All Comments on 'Jenny and Bobby Grow Old'
by BillandKate
- 115 Comments
We were wrong about the Vietnam narrative. They fell out with China and fought a war, and only took Laos and Cambodia. The PI remained a capitalist kleptocracy.
Loved it. He suffered for years due to his actions but forgiveness won out in the end. 5 stars from me.
the women in most of your stories, divorce their husbands at the drop of a dime if cheat. I notice that the husbands don't get the same consideration,
It was sad to read how he totally fucked up his life, but he deserved it for cheating on a lovely girl like Jenny. What a dumbass.
What a long strange trip it's been. A bittersweet romance, with a gratifying happy ever after. Thanks, very enjoyable.
Amazing how this author managed to get 40 years of life into three pages of prose, but it did get done and the story flowed well. It seemed very real to me although I couldn't identify at all with the motivation that drove Bob to give up good jobs to try to save the world. I have come to realize that's a fool's errand and perhaps he did too.
I was amazed at his lack of faithfulness to Jenny when he was first married to her, but perhaps it was the fact that they got married too young. Young Bobby's loyalty to his father was also a little hard to understand, considering his absences from the boy's early years. I still liked the tale and gave it 4*
Cheats, pay the price, learns from his error and puts his sons wellbeing 1st always. Cant dislike him as paid the penalty for his 'crime' and became perfectly rehabilitated. So well written that I was hoping for reconciliation. Usually a BTC burn the cheater person...
Not much I could really add to the previous comments but felt I really needed to. This was an effort that certainly needs to be applauded and to remind this author to continue sharing!!!!
Yeah, we were wrong with the domino theory, but who knew that in the 1960s? The USSR was an equal rival in the space race, and if their domestic economy wasn’t up to snuff, their military was huge and powerful. In the sixties, Red China was still under Mao, and aggressive in spreading Communist doctrine around the world, working with would be dictators in Africa and South America.
Eventually Communism failed as an economic system, leaving only the one party dictatorships in a few countries; China and Vietnam and now capitalist successes, but remain unfree dictatorships.
Ho Chi Minh wasn’t the only one who wanted to win, but he was the only one who knew how to win.
Love, unfaithfulness, regrets and redemption. Very well constructed story. It was a pleasure to have read this. Always a fan.
she was brutally betrayed by him.
he felt genuine remorse from the get-go.
they did the right thing by breaking it off, and trying hard to keep their son happy.
he became her biggest supporter in happiness, even if it drove him away.
they both grew old together. it's short, and even has a few hot sex scenes in it.
you really can't ask for more in a story. both people were mature enough and respectful enough not to try to lie, manipulate, or gas-light. of course not counting the lying that led up to his STDs. We can't just ignore that. That's the whole reason he missed decades of his life with her. I can't think of a better punishment for someone that actually felt remorse.
"you only had one woman and any man would want to know what he's missing". - Yep, just an excuse as we tell the women, that's true for the men, too.
"Twice as much was going out to the people in the South Sudan villages who were supposed to receive the aid; half was being lost to 'shrinkage'." - Twice as much as what? As before? If half is being lost to "shrinkage," then the amount going out isn't twice, it's the same.
When he went back to the states, why the need to define NGO, when it had already been used without explanation?
"Wouldn't you have been happier the past eighteen years if Jenny had accepted that it was just sex and hadn't divorced you?" - HE might have been happier, but would Jenny? They'd BOTH have been happier if he DIDN'T "fuck that skank."
"I didn't have plans, but also didn't need to be a fourth wheel." - Um, it's his son's graduation, he's been as much a part of his son's life as possible, he's hardly a fourth wheel!
Why were she and John worried about Bobby?
It was SO obvious that Jenny wanted him!
Unlike "He Who Shall Not Be Named," the politics here, whether you agree or not, didn't hit you over the head.
No tired cliches to detract from the story. Well-grounded and thought out. Loved every bit of it, even the heart-breaking parts.
Thank you.
another winner and 5! love your work and your stories are a great read
He’s a better man than me. Doubt that I could ever re-marry my ex after 25 years even if the divorce had been my fault. Why because I doubt that I could get over her loving someone for 20 years other than me and world never have given me another chance had he not died. Just me I guess, but the reality that I was second best would eat away every time I saw her looking at his picture knowing she loved him more than me and I was just a safe easy comfortable replacement. Sure we would grow old together but she would always have preferred it to be him not me.
