10 Comments
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Janet Kyle Altman's avatar

This is great stuff, Tod, particularly the roles women are playing.

Tod Cheney's avatar

Thanks Janet, and special thanks for becoming a paid subscriber. Means a lot.

Ruth Sterling's avatar

The turn this took --- a surprise, a total surprise. Well done!

Tod Cheney's avatar

Right. Just had to mention that hat.

NANCY MILLER's avatar

Great progress on this, Tod, and love the treatment you give Lincoln. Wasn’t expecting an entrance by him. The only comment might be the legless man playing his flute, because considering he just endured major surgery without pain meds only a few hours earlier, I’m just not sure he would have the energy, stamina, or will to play music. Still, I suppose there are people out there who are much stronger than I could ever be.

Tod Cheney's avatar

Good comment. But hang in there . The meds are about to make an appearance. Chloroform was in common use for surgery during the war, and so were opium pills for after, and general zoning out. Indeed, many wounded veterans became addicted to opium. Sound familiar? The legless man is rather a bull of a man physically, but I'm afraid the damage to his psyche will prove to be too much for him.

Lucinda Kempe's avatar

Great scene. Love the magical realism with the 🎩🎶🌷

Tod Cheney's avatar

Thanks Lucinda. That hat is sort of magical isn't it.

John Evans's avatar

Just realizing that a certain contemporary POTUS is attempting to channel Abe Lincoln, big-hatwise. But he doesn't get it.