Comments on: Joanna: Chapter 5

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:13:25 +0000

I so much wanted to respond to your comment on Chapter 4, lindberg, and tell you to have faith in Joanna … but I don’t want to be so much of a know-it-all. Am really glad you dared go on with the story despite the set-up.

By: lindberg

lindberg — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 20:52:24 +0000

Whew. That party could have gone so much worse… I liked the way she handled it.

By: kevinf

kevinf — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:07:18 +0000

In terms of full disclosure, my full time job does involve selling computer equipment, so I made my comment somewhat tongue in cheek. I do, however, make a distinction between becoming my customer’s best friend, and being dependable, trustworthy, and reliable. Kent has yet, despite his snap brim fedora, convinced me he has Joanna’s best interests at heart. I hope he does.

By: HokieKate

HokieKate — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:42:09 +0000

I don’t think I agree that Penny’s needs are greater than the need for financial stability for the family. It seems her mother is too accommodating, too desperate to please her.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:15:38 +0000

I was so pleased with the way Joanna handled the party. She did crumble under Connie’s meanness at the end, but she held out for quite a while!

I also appreciate the recognition that time is such a factor in childhood, and you can’t always make up later for shortcoming earlier — Penny needs to fit in socially now, or she never will, no matter how easy life may become later.

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:09:48 +0000

If you think salespeople who are suddenly your best friends are worthy of suspicion, what about salespeople who are suddenly the best friends of your recently deceased loved one?

The real question, of course, is whether this new best friend is going to be the ultimate savior of Joanna and her family, or if he’ll be one more obstacle to her happiness.

In his favor: he’s wearing a snap brim fedora (I presume–what other kind of snap brim hats are there?). And what could be wrong with a guy in a hat like that, even if it’s a bit old and battered?

By: kevinf

kevinf — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:10:51 +0000

I’m always suspicious of sales people who are suddenly your best friend. But glad that the party turned out better than expected. Penny needed that, because if she’s really a poet, we know she has a tortured soul.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:51:48 +0000

Not so much of a disaster. I am glad that the story didn’t require too much suffering to move on to the next thing. Sometimes we can do our best and have it mostly turn out right.