That was completely engaging and genuine. Also, it's refreshing to have a story where the husband is stupid rather than the wife. It certainly goes both ways. Lovely effort.
I don't recall you mentioning that John had cancer in the first place. I was confused when you said he was in the hospital because the cancer "came back".
a solid 4*. But can't help but thinking how all the people giving you kudo's would react, If you had switched Jenny and Bob's parts.
"I bought forty acres of wooded land just outside Paw Paw and built a house."
And then:
"The next morning, Maggie, their oldest daughter, stopped by my apartment."
So yeah, obviously: what happened to the house?
Everything else was stellar. Thank you for a great read.
So what if the Narrator made amends after cheating ? He's a cheater. Adultery is a sin you can never undo, it's permenant. Therefore I absolutely have to one star this story in spite of BillandKate's first class writing. Arghhh! My FINGER. slipped and accidentally five starred this abominable tale of forgiveness and empathy. Dammit! Another action that like adultery just cannot be undone.
- "June 29, 2001
Bobby's wedding is tomorrow. Bobby met his future bride at the VA hospital the first time John Fry went in for cancer treatments."
I don't she her divorcing "on principal" if she still loved him, like she apparently did. That is a guy thing thing to do. It is possible, just not very likely. Any guy with that much to work with- his wife still loves him, and they have a child together, could have saved the marriage. After all, they made it through an unplanned teen-age pregnancy and early economic hardship.
Of course if the guy thought he could make a difference in Sudan or Haiti, he was a complete idiot, which might explain things.
Super job. I am not good enough to pick apart the story looking for faults, To me it was an easy read and I simply enjoyed it. Thanks
I was kind of hoping they would have dedicated this story to me, the anon who left the flaming bag in the comments section of their last story. (Never going to happen, not expecting it either) LOL!!!
Liked the story. Cheers!
It is amazes me that even as heartfelt as this story is, critics can still find reasons to be negative. Why can't people just enjoy a tale for what it is. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A 5 Star Rating. Thanks.
I had tears near the end. Great story telling. Bill and Kate what’s a team!
Bobby's unfaithfulness was over the top. How does someone with the moral character described by the vast majority of this story perform the kind of debauchery described?
I can see the infidelity causing the divorce, but it did not have to be so egregious. Did Jenny get the STDs?
Another beautiful story, my wife and I enjoy your stories so much. Thank you for sharing your talent.
Wonderful!
Just two little problems:
Josef. He took care of a child who'd been traumatised in the worst imaginable way. He dumped him. I couldn't have done that, and I'm not nearly as nice a guy as your hero is painted.
Money. He seems to have plenty. His career doesn't appear to me to be lucrative.
Second offering. I've just read the positive comment by Overcritical, querying the liklihood of his son's loyalty despite his absence. I'm an old Brit, born in 1938. That experience was common amongst my peers. My father was born in 1908, joined the Royal Navy as a boy rating in 1924. WWii started in 1939 - they weren't letting experienced sailors out at that time. I saw him VERY occasionally until early 1946 and we never corresponded. I was loyal. Why not? I'm with BillandKate.
Thank you for a wonderful story with real people instead of heroes and villains.
With the recent proliferation of garbage posted here, LW doesn't deserve any thing this good. A beautiful story of a couple ,broken by infidelity , who make their separate ways through life and end up back together as they had planned. A little different from usual in that the husband is the cheater, but no less enjoyable. This story is a solid addition to your great work.
Very well done. A great story, great writing, and a happy ending. Excellent. Thanks for posting.
Interesting that the Italian asked for one but the wife got one!
That 'conscious' vs 'conscientious' thing seems to be springing up all over Lit these days. Never trust spell checkers, they don't know what you mean.
You write about people I'd like to know, and you do it well. Not exactly the norm on this site! Congratulations!
This is really the kind of story that I enjoy reading the most. Definite consequences for the cheating, but a happy ending for both. A real story as opposed to a silliness scene. Thank you for a.much needed great story.
I am not there with this one. He cheated and they divorced. She lived a traditional married life with husband number 2. He really didn't have a good love life but easily settles into a second try with ex wife. I kind of feel like ex wife just doesn't want to be alone now that kids are gone and second husband died.
"I felt her little shutter"
It's SHUDDER, look up the meaning of shutter. Way too many writers use shutter when it should be shudder.
