tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post796115567448512040..comments2024-03-28T16:06:50.879+00:00Comments on FICTION on the WEB short stories: Peppermint Candy by James MulhernCharlie Fishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04834189452905372024noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-9478270726771936822020-04-26T16:51:16.505+01:002020-04-26T16:51:16.505+01:00Loved this story (I taught high school math for 34...Loved this story (I taught high school math for 34 years). In a few short paragraphs, the author managed to capture the intricacies of secondary education (in a very interesting way). No, I never witnessed anyone poisoning students but there are a wide variety of personalities in any school system.<br />The story is extremely well written and features a MC with just the right amount of evil. I am especially pleased that Mr. Darnell is an English teacher. :)James Rumpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10983186433099791617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-15342459105066117672020-04-25T01:39:37.666+01:002020-04-25T01:39:37.666+01:00Indeed, Mrs. Antoinelli is scared of Mr. Darnell. ...Indeed, Mrs. Antoinelli is scared of Mr. Darnell. She knows something... but then at the end apologizes. Maybe he's convinced her. Darnell's living like a villain in a Poe short story, he's into horror and he's a bit of a sadist for sure. He's going overboard with the candies, likely feels the power of getting away with something. He's certainly good at explaining away his unprofessionalism "mother was a pain in the ass and Helen's a rat," any teacher saying that would be a red flag for the principal.... interesting build up and character dynamics.Harrison Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06747310376412907313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-38975043720933426132020-04-25T00:30:57.146+01:002020-04-25T00:30:57.146+01:00Also very interesting dynamic between the teacher ...Also very interesting dynamic between the teacher and the principal, especially that final exchange. Wonder if she suspects a bit more than she's letting on...Ron Schultehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05058258071909410778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-47773858291611383742020-04-25T00:17:48.902+01:002020-04-25T00:17:48.902+01:00What a nasty teacher. The boldness with which he d...What a nasty teacher. The boldness with which he drops verbal clues and keeps incriminating evidence suggests he feels quite invincible...easy to believe he's building up to even worse mischief. I wonder, though, if Helen might start to question that piece of candy once she's had some time to recover...Ron Schultehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05058258071909410778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-83485830128771939432020-04-24T20:42:07.272+01:002020-04-24T20:42:07.272+01:00Interesting villain and nice touch having him save...Interesting villain and nice touch having him save the peppermints for later - maybe a sequel story. Thanks, James.Nancy Lanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155197540326010032.post-55711017213467361072020-04-24T19:13:03.453+01:002020-04-24T19:13:03.453+01:00Ha! I suspected when he knew the name of her perfu...Ha! I suspected when he knew the name of her perfume that there was something off about him, that he was an unreliable narrator. Though I didn't guess poison until the Visene. Glad I never had him as a teacher. And that I hate peppermint. For a moment, I also suspected the janitor. Wonder how his career progresses.Chris Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13435037314612068333noreply@blogger.com