He had come here to make a fresh start, so he decided to make an effort. Spoilers through "The Coup," unspoiled speculation thereafter.
8 He ignored the feeling of falling as he asked her to dinner,...
Love that line.
Jim's been away. Now he's back. Pam realizes what she's missed. No spoilers - just speculation and much wishful thinking.
I added Karen as a character in the story - since she's mentioned.
9 Really nice Pam POV. The two paragraphs that begin with "Karen" are great. I like even more that you leave it where you do.
Author's Response:
Thank you Shan - even though you are directly responsible for me having to type this from beyond the grave. ;) I'm not afraid of Jim paying attention to someone else - I'm just scared that it'll stay there too long. :(
And I'm glad you liked where I left it. It's killing me to "leave things" at the moment. I'm craving cue love song, fade into the sunset like no one's business right about now.
Perhaps, even though she hates to put it into words so bluntly, perhaps Michael is just better than nothing. Jan before Casino Night.
8 ...he is full of affection and warmth that no one really wants from him.
That line is a punch in the gut. Terrifically sad.
I love that Jan has shaved her legs twice in one day and doesn't want to think about what that means. And your description of their conversation provides a nice "lost scene".
8 I love the three paragraphs about spending time with Roy. "...he seems proud,..." made me smile.
Author's Response: Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked it. :o)
When gods want to punish us, they grant us our wishes.6 OK, that last line is VERY intriguing.
Author's Response: Thanks:)
8 Oh, fantastic! And Creed as the Clarence figure - perfect. Love Pam's conversations with Kelly and Phyllis, and her frantic search for anything Jim. Gave me a sinking feeling in the gut. Off to chapter 3...
8 Nice realizations on Pam's part here. Enjoyed Creed's explanation, too. Looking forward to chapter 4!
The more things change - the more they stay the same.
(I went crazy and rated it M -and then changed it back to a T 'cause - you know - it's still me doing the writing.)
8 Mm-mm-mm. This...
The words had barely left her lips when Jim called the waitress back and cancelled their entrees.
...YUM. Of course the line about his teeth and her hosiery caused a little squee before that, but Jim wanting to get out of the restaurant immediately? Yup.
Nice one :)
I'm not just going to sit by and let that bitch in CT have him.
Sorry. Did I say that out loud? Was that a little to irrational? LOL!
Thanks Shan. Glad you liked it. :)
8 Hey, I wondered when this would come up. It'd be an interesting dyamic for Pam to be involved with someone over Jim's head (in the heiracrchy). Yeah, keep going. (I think you're missing a word in the next-to-last sentence - re-read and see).
8 ...he’s pretending the stuffed puppy is a hat.
So Jim. :)
8 Look up, Jim! *searches in vain for second chapter*
More, please :)
7 Ah, very satisfying!
Author's Response: Thanks, shan. Appreciate it!
With apologies to Charles Dickens, here's the real story of what finally prompted Pam to call off the wedding. 9 Nice start! Jacob Marley always freaked me out, all floaty and clinking.
I love the ambiguity of the sigh in your last line.
9 Your Kevin and Kelly voices are really good. Love how Kevin says colleague. Cracks me up. Nice situations to include in the Present, too.
Author's Response: I love writing both Kevin and Kelly. Thanks!
9 “Yes, well, your subconscious has a lot of random stuff in it, Pam.”
LOL.
...he just looked at her and raised his eyebrows in a way that suggested a shrug.
Yes! That's Toby! And three-years-older Jim is a little heartbreaking.
I found Toby harder to write this time than I expected, for some reason. I'm glad it worked out well! I wanted to show Jim as having moved on and doing well, but also for Pam to see in an instant that she's broken something in him. Not sure if that worked as well... :)
9 "There was nothing special about this day, was there?..."
That revelation is perfect. Utterly. Love it.
