All Comments on 'Dream Small'

Sweet and touching.

Very touching

Thank you

5 Could be nothing less. Thank you.

Made this old man cry. So much love in this short story. Life as it should be lived.

Such a wonderful story

Thank you for this. It was so very good to read. Something in the air as I’m writing this - allergies are acting up and my eyes are watering.

Damn! Thank you! Very moving.

5 is the only rating that would be proper. If available, it should be 6, or 10, or 100. "Romance" is the proper place on Literotica for the telling of such as this; stories of the wonderful, positive side of The Human Condition. Great craftsmanship, great assemblage of a family tale - a family tale of joyous outcomes among the fascist horrors that have characterized this most recent century. My humble thanks to an author who is keenly aware that some have had the great, good fortune to "have lived a long and peaceful life courtesy of the men and women who made it possible for me not to remember the intricate details of a horrible time accurately." Indeed, "Life is far too short for lazy lovers or shitty coffee." Thank you, Rollinbones, for a wonderful, family tale, indeed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Great story of life’s trials and tribulations. It made me tear up at the end. Thank you for your effort!

Really well done.

Simply superb! There should be a special designation for a tale such as this, for no amount of stars are sufficient. Thank you for the heart warming love story. Not many submissions here bring a tear to the eye, but you have done so with aplomb!

A big wonderful story full of love and dreams! As good as anything I have ever read in a long lifetime! Thank you for sharing this with all of us fortunate enough to read it.

Really, just WOW!!!

I wish I could give it more than 5. A really good romantic story. Well done Sir.

Thank you.

After 3 years of going through the Romance category for a good story.

I stumbled upon another Hall of Fame potential.

1000/10

One of the best stories I have read in a long time.

for a lovely story.

Make room in the Hall of Fame

They don't come any better than this. Even if Sasha was occasionally a bit too...precocious.

So very well written. I had to put the story down twice to cry.

As I finished reading this story, it is 2 AM. As in this story, I have been remembering the good times as well as the not so good times. But that is life. Thank you for probably one of the best stories I have read in recent memory and I'm sure that I will remember many parts of this story for a long time. Thank you for your time and effort in putting this into a written form and allowing my many memories that have come to the forefront.

Wow! Made me cry!

Awesome story, enjoyed it immensely!

A very good story and so well written,i too had to leave it a few times to dry my eyes

Thank you

Great story, very well told and I enjoyed it so much. There is a lot that hits close to home and brought tears to my eyes. Didn't read it for the sex but what was there was handled very well and not sordid, but loving. Solid five stars and worth reading again and again. Thanks

At 77 this story rang true. Thank you for this gift.

This is one of the best stories I have read in a long time. I like how “Pops” was portrayed and how the story was developed. So good. Worth more than only 5 stars.

Awesome story.

A fitting tribute to a generation to whom we owe so much. Thank you.

Your story was very well done! You made me feel pretty well every emotion.

Thank you for tye well crafted tale.

I am 70 years old and cried like a baby you little s..t.

An amazing soul wrentching story.

5 is nowhere near enough.

My thanks to you. Kudos

Sorry but the reference to Australian troops in France in WWII set me off and I didn’t get beyond there.

Almost an early 20th century Australian outback tale. I read a fair bit as part of getting older and embracing retirement, this is one of the best I have read in the class of Burnt Redstone and other quality authors. What it does point out is the difficulty for quality writers to earn income in these times but the accolades at least are available.

What a brilliant story, way too good for us mere mortals on Lit.

Many many thanks for sharing your incredible talent.

@Robyn1859 - There were more than 2000 Australian airmen serving in Europe and elsewhere during WW2. Nurses and other medical personnel were also present in Europe.

Certainly the best new story by far that I have read here in a very long time! Congrats and keep going!

I just loved it; shed tears at various times. I loved how it evolved from a simple tale to one encompassing so much love and connection across two continents.

Beautifully written.

Beautiful story. It brought tears to my eyes.

One of the most delightful stories I have read, it made me smile and cry. Thank you for your beautiful writing

I balked a little at the implausibility of a grandad telling the intimate details of his love making to his daughter and granddaughter, even in a candid family like that. And in a fantasy story like this, it’s too bad you had to inject a divorce for Renny, but it didn’t take any stars off of my rating. Thanks for writing it.