Overly cute story, 2*
I actually would have enjoyed more detail on his different adventures. The expanded version of this story, if well put together, could have easily been 10 plus pages long and worthwhile reading. Lots of events that were barely skimmed over, that would have been nice if you expanded it.
But maybe that's just my inclination. Since writing my stories I've had close to 10 ideas for other stories, but I don't think any of them would be less than 6 pages long, and some more than 10. Seemed like too much work, but now that we're all shuttered in, who knows. Maybe I will put some of them down on paper (figuratively speaking).
This story could have/should have been in both LW and Romance so both audiences would have the opportunity to enjoy it.
Thanks and I look forward to your next adventure.
Seems right that they ended up together, but damn sad trail for Bob along the way. He paid for his mistake for 30 years. Yes he deserved the divorce and some punishment, but really a long road. Now they have the golden years together while they spent the really sweet years apart. At least for him.
Anyways just rambling. Well written as always!
I'll make you cry one day too! :D
Possibly a felt a lil long winded in the middle, but hell Robert's journey was long winded too, poor sod.
He, they got there in the end, lucky they didn't lose that love over the years.
Thanks for sharing.
Great story - as always from you two.
Funny: I can't say I loved it - it strikes too close to home for me.
i guess, couldn't really relate to any of it. was a bit less edited than most ur stories. was even a broken English sentence in there was weird to see that. but i laughed and enjoyed the name play in there was a hoot ty for the read. oh here let me copy and paste it. well crap cant find it without re reading it again. anyway it was in present tense when the context of the before suggested it was meant to be past tense. lol sorry
Having recently lost my wife and companion of more than 50 years I can identify with your main characters to some extent. Although the loss I suffered was solely to disease.
Divorce is a great way to end a toxic relationship, but a stupid way to punish someone you love. Jenny didn't hate him, she just wanted to punish him. Or more likely, but left absent from the story, is the reality that their relationship had become toxic, and his adultery was just the most flagrant symptom. Of course by the time they reconnected they were two different people, so its not impossible. The way this guy fucked around I'm surprised Jenny didn't make him get an STD test before starting to date him.
The Nam debate is pointless. Gutless politicians, and voters, wasting the lives of heroic Americans. Barry Goldwater told one of the CBS reporters, "If I had been elected President there wouldn't have been enough left of North Vietnam to plant rice on." So now we have reefs built up into Chinese naval bases in the formerly International waters of the South China Sea. We get what we vote for, and deserve it.
I thought it was odd that Jenny getting a partial mastectomy was used to question Bob's love for her. If that was considered to be a possibility than they must have had zero respect for their future step father. Felt like a bit of signaling going on for no purpose, other than to question his depth and sincerity. Whatever.
Thanks for the effort. It was an ok read, but I'm still not sure what the moral of the story was supposed to be.
I have enjoyed many of your stories. This one did it for me.
In these strange times (Covid 19 pandemic), I can imagine many folks will be in positions of terrible loss. I’m married for 42 years - I would be devastated to lose her. And I have have never strayed, never will
Thank you
Wayne
I am not sure about the breast cancer, it was a device to put pressure on him to convince us he really loved her. Maybe it works, maybe not.
The war was a mess. Cowards and fools ran it from US. Wars should be brutal and NEVER MEASURED. If it is worth fighting, then overwhelming power used in overwhelming amounts.
that is a 5* in my book. Your writing is near Lit HOF for me. As always, what separates the truly great is consistency, and your body of work is approaching that.
My compliments on an excellent blend of fictional lives' time lines with real history. Nice "goes 'round, comes around" resolution to an interrupted love linkage between the star-crossed lovers. You have already been scolded for your rare grammar errors in previous comments so - no comment! Thanks for a delightful few minutes of C19 isolation relief.
This story manages to be both a downer, and kinda boring. It doesn't really have much of a plot.
And Bob lost the best decades of his life with Jenny for a cheap fling, they might be together in their old age, but they lost all of the years in their prime.
As I said, it's a downer, and not really satisfying to read.
yes, he screwed up, fortunately he learned his lesson.
sorry John had to be a casualty to fulfill a plot device.
thanks
I thought it an interesting and apprapo story about a not so bad guy who made some really bad decisions which he paid immensely for. He was very fortunate to have a second chance and at least finish his life with her.
It’s a good tale of character development and how love can forgive eventually even the most serious transgressions. I just think he suffered too much!
