Your suggestions are perfect Jo. Thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time to read my stories.

had lifted from the common refrigerator someone else’s sandwich

do you need the common, it is understood I think. A little later you have ‘for he couldn’t rightly say he was in pain’. Again the rightly makes it a little cumbersome to me.

I’m only doing this cos you asked, I’m not usually this rude *grin*, I’d just take out a few adverbs, adjectives here and there, your use of metaphors and similes is so fabulous that they carry much of the prose and I think you need a little less illumination of the ordinary.

Regardless, it is always a genuine pleasure to read you, the more I’ve read here, the more I’ve realised how exceptional you are.

Those must be three brilliant brain cells Bob: you have a great sense of humor. I would trade any day the flowers of my style for the fire of your wit!

Either way, just know that people who read your work tend to like it, if they have more than three functioning brain cells. I know this, because that’s all I have, even on a good day.

Bob: you are more correct than you know. In matters or self-promotion, which I think you are referring to, I am indeed guileless and lousy. But if by net-working you mean simply the ability to stay in contact with people and maintain minimal relationships, much less friendships — I am lousy at that too. You, Paul and Jo are the only faithful readers I have, even though I fail to be a faithful reader of yours. All I can do is thank you, your presence here means a lot to me.

Now, consider yourself chastized and go make yourself some serious money. Your work is as good as any I’ve ever read… anywhere. I’ll miss reading it on the web.