This is fantastic.

Ha! Epic and awesome. It’s like a snippet taken from the middle of a great novel. <3 dis is sahweet.

You know just how to win a contest…also, it probably was a good idea, and for all time. Beautiful.

Great story, really made me smile through it all, especially in the end.

whoa, I really love this!

longest sentence ever! But lots of twists in there.

Best run-on sentence every. I think we’ve all had one of those, “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” moments. In fact, I have them almost daily. It’s a good run of what fame and infamy are like in the modern world.

I agree that run-on sentence was spectacular, and, for a long sentence, remarkebly easy to folllow.

I disagree with the assessments of “run-on” above, and instead commend your use of grammar. To put an entire life story as the appositive for “later on”… inspired. Keep on keeping on.

Thanks for all the comments and ratings, Ficly-folk. I enjoyed writing this and including a phrase that summarizes my life in broad strokes. The piece actually makes me want to write a story that includes it.

Awesome Hellbilly! Loved the downgrade from hero to hilltop. Sums up most 15 min. of famers. Really liked “the trailer parks had made a legend of him.” So true!

Great story, and gratz on all the attention it’s getting.

My one complaint (sorry bro) is, “his looks had been robbed by age from him.” It sounds awkward and interrupts the flow of the sentence.

I feel bad pointing out a flaw in a brilliant story, but I figured you were getting so much love, a little criticism wouldn’t hurt.

Plus, c’mon. You know I’m a fan.

Criticism is always appreciated, sir. Too much love makes us soft and ineffectual.

It’s like the punchline to a “Famous Last Words” joke. :)

Simultaneously epically triumphant, subtly sad, and grittingly realistic.