24 Comments
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William Pauley III's avatar

Trippy! I could almost hear the music thudding in the background as the horror unfurled. Vivid writing. 👏

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks, dude! It was a fun to write!

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Garen Marie's avatar

Loved how the band playing in the background matched the intensity of the scene and how his old band sticker saved him in the end. Was this real? Or just a monstrous case of stage fright remedied by touching/recalling what the musician once was? Always appreciate the layers you put into your stories. So good!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you, thank you! ❤️ Yes! I’m trying to show the transformation from being afraid to becoming performer.

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Dansmonsters's avatar

Cheers dude! It was an excellent story to illustrate!!!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

You killed it, man. Your monster is bringing me smiles for days.

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Jennifer James's avatar

All the descriptive language down to the "PEZ dispenser maw" was excellent. This was visceral. Wonderful work.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you, Jennifer! ❤️

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Sandy Shaller's avatar

AH! The Gut Punch got me in the gut. Thanks for reading OZ and “Patty Cake.” Big hugs to you and your wonderful family.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

My pleasure. I need a day to catch up on all of your wonderful stories.

I miss you, Sandy! When is the next reading? We need story time!

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Sandy Shaller's avatar

I miss you too. The next reading is Sunday the 29th. The books is "The Cafe at the End of the Wood." It's a very sweet and delightful book.

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Jessica Maison's avatar

Damn, Sean. Yet, another reason to be afraid of dive bathrooms.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

haha right?

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Bob Graham's avatar

Holy hell, Sean! Loved this one. The anxiety was way too real.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks, Bob! ❤️

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Miguel S.'s avatar

Loving this Sean! Disgusting at the right places but also tense and mysterious. A punk band I like to listen to has a song that’s about a toilet stall that one enters and never returns haha.

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thanks you, Miguel! haha What punk band?? Misfits has a song about that, too. Horror Business. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoGuJi5jmmA

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Miguel S.'s avatar

It's our local one, it's called Guinea Pigs on the run, and they mostly do rock/punk covers of popular songs full of profanity. It's super stupid but I love it haha.

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K.M. Bennett's avatar

This was truly terrifying! I'm so curious to know what the glyph meant or represented!

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

If I finish this serial, that will be revealed! :))

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K.M. Bennett's avatar

🙏

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Nico Harlakenden's avatar

You nailed the dissonance of aging out of a scene you once bled for, and the creeping sense that your past self might not recognize who you’ve become.

The part with the sticker? Oddly moving. 🖤

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Sean Thomas McDonnell's avatar

Thank you, Nico! Whenever I go into a club bathroom in the Bay, I look to see if my stickers are still there. Only one time did I actually find one, and it felt like this. :)

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Keith Long's avatar

Whoa this is crazy - I love it. Makes me very excited for Cherry Kills.

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