Discussion #10; Sneakers

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cat in a bag

Well-Known Member
Aug 28, 2010
12,038
67,827
wyoming
I like this one, too. It does have a few scary moments, like when Tell starts to realize, maybe, what is going on and gets the heebie-jeebies and runs out of the bathroom. And when he "meets" the ghost at the end.

There is not always a "why" explained and normally it does not bother me. But in this story, it does a little. Why does the ghost pick Tell to reveal himself to? Is it because Tell is working with Jannings?? Other people had seen the ghost over the years, was this the first time he had told his story and revealed his killer? Seems so, because of the way he fades away.

Anyway, this is one time I would like to know the why of it.
 

fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
15,859
71,642
62
120 miles S of the Pancake/Waffle line
I like this one, too. It does have a few scary moments, like when Tell starts to realize, maybe, what is going on and gets the heebie-jeebies and runs out of the bathroom. And when he "meets" the ghost at the end.

There is not always a "why" explained and normally it does not bother me. But in this story, it does a little. Why does the ghost pick Tell to reveal himself to? Is it because Tell is working with Jannings?? Other people had seen the ghost over the years, was this the first time he had told his story and revealed his killer? Seems so, because of the way he fades away.

Anyway, this is one time I would like to know the why of it.

I think that maybe the ghost picks Tell because Tell was so close to Jannings. The ghost disappeared for many years as everyone who knew who he was left the building. Maybe it's like the Stir Of Echoes ghost that appears to someone they think can solve the crime.
 

AnnaMarie

Well-Known Member
Feb 16, 2012
7,068
29,564
Other
I liked the story and enjoyed reading it. Except the ending. It seemed rushed.

I like this one, too. It does have a few scary moments, like when Tell starts to realize, maybe, what is going on and gets the heebie-jeebies and runs out of the bathroom. And when he "meets" the ghost at the end.

There is not always a "why" explained and normally it does not bother me. But in this story, it does a little. Why does the ghost pick Tell to reveal himself to? Is it because Tell is working with Jannings?? Other people had seen the ghost over the years, was this the first time he had told his story and revealed his killer? Seems so, because of the way he fades away.

Anyway, this is one time I would like to know the why of it.

Just my own opinion here, but I felt the ghost wanted justice. I think once he told Tell, he disappeared and it’s up to Tell what to do with that knowledge. If what he did was not justice in the opinion of the ghost then he may reappear to someone else.
 

fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
15,859
71,642
62
120 miles S of the Pancake/Waffle line
Just my own opinion here, but I felt the ghost wanted justice. I think once he told Tell, he disappeared and it’s up to Tell what to do with that knowledge. If what he did was not justice in the opinion of the ghost then he may reappear to someone else.

That's what I was trying to say but failed miserably. ;-D
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
I like this one, too. It does have a few scary moments, like when Tell starts to realize, maybe, what is going on and gets the heebie-jeebies and runs out of the bathroom. And when he "meets" the ghost at the end.

There is not always a "why" explained and normally it does not bother me. But in this story, it does a little. Why does the ghost pick Tell to reveal himself to? Is it because Tell is working with Jannings?? Other people had seen the ghost over the years, was this the first time he had told his story and revealed his killer? Seems so, because of the way he fades away.

Anyway, this is one time I would like to know the why of it.
....nice to see I'm not the only one that has been a bit baffled by this tale.....
 

Marty Coslaw

Low-BDNF Gork
May 19, 2018
177
720
37
DC
I like this one, too. It does have a few scary moments, like when Tell starts to realize, maybe, what is going on and gets the heebie-jeebies and runs out of the bathroom. And when he "meets" the ghost at the end.

There is not always a "why" explained and normally it does not bother me. But in this story, it does a little. Why does the ghost pick Tell to reveal himself to? Is it because Tell is working with Jannings?? Other people had seen the ghost over the years, was this the first time he had told his story and revealed his killer? Seems so, because of the way he fades away.

Anyway, this is one time I would like to know the why of it.
I'm not sure it was meant to be completely clear, but I think it has something to do with the whole "history is ****...knowing sometimes does some good, if you're alive," exchange. The ending mentions the protagonist now knows his professional value, and that "knowing it, however, was something of a revelation." The parallels in the language make me think the reader is supposed to see that knowledge and the knowledge of the murder as linked. How about his name? For a story so concerned with who knows what, it's pretty conspicuous to choose a name as unusual as "Tell." Right?

I was disappointed to find that this is one of the very few stories with no notes of explanation at the back. In Night Shift and Skeleton Crew, his intros were some of my favorite parts. I would have loved some clues about any of the stuff we're wondering about here, though maybe the mystery is why he didn't include them.