Reviewer: tinydundie Signed
Date: May 29, 2022
Title: Chapter 23: Chapter 23 - Packer Patrol
*“In the words of the King…” he went on…
“A little less conversation, a little more action. Seriously, I could carve out a space for you in my Caf? Disco where you can paint and put up a little gallery. We could host some pancake breakfasts with the artist.”
Once again, Michael’s words turned her insides to mush causing her to blink back tears from her lashes.
“Serve them up with a little espresso,” he said the word both correct and with a slurred southern drawl.
Despite her attempts to keep them contained, the droplets fell from out of the corners of her eyes as she began to laugh and cry simultaneously.
For once Michael stayed serious, as serious as he could while doing a poor impersonation of the famous pompadour-coiffed entertainer.
“Mark my words little lady, you keep at it and you’ll do very well. I see it very clearly. You have a future to go after if you just never ever, ever give up.”*
*Never before had she had the opportunity to witness his vulnerability, or feel his loneliness, or get a sense of the genuinely kind heart he had. It was only through this experience she was able to observe how he saw the best in his people and wanted to inspire them to achieve greatness all while still showing them a fun time while doing it. It was only through the intimate moments they had on the boat, at the library, the ice-skating rink and during their lunches, out and at her home, that she came to see more than just the immaturity and idiocy that until now she’d thought were his most defining traits. She knew now, he was so much more than he seemed.*
It's not necessarily a Jim/Pam story... it's a Pam/Michael story, and the lessons she's learning are working their way into her subconscious regardless of what she's going to end up changing/ remembering. Yet again, I really adore the way you write Pam and Michael together.
*Despite reflexively thumbing the scale, which she realized she'd been doing for years, it wasn't enough to keep all the weight of the recent days from tipping the other side down. And yet, she still felt paralyzed, locked into the life she had settled on when she put on Roy's jersey and posed for the photo that still hung in his locker.*
This is beautiful.
I love the idea that she is/ has been actively ignoring her feelings for Jim and she's deciding to pay more attention to them now, letting them take over. It remains my contention that S2 Pam is very much aware of how she feels about Jim, her self-confidence level (and the fact that he tells her he's completely over his crush) are what allow her to convince herself he doesn't feel the same way, and never even entertain the possibility of actually being with him. Then CN shoots all of that to shit. (This isn't a direct commentary on your chapter, just my own personal musings.)
*What fell from her eyes was the joy of knowing she was cherished, not by Roy but by Jim, but with that joy came the fear that her whole life was meant to change, had to change, and she still didn’t know if she had the strength to make it happen no matter how much she wanted it to.*
UGH UGH this is painfully beautiful! I'm ready for the home stretch here, Max! Please don't keep us waiting long!
Author's Response:
I did say at some point this story was not just about Jam but about the Michael/Pam relationship (which I have a soft spot for) and Pam's growth in general.
I agree - a lot of what she knew and felt got buried until CN unearthed it - but even then she couldn't act immediately. She still needed time- I figure she needed about 2 weeks, so that's what I gave her here.
Thank you for all your support with this story. Reviews and beans have meant the world to me as I put this out there.
It should be long now - the final chapters I hope to post faster now that the whole tale is mapped out.
Thanks again.
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