8 Comments
User's avatar
Lor's avatar

“For all the unfolding disaster, none of it stopped Phineas from jogging off the field and waving to the opposing team’s parents cheering him on.”

Aww, Phineas, he’s just a nice kid in need of a personal cheerleading squad, maybe Tripod and the Sleepmobile can bark and honk in unison.

I’m doing my part from Vermont.

Expand full comment
Adam Nathan's avatar

That moment was actually a little hook for me with the character. It's been ages since I wrote that, but there was something in it that was like a little window into who he might be. A little chin-up bravery on his own terms, but the stakes still high.

Expand full comment
Holly Starley's avatar

I guffawed when the mom suggested he be hit so he could have a chance on base!

And I just adore Phineas and his bat pointing and peeing with the towel over his head. What a character!

Expand full comment
Adam Nathan's avatar

When someone calls out one of the moments — you know this — in a piece it makes them more real for me. There was actually a line in the one i posted today that I cut originally, then put back in and it was somebody's favorite. Go figure.

Expand full comment
Holly Starley's avatar

Oh my gosh, the cutting and pasting, the taking out and putting back in. Today, for an essay I was working on (for a non stack related project), I had to write all the scenes onto post-it notes and toss a few to the stream. Now they're floating around waiting to be picked up for another project.

And yeah, I love how a reader loving a moment brings it to life in a whole new way.

This serial is an absolute gem, Adam. I know I'm slow on the reading, but it's not for not loving it.

Expand full comment
Kimberly Warner's avatar

Hahaha!!! So many laugh out loud lines in this chapter. “Missing-tooth” Phineas is a real champ, putting on a show even through his peeing and sobbing. I want to bring that kid home and cook him a warm meal, and then take him to the dog shelter to find his man’s-best-friend. He needs some serious, slobbery, face-kissing validation.

Expand full comment
Adam Nathan's avatar

I’m so glad you like him! I’ve enjoyed watching him evolve into the little kid that he is. He most definitely needs a boy’s best friend. 🐕

Expand full comment
Christine Stephens Tretheway's avatar

"Lined em up and told them to sing the national anthem, to have time to think." Hilarious, Reginald!

And the HBP...just awesome. Can't wait for next week!

Expand full comment