I really enjoy stories that include places I'm intimetly familiar with even though in this case it was a while ago. Memories of the Holland Tulip Festival with my parents, brother and sister then much later with my wife and daughters. Acres of tulips everywhere in every color imaginable and the windmill imported from Holland. Concerts at Miller Auditorium; Henry Mancini and his orchastra, Gordon Lightfoot at Wings Stadium, Gary Lewis and the Playboys in the park downtown, Frankie Vallie at the Central Field House...
I was a contractor at Upjohn's for over a decade, tremendous, good people to work with. Then came the Pharmacia disaster. W.E. Upjohn's motto was "Keep The Quality Up" and it worked until the heirs sold the company and the employees out. It wasn't taken well to mention the motto and the big letters in Bldg. 41 reminding everyone came down. In came 'Just in Time' which doesn't work well when so much of your product is based on fermentation, one little problem and it's all flushed down the drain. Now you are weeks if not months behind with no product to package and ship. One thing that made the company so attractive to buy was Rogaine which wasn't originally manufactured to help cure baldness, that was discovered by accident. Another was the huge amount of cash reserves on hand, so much that they built a new headquarters building. Unfortunately that meant abandoning the existing HQ (Building 100, nicknamed "The Body Shop"), I'll leave it to the imagination why it was called that other than to say it was true. The building was designed by architect Bruce Graham who also designed Chicago’s John Hancock Center and the Sears Tower now, Willis Tower which actually has it's own zip code. One unique thing about Bldg. 100 was that each office had an exterior view, the interior one looked out into a large beautiful courtyard. Eventually the powers that be had the building torn down. Then along came Pizer and I'm just going to stop there.
June 14th, Flag Day every year, an important date in my life, thank you.
The VA Hospital, probably not the one in Battle Creek but it could be. I have over a thirty year connection with that facilities long history located at Fort Custer.
John and Jenny weren't the only ones haunted by the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam. Admiral Elmo Zumwalt was the one who ordered it's use after being assured by Monsanto that it was safe. Zumwalt's son died of cancer having been exposed to it.
Jenny's breast cancer surgery could have happened at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. The place where my daughter was first diagnosed.
Bit of trivia; Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers died in bed in his room at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo shortly before their scheduled concert at Western Michigan's Miller Auditorium.
My college tech instructors used to beat it into our heads that it took at least two years out of college to get an education. Bobby proved it in his actions. Even if you pull out there are still pollywogs floating around loose before you cum. Having unprotected sex like he did in threesomes isn't the smartest thing to do since you now have had sex with everyone your partners have done it with. Pretty obvious Jenny was the smart one of the two, she dumped his ass even though she never stopped loving him. A winding tale of a man who threw away two of the most important people in his life, traveled the world, saw hardships and tragedies, grew up, became a man who reunited with the woman and family that still loved him and he them.
A very good story that includes numerous landmarks from my life, some good, some not so but thank you for some powerful memories. Signed: BTW
I comment as anonymous only because I refuse to become a member under a different name, someone is a member under my name but I have never seen any of his comments. I just work with writers to hopefully improve their work.
Loved the character development and the angst in the lines. Great dialogue that is very realistic. The story line shows a lot of imagination and skill. Keep em cuming!
detroitdave
Stories always so well written they just wrap the reader up in The middle of the action
Although I have to say, I would have never remarried her. Regardless of whether the divorce was warranted or not, if my wife ever divorced me, any and all contact between her and me would be on a strictly business level. I suppose it’s just a personal idiosyncracy of mine, but anybody who shuts me out, be it wife, a child, other family, or even a friend, will never be allowed “back in”. Right, wrong, or crazy, it just doesn’t matter, it’s just the way I’m wired. But like I said, it was a good story, and I enjoyed it.
What a great story. Bobby found out that you never know what you got till you loose it and if John had not died her never would have regained what he lost. Well written 5 stars
Vert great story.
Here we have a different story of a man cheating on his wife.
And in this case the man accepts everything: he accepts that he is a cheater, he accepts that he is unforgivable, he accepts that she must divorce, he accepts that he has disrespect on his wife.
It's a shame that there is no equal treatment between men /women.
Man is always treated as more loving and responsible while poor women are often treated in the worst possible way: Irresponsible immature selfish egotistical.
Maybe you can make a story valuing women.
Thanks for the story.
Docudrama? Good story, predictable and realistic but without much excitement.
