Roger Grubbs

Delightfully told, with the air of an innocent fairy tale, this story would be satisfying to a child, and perhaps even more so to the more mature among us who wish to be heard and appreciated by eager listeners.

The story opens with an old man, and a single listener at his feet. “The old man leaned back into his rocking chair, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath to gather his thoughts.” As his story unfolds, “Not a child moved a muscle, but all listened intently,” as the story comes to life, and as the characters are fleshed out. “They knew that once Blackbeard and his men had regrouped they would be chasing after them.” By the time the story comes to its close, a multitude of listeners await anxiously to hear the old man. “This time the grownups were pushed into the streets by a host of children all taking their seats on the lawns, steps and sidewalks.

A lovely story. Five stars.… (més)