Very nice story you weave here RB, with some sweet twists and turns along the way. Funny that as soon as I read 1988 my first thoughts were ‘EXPO 88’ and then the long queues! Btw, I wouldn’t normally comment on another reader’s comment, but I was somewhat astounded (and amused and perhaps even triggered) by Robyn1859 who was triggered by Australian’s serving in Europe during the Second World War - perhaps Robyn and anyone else reading would be surprised to learn that approximately 9% of Royal Air Force aircrew in the European and Mediterranean theatres were Australians. That’s RAF aircrew alone, not to mention all the support personnel and other military. Can’t find the figures for Fighter Command, but over 20,000 served in Bomber Command alone.

Bravo!

Too bad there isn't a sixth star to choose.

One of the best stories written in the romance category . Top 20 material .

Proves you don't need steamy sex scenes to write an amazing story. Well done.

This is an absolutely amazing tale! Thanks for making this 5-star effort available on Lit!

Damn, absolutely love this.

Thank You. I needed that.

I cried.... wow. WORK OF ART. You are a gifted writer.

Thank you fir such a beautifully told tale.

And well told. Nicely done, off to read whatever else you have written. Thank you.

Very well done. Thank you for make a dreary Sat. enjoyable.

The school leaving age in Queensland was 14 from 1912 until 1965 (when it became 15).. Thus quitting school at 11 is unlikely. No doubt some people did leave school earlier and lie about their age, but as an apprentice barber he would surely have been noticed and found out. As many aspects of the story are improbable it helps suspension of disbeliefiif the details are correct. Him leaving school at 14 would not have substantially altered the story.

I do not think that you had to be particularly small to fly a spitfire, that line did not seen true to life and unlikely, even as a joke.

AFAIK no-one managed to swim the channel to escape in ww2. OK, he was picked up be a British fishing boat after six hours (swimming it seems to take about 20 hours) so the boat would have been a long way towards France. This is not impossible but highly unlikely, I would have accepted it more easily if the school leaving age issue was not grating in my mind making me doubt the story.

The difficulty I had in suspending disbelief is unfortunate as otherwise this is an excellent story.

I am humbled by the generousity of your comments. Thank you.

I enjoy the constructive criticism as well. Every time i re-read one of my stories i find an error to slap myself in the proverbial face with. For instance, Clarry fell into a chestnut tree that became a walnut tree later in this story. *facepalm...

I'd like to address anon's school leaving age comment. He/she is correct. Children were declared truant if they left before 14. Ironically, the age eleven was chosen by me because that is the exact age at which my own late grandfather left school to start work as a storeman in a department store in Toowoomba. His alcoholic father had died and he needed to provide for his sisters and his bed-ridden mother. It was not common practice but there were many circumstances in which the authorities overlooked the matter.

In any case. Thank you all for your votes and for taking time to feed my growth with your comments.

Oh. My. Word. Breathtakingly good is all I can say, the thread woven and the twists and turns make this a journey of love and tears. Thank you RollinBones, I loved it!

A wonderful lo e story! Worthy of .such praise! Thank you!

As an ex-mil of an age to have been bruised by the steel butt plate of a “smellie”, son of a barber, and fortunate enough to have travelled to Oz as well as England and western Europe, I want to congratulate Rollinbones on this chef d’oeuvre.

Small towns were truly supportive of kids who stood up for family when there was no other option, even if paper laws needed to be ignored. An 11 yo wanting to support his family would have had no problem with being a gopher, and Karens would have known to ‘shut it’.

There is an awesome museum in Germany with an extensive collection of WW2 aircraft - Technik Museum. Looking into the cockpit of an Me109 gives a similar impression as one gets looking into that of a Spit in a British museum: how bl—dy tight it is, and how compact the pilot must have been to fit in one wearing full flight gear.

A kerosene rinse is a great way to reduce nit-picking, even today.

Capt (retd), RCAC

Wonderful story!

5

Wow....nothing else to say but WOW! A very outstanding story. Stirred up past military emotions from my war days. Love the story and the twists you put in. Again, a very good story. Thanks you. semper fi

Being a man in my 70’s, this is the best story I have ever read on Literotica or anywhere else, truly wonderful!

Born in '43 from a gal in an embarkation port. Adopted. Fortunate enough to have visited OZ for several weeks. Strong affection as we were there just after 9-11 and the "we're with ya mates" were much appreciated.

Wonderful story. Probably one of the 5 best I've read here. Thank you.

So beautiful! You wrote a great romantic love story.

Terrific story! Thank you.

What a wonderful story. It is way too late, but I couldn’t stop reading it. I agree with the comment, the best story I’ve read on Literotica.

