no way of knowing, the day she bought it at a flea market, that it would become her son’s most valued possession. To call it a quilt stretched the definition as it was nothing more than a thousand pieces of oddly shaped swatches stitched together, layer after layer, until the whole of it was thick enough to hold in the warmth...
Outstanding reviews
Congratulations! The story was beautifully made and touched my emotions.❤️
Thank you!!! I am glad.
I agree. it made me cry!
Hey, look at that, you have no shortlisted stories but read them anyway and then... winning! Proud moments. Very solid writing, the dialogue is lovely and lilting, captured nicely between moments of contemplation. Excellent work, sir, and may your quilts always be cool.
This might be my favorite response. Thanks for taking the time to make my day. I'm a Rhondalise fan.
And I'm a Lee fan! You have definite style, looking forward to future stories.
Well done, Lee!!!!! 🤩🥳 Congrats on the win!
Thank you so much. I am speechless, which for me doesn't happen often.
Almost speechless over here.This is beautiful, Thom! You have such a gift for emotion in your writing, which shines through brilliantly in this story. This one especially has a subtlety to it that I love. The motif of stitching the blanket together over and over again seems to capture that feeling of needing to fix something, even a little thing, when everything is falling apart. Brilliant writing, and a well-earned win. I'm looking forward to catching up on some of your other pieces!
Claire!!!!! I’m so excited to see your name on my feed. I’ve been checking your page periodically to see if you snuck in another story because I miss reading you. I hope you’ve been writing somewhere else because at your core you are a writer, and writers need to write. Thank you so much for your kind feedback. I’m not going to lie, it was nice to win once. I know I should write for the love of it but validation is motivating. I hope you are back to stay but if you’re not please drop by from time to time. Reedsy is better with you here.
I’m glad to be back! Haven’t been writing much unfortunately but I just posted a new story. Dusting off the cobwebs over here haha! And I missed reading you as well! Hoping for many more wins for you :)
Wow, beautifully tragic.I was surprised as I read the story how similarly it coincides with a real life situation I have. Is it inspired by true events? Without crying too much, what condition could this son have had to cause a loss like this, but endless nights end with cold compresses, pain killers, or cranial massages, and where doctors, specialists, and hospitals alike have found no clear cause?Thank you. ❤️
Brandon what a wonderful comment. Thank you so much. The story is actually completely true except for the end. My mom is the quilt sewer and I am the little boy. I still get migraines to this day but as you can tell I am still here. Fortunately.
Congratulations on a wonderful story of love and loss.
Thank you. With love comes loss yet love is still worth it.
Congratulations!A wonderful tribute to your mother -- and all mothers everywhere.
This is a tribute to my mom. She was the quilt mender, the cold cloth wetter, and the story teller. I am her living legacy.
Beautiful story! The last sentence is depressing. Great job! I love Buzz Lightyear.
There is no void so dark as the one created by the loss of a child. I want to write it in fiction to make all the parents who read it pick up their kids and give them a hug. Thanks for reading and giving me feedback.
You're welcome. I read A Taste for Blackberries in fifth grade. All I remember was a kid moping about his dead friend who got stung by a bee. i didn't care for it one way or the other, but my mom hated that book.
Oh I feel very sorry for you.
It's OK. Can you read my new story, Lumberjack Camp?
you made me cry Thom
You made my day.
that made me cry even more
It’s 11:38pm 5/1/22 & I just made my way into my 11year old boys room just to smell his stinky shoes & hear his breathing in the dark. Tears on my cheeks, I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to be his mom. Thank you for the reminder. Life goes by too fast. Beautiful story.
This comment makes me feel like I wrote the story for you. Thank you for taking the time and for being so kind. It means the world to me.
This comment makes me feel like I wrote the story for you. Thank you for taking the time and for being so kind. It means the world to me.
I crave the feedback of the entire Reedsy community but there are a select few that I look for with even greater anticipation. You are one of those. I am such a fan of your writing and your style. You are someone whose praise carries extra weight so I am so honored you read and enjoyed my story. Thank you for taking the time to put a smile on this man's face. You are a super hero.
Oh you're too kind! It was a well deserved win Lee.
This story is so heart touching. My Mom used to tell me and my sisters stories before bed (Miss Mouse Stories, to be exact), and then she would pray with us, and sing us to sleep. To this day, those are some of my most precious memories.This story touches the emotions so well because it's genuine and real. Thank you so much for sharing it with the world.
You made this poor writers day. Thanks for sharing your memories and kind words.
Idk why but I read this to my girl as a joke cus she couldn't sleep, but She soon was knocked out right there while I was almost in tears from the story.
This is a high compliment. I’m really glad you enjoyed it and glad it did the trick getting you little girl to sleep.
Congratulations! So well written. So bittersweet. My heart melted at the end.
Thanks so much. You made this man smile. 😀
Thanks so much. You made this man smile. 😀
Willow Bird. Of course I remember you. I miss your stories and encouragement. Thanks so much for, once again, being my writing friend and supporter. Please tell me you are coming back. I miss your kindness and friendship.
Hello Thom! Willow Bird once again. I'm returning to Reedsy truly after a nearly a three year break. I am so so happy to see you are still writing, and doing so well here. You are proof that so much hard work pays off and I'm thrilled to be able to read all of your new stories. Good luck with the latest contest friend!
You can be Helen or Willow or August. It doesn’t really matter. You are always welcome at my fire. I can’t wait to read you again!!!
Ah yes me and my many pen names. So glad to talk to you again and I can't wait to read your newest works.
I really enjoyed reading your story and thought that it is very eloquently written.
Thanks so much, Neil.
Just listened to your interview on the podcast. I'm going to work my way through all your stories. This one is deserved winner and its nice being able to think about your style and what you were thinking writing this. I look forward to more.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more of yours as well.
SUPERB story! Oh, the metaphors! Oh, the symbolism! And this line: "To call it a quilt stretched the definition as it was nothing more than a thousand pieces of oddly shaped swatches stitched together, layer after layer, until the whole of it was thick enough to hold in the warmth of a small boy's body as he drifted off to sleep."Exquisite line. Heartbreakingly beautiful story. A well-deserved win! (It's about time, too!) Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. It has touched many of us, especially those of us with children. ❤
You are one of the people who inspires me to write and to try to write better. No one wins without help and I wouldn’t have won without you. Thanks for being my writing friend.
Right back atcha!
Weeping here... this emotional story... so touching, Congrats!
Thanks so much, you are so kind. I really appreciate the read and feedback.
Absolutely fabulous! Every word you wrote really meant a lot in the story. Maybe you could continue on this story and turn it into a book? 🙂
You are so kind. Thank you. I may just do that one day.
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