The excuses people gave for his cheating on Jenny are the same ones that would never be accepted from her.
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I was a little confused. He said the first two times with Bobby were positive, making me think that the third time wouldn't be, but it was fun.
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"Did you fucking that skank when you were married to Jenny change how you felt about her?" - No, but it changed the way Jenny felt about him, and he regrets that.
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"I didn't have plans, but also didn't need to be a fourth wheel." - It's not being a "fourth wheel" when you're celebrating your son's graduation. I would understand not joining Jenny and John if Bobby wasn't going to be there.
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John Fry went in for cancer treatments. Ir was obvious he was going to die and Robert would remarry Jenny.
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, I'd agree with you if Jenny had been the one to cheat, but why should he begrudge her finding a good man after he had cheated on her?
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, he didn't dump Josef, Josef took off and Bobby spent thousand of dollars and much effort to try to find him.
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Re: "Wasted the best years of their life" - Maybe wasted the best years of HIS life, but I don't think hers were wasted. She loved and had the love of a good man who helped raise her son into manhood, and had two wonderful girls. Even Bobby, while his life might have been rough and filled with regrets, he did work to at least TRY to bring some good into the world.
Another BillandKate 5. Beautiful. Bobby (senior) made a real big mistake, paid the price, and didn't make any excuses for himself. Fate gave him a second chance. Also refreshing in this category to have the husband be the cheater.
absorbing good story. this story and your others I have read so far are a level above most on this site. they are enjoyable as they are well written and foremost, believable. as good authors you have learned and put to use the secret to good fiction, believability.. JK
Thanks for a well told story. You write well. As to the “domino theory” espoused by the Australian character, it has been debunked by everyone up to and including George Kennan. It served as potential solace for a dying man in your story, but outside the realm of fiction it's thin gruel.
Respect to Beth for being upfront about that shit, especially considering it was just a sentimental manifesto which would hold no weight in court.
He gets promoted,but then goes to Kenya,severing direct contact with his son,no way.He didn't go back to the States because Bobby was going to university,he left because of Josef going missing.Also why pay Bobby's fees,it was Johns responsibility,don't forget Bobby called John dad.
agree with flawed, also look back at your stories. The wife divorces the husband fast as hell. Yet all the men get fucked over and can't ever get over the ex, while the ex moves on has a wonderful life regardless of her cheating or not.
I would rather have a new car as the best gift. No one marries their first. First time sex is awkward. Sure you remember them but who cares. It's all rose colored glasses
You can always tell a too sensitive man when they write that BS about "the greatest gift of virginity" please.
Wonderful story. So enjoyed the real characters depicted here. And coming from Africa I appreciate any person who tries to make it a better place. Thanks B and K. Definite 5 plus
Another great story. One minor point, doesn't the grooms father normally pay for the rehearsal dinner?
He got lucky.
A story of honorable people... all of them, once he grew up. Until then, he got the punishment he deserved.
It's just such a shame when so much of life's restricted time is wasted because people fall for a cheap thrill over integrity and honor.
A good story. A lucky outcome for the protagonist, but there is still an element of punishment for him: if John had not died of cancer, he would never have had the slightest chance at the most important aspect of real life... the chance to spend it with the person who really, really meant everything to him.
If only people could understand this lesson before they go through some experience that teaches it to them... at their loss.
Good story. Notnsure why he went to Africa for four years while his son was in high school. Haiti was different as his son had graduated from Georgetown. Jenny was absolutely right to divorce the MC. He was being a turd blossom. Glad she found love with John. Beth was a walking time bomb. Glad the MC grew up and found happiness reconnecting with Jenny.
Shit story about a couple who BOTH CHEATED!!
Bob cheated and so did Jenny, the bitch even got double teamed and god knows what else. Divorcing the slut was right but not moving on is pathetic. This story is for Feminazis and Simps, its absolutely disgusting doublestandarded story.
We're leaving the Anonymous commentator's "BOTH CHEATED!" below to illustrate our thoughts related to the knuckle-dragging misogynists who dwell here in LW. The commentor stated that Jenny cheated and got double-teamed. NO, Bobby cheated with a co-worker named 'Lynn', it was Lynn who had two men, not Jenny. Jenny was faithful to both Bobby, then John after her divorce from Bobby. Jenny was a traditional, faithful Loving Wife, not a "slut". We'll say it once again - people, get help.