Found this author and story by accident. This is a magnificent story and I was unable to put it down. Well done.

It made me laugh and sometimes years welled up in my eyes. A great book in just a few pages! Thanks for sharing this with us!

Brilliant. Hit me right in the feels.

Wonderful story.

Such a wonderful tale, beautifully written

a very, sweet, lovely piece of storytelling. Thank you for sharing it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

terrific story. had to stop reading once or twice due to a lump in my throat. wonderful romance.

A truly wonderful story.

That was truly one of the best stories I’ve read in this site. Actually made me tear up once or twice, and I don’t do that. Bravo.

Absolutely fantastic! I so enjoyed reading this. I seldom give 5 stars because I feel it’s unfair to the stories that truly deserve them. I wish I could give this one 10. Thank you for sharing!

Beautiful story. Truly! Thank you. ❤️

Great story, thank you.

A Life well lived!

A bit confusing and I had trouble keeping track of the names of the two sets of families, but the sentiment was there and Sasha's epilog tidied it all up. Hard to believe a real love can last a 40 year hiatus, but we can all dream. 5*

10 stars and many tears later, family is so................I don't have the words. At almost 80 I have a wonderful family my wife gave me (she brought 4 great kids with)when we married. They are all 50 and over today. Then there is the family I had before I met my second wife of 40 years but we won't talk about them. Great story, I needed a little cry.

I have tears streaming down my face. This author makes it all seem like it really happened. Emotions tugged from my heart. Joy at their discovering each other when thought to have lost them years ago. Sasha and her school project and her worldly comments added just enough relief. Ha ha.

Loved it!! Just what the doctor ordered for an old romantic like me. It could so easily be turned into a 600 page paperback but is perfect the way it is. All I can say is thank you, you have made an old man very happy.

Oh man! Grief...love...tears...laughter...sheer unbridled hope, dreams, awe and completion.... this story has it all. Thank you, Rollinbones.

I don't normally cry, but now the hole in my chest feels a little less ragged. Thank you.

A fine story. Thank you.

I can't say anything more than what's already been said, so I won't bother trying. All I'll say is well done, Rollinbones. Well done!

I absolutely love this story.

Thank you for writing something that captured my imagination and a wonderful afternoon.

I enjoyed this story very much. It reminded me of a favorite song. Same general premise, but, as songs must be, a shorter, and less resolved story. Those more prone to sentiment should bring half a box of tissues to a listening. Those who can effect a more manly stoicism might get by with a folded paper towel. Search "randall williams i will come for you".

Incredible story.

Thanks for sharing.

Really liked this story.

Solesurvivor1969

What a fantastic and lovely story. Definitely a 5 star ✨🌟✨🌟✨🌟✨🌟✨🌟. Actually I am giving you more than five star. Thank you so much for your lovely story 😌❤️😌❤️😌❤️😌❤️😌❤️.

Ali Singapore

Just too good.

Film material

Great writing.

Profound! - So sweet and so sad! Family matters most! ***** stars!

Burninglove

This is a wonderful story and I loved it. *****. As an old man who had parents and aunts uncles of his age who were in WWII it was very close to my heart. They were truly “the greatest generation”.

It is very hard to find really good stories here. This one is great!

Fantastic!

Impressive writing, heartwarming story. Yes, deserves to be the basis of a movie. More please!

What a wonderful and well told story!

Oh wow, tears here, beautiful

What a wonderful, well written love story. Thanks.

My wife survived breast cancer, so some of the subject matter here hit very close to the heart for me.

The other comment is that unlike many of your fellow writers, you actually spent the time on finishing the story and tying off the last few knots.

All in all, it's a story that deserves the rating it has, if not better.

This story touched me, and I'm definitely going to be checking out some of the other stories you've published here.

It has been some time since I originally read this story. For some reason, I think it is even better with the second reading. Dream small and enjoy each and every victory!

A wonderful story; a remarkable example of craftsmanship as an author, and fidelity to the innate joy that life can be. The recording of a conversation with a granddaughter is one of the most clever literary devices that can be imagined. And then renewal, more years of a wonderful family's life, another marriage, life going on, even as lives pass away. Indeed, "dream small", but never petty! At 83, I have just read this story for the second time. It remains a wonderful description of dreaming small, loving and assisting in small victories, and accepting small wonders. Thank you indeed, Rollinbones!!

This is my fourth reading still I find it so much full filling. I really like to congratulate you for the wonderful and beautiful lovely story. Definitely a 5 star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating