Wednesday is story day. Today’s story is about friends and helping others. We all want to help others and I’m sure we mean to help as much as possible. Sometimes things get in the way when we have good intentions, but don’t follow through. You know what I mean. For example, an author helped you launch a book on their blog, bought it, read it and put an amazing review up on Amazon and Goodreads. Sure you meant to pay back when they launched theirs, but after all, you were so busy with your own events, you really didn’t have the time. No time even to list it as a “want to read” on Goodreads. Well let’s be honest, you don’t really want to take the time. Besides, you heard from other friends the book was a bit unusual so you decided not to support it and therefore not possibly offend your friends. Well, if this sounds familiar this story is dedicated to you.
Friends By John W. Howell ©2014
“Hey what are you doing?”
“Hi Frank. Making out a list of my friends.”
“Really why are you? Sounds like a waste of time.”
“Ha ha very funny.”
“No I mean who actually makes a list for their friends. You know who they are, isn’t that enough?”
“Well you would think so, but I am a little confused about who are really friends.”
“What difference does it makes. Friends are friends unless you want something.”
“What do you mean want something?”
“Friends tend to disappear when you ask them for things.”
“Then are they really friends?”
“Well do you define friendship in terms of what you get or what you give?”
“I never thought of it before, but I’ll have to say a little of both.”
“Now you’re talking. If you actually believe in give and take then I think you have a good idea of what friends are.”
“So what is the issue?”
“Not everyone believes the same way as you do.”
“What about you. Do you believe we are friends?”
“Yeah I believe we are close friends.”
“And you believe in give and take?”
“Sure I do.”
“Would you loan me twenty dollars?”
“What? And ruin a good friendship? “
Fiction Favorites 
Good points John.
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Thank you.
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I actually keep forgetting about the ‘want to read’ list on Goodreads unless someone suggestions a book for me. I’ve kind of shied away from the site ever since a few incidents. Especially since I’ve seen a few of the ‘want to read’ books that I clicked on immediately end up getting ‘marked’ by one of my stalkers.
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Understand that certainly. You have had a tough row there.
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Goodreads has not been my friend lately. I barely check my own books these days. Please is better, but still like a minefield.
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Nice set-up for the punchline!
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Thank you. Tried hard.
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Loved it, now …erm.. .got change for a twenty? 😀 xx
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For you? Anytime😃
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I avoid goodreads like the plague. I did a book giveaway there and like 500 people added my book to their to reads list. One, yes one, has read the book and left a review. Seriously. P.S. I would loan you $20.00.
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Aw thanks for saying you would loan twenty. Also good info on Goodreads 😎
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Jeez, now I have a bunch of things to add to my Want To Read list… Thanks a lot.
BTW, wasn’t Frank in last week’s story? 😜
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Frank is in all my short stories. He represents a person who did me dirt so I have my own sweet revenge.
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Ha, funny I didn’t notice that till this one! He does seem like an SOB. 😉
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A real SOB. Couldn’t kill him really so I do it piece by piece
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Haha, there’s more truth in those last two lines than I care to admit. Well done, John.
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Glad you enjoyed it Phil.
On Wed, Apr 23, 2014 at 2:50 PM, Fiction Favorites wrote:
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I’ve actually spent some time making lists of the incredible people who’ve helped me, people I’ve never met from quarters I never expected. It sort of helps with the whole disappointment-in-some-of-the-people-I-know thing.
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That does seem like a good idea. Thanks
On Wed, Apr 23, 2014 at 8:50 PM, Fiction Favorites wrote:
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With friends like that…..
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Who needs . . .?
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Glad I took the time to revisit Wednesday (I was off the grid at the time). Good story as always and so true.
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