Five ways Jim finds out about Dwight & Angela.9 Oh, man, it maskes me giggle to think what effect the secret in #5 is going to have on the immediate proceedings! May douse the fires, so to speak :) I love these, love that Pam is involved in all five. Each one is a perfect capsule moment.
Author's Response:
I imagine any fire-dousing would only be temporary, right? Hee.
At this point, I don't think I could write a jam-free fic if I tried- especially not when I'm sick! Thank you, as usual, for your kind words!
9 In honor of your name, *yaaaaaaaay!*, Kermit-style.
Very good! The voices are right, the pacing is great.
And: yes! When Pam tells this story on the show, Jim totally gets a "Wait a minute" look on his face before he asks her when it happened. Wouldn't it be cool if he did remember?
And wouldn't it be cool if I didn't treat these characters like real people? Too late! Great job, Muppet :)
Jim DOES get a "wait a minute" look on his face! I am now positive that he was remembering and kicking himself to find out that at the time Roy wasn't yet Pam's boyfriend.
They're not real people? Whaaat?
Thanks so much for the review and the encouragement :)
She didn't know what hurt worse; that Roy's family hated her, or that he didn't.
7 Good reality here. I like the detail about her sister-in-law losing weight for a bridesmaid's dress she'll never wear.
Author's Response: Thank you :)
Just a collection of confections from a parallel universe where all the Herr’s potato chips in Montreal can’t keep Pam and Jim apart. I hope it’s as therapeutic to read, as it was to write. A bit saucy.7 Mmm, makes me want to cook pudding (no instant!). I'm thinking... tonight ;)
Author's Response: I have to say, JK's endorsement of choc pudding made me see it in a whole new light. Phooey on instant. Enjoy dessert (tonight!)
This story follows "Grief Counseling". Ed Truck's death makes Pam reach out to someone.
It was too late to change her mind now. She knocked on his front door.
8 Michael is such a heartbreaking character, and you've really captured that here. Yours is one of the only fics where this idea...
he just wanted me to pick him right then
...is so well expressed that I said, "Yeah, from Pam's point of view that was unfair." Really nice job.
8 “I thought you were buying me my own soda.”
That right there? Laugh-out-loud funny.
You have that dream quality working well here. I love that what he wants doesn't turn out to be sexual, but for Pam not to marry Roy. Nice!
"Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations." Faith Baldwin
A story inspired by Ms. Fischer herself and her recently publicized version of Pam's backstory that explains what the hell is going on in her mind now that she's made that poor heartbroken boy move away.
9 On Thursday nights like those as she slips into bed alone she wonders if she’ll ever know what it would really be like.
Wow, that brought back living alone, climbing into bed alone, and just not knowing if I was doing what I needed to be doing to be happy. Huh.
I like this, a lot, especially her fits and starts toward Connecticut.
And, again, love where you left it.
Yes, Shan - welcome to my Thursday nights. Except first I sit there for a half hour and wonder if Pam's doing what she needs to do to be happy.
I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track though - so that's something. LOL!
Gotta tell you. Leaving it is soooooooo soooooooo soooooooooooo difficult. Remember - I once was the "Queen of the Happily Ever After Epilogue."
I still might backslide from time to time - but it seems I'm going through some sort of vague uncertainty phase at the moment. ;)
I bought a new suit and cancelled a plane ticket.10 This is just heart-rending in the best possible way. The final section is so gorgeously painful.
I also love what you've done with these lines:
When there wasn't any hesitation in your voice during your vows, I put it there for you.
...take you to some exotic place that we’d never actually see, because there would be so much to do with our skin.
Beautiful.
7 How interesting that Pam has taken on several of Roy's qualities here. I like the JimActs you've pointed out as annoying Pam. Nice!
Author's Response: Thanks shan. I guess in theory, perfection grows wearisome. Anyway, thanks for the inspiration and don't hate me even though I wussed out and included the disclaimer about this being your idea. "Give credit where credit is due" is my motto!