Little Boy Blue

hello there!! while at its core the story does burrow concepts and ideas more associated with children stories, it uses them to write an engaging story with some complexity that people usually shy away from in stories for children. there's a cleverness to the writing that adds to this complexity, and is something i appreciate when i read this more than once! during the first time reading, i did get confused at the last two paragraphs, due to new concepts, settings, and actions popping up so suddenly in a short time. however, the language kept me steady enough to try internalizing the story when i read another time. since while the writing does have the rhythm as prose at some parts, the overall word choices are grounded enough to comprehend its metaphors and whimsy. this reads as a story book, which i feel is great for a story reminiscent of childhood and children's stories! the duality of child-like concepts, and serious themes, made this story even more interesting to study and enjoy!!

One color, one shade, one young boy named Blue between that of White and that of Black.

They dined at a lake called The Table-frosted waters in a world of Black ice and White snow, both competing for the trophy of Coldest Shoulder in the proxy war of Nearly Divorced.

this introduction establishes the story's whimsy and story-book-like feel so well with its cheeky writing. such as the shades and colors, the winter-theming of its descriptions, plus the rhythm of certain lines. i'd say using descriptive language associated with the cold (ice, snow) to describe both Black and White as cold entities for Blue knowing how people's perceptions of both shades drastically differ (Black is always intimidating/evil/sinister, White is always soft/pure/good) could influence how we engage with this story, is a great choice. since it gives a more balanced view to how we view both of these characters (how they're equally at fault for their treatment of Blue) plus gives more attention to the main victim of this (Blue). also, it's so cheeky that Blue's parents are Black and White, knowing how they're both shades and well... are a result of or responsible for colors. so like if we're being "technical" here, Black and White carries the traits of every color and could make a Blue child. yup my mind thinks like that.

though, perhaps the detail was me over-reaching since the first line describes White and Black as "One color, one shade, one young boy named Blue". it does seem a bit odd to me that White is a color while Black is a shade. it's not that a shade is being called a color here that odds me out - since i mean yeah whatever, colors mean different things depending if its about visuals, paints, or science so you could call shades colors - but, its just that one is called a color or a shade while the other isn't. i'm unsure if there is significance to that, other than just making introduction flow more like prose.

other than that, re-reading this, i notice the table being specifically "frosted waters" while later on it changes. this table, that involves the whole family and is between the parents, is a neat way of adding to the metaphor of these tensed, harsh parents and the overall tension in the family while remaining to add to the story's winter-theming!

Little boy Blue sat perfectly still as the air became so frosty he himself began to wither, for the proxy they used was him: He felt painful tugs as they reached with their icy cold hands into his heart and pulled, a game of tug of war to pass the time.

this way of describing Blue's position between his parents is just so vivid and harsher in compared to the simplistic word choices and writing of the introduction that it's visceral. i think it dives into the uncomfortable topic very nicely while not divorcing itself too much from the established writing that relies on being descriptive.

He thought he might freeze over until fragile White snow caved in to reveal impaling Black ice shards glittering within and fled, breaking the surface tension of The Table now wet with tears. As the snow lifted, Black's ice was found only a veneer, beneath which was pure White snow packing a heart shaped hole. White snow that was now melting and joining the tears-mixing.

whats interesting about this story is how while these colors represent human concepts, they're still written as these abstract concepts. the visual of these characters as abstract entities still remain, and in fact they as concepts, are utilized to create this imagery reminiscent of human actions (ex: impaling). there is something jarring about these characters who are abstract entities described to do human actions (ex: "fled") while also doing these vivid, abstract actions too (ex "Black's ice was found only a veneer, beneath which was pure White snow packing a heart shaped hole"), however it adds to the uniqueness of this story!

trying to deconstruct what's happening, with these vivid actions of these characters that are both abstract and human has been, confusing but fascinating. while the introduction did portray Black and White as equally cold, harmful entities for Blue's life, this paragraph gives the opportunity to discuss them as individuals. as i read the line that White snow, "caved in to reveal impaling Black ice shards glittering within and fled", i admit i was confused due to Black ice being mainly referring to this abstract concept named Black ice. however here, it seems that Black ice are "glittering within", as to describe White snow becoming being negatively affected by the difficulties of the relationship & Black ice. despite their exterior appearing as sofer and perhaps purer, beneath that they hold these darker, harsher parts of them that lingers. the table is now "wet with tears", reflecting the outburst from White snow being the catalyst of both parents fully revealing themselves to their child.

Black ice as an individual may appear as more intimidating, but the sentence, "As the snow lifted, Black's ice was found only a veneer, beneath which was pure White snow packing a heart shaped hole", reveals that this ice is only the appearance. their heart empty without their partner, as if they totally revolved their person-hood around that partner. to sum it up, both partners are portrayed with nuance here as people with their own deep issues as both shades are also made up of each other's shades - giving a more "grey" look to this situation where both partners are just as harmful and rough and soft as each other despite them having drastically different shades.

noticeably, the table now takes a different form that is now broken in a result of Black ice and White snow's (as i read it) fight, and/or White snow's active choice to reveal themselves, which is a neat detail and adds to the allegory of this situation!

Blue ran to the cabin by The Table’s side called Grandma's House to warm up. While he was there, new colors were born. As Black and White melted together into Grey waters and united in a brilliant Red passion, Blue discovered Gold in the basement of Grandma's House from her Golden era in the 1920s…The kind of sick, nasty vintage Yellow Gold that burned on the way down. At least it kept him close enough to Green when he awoke to smile at his parents as they sat down at a Pink Table far away from him, rediscovering themselves in each other.....never noticing how he had turned Grey.

goodness, what an ending! i love the vagueness of the last line, it has a certain ominous tone that really makes you wonder. i also think the last line is great ending, due to how nicely it contrasts with the overall fast pacing and burst of colors and emotions throughout this paragraph.

there's something beautiful in that even with an earlier fight with the parents (as i perceived), it all ended up being liberating. they both became Grey then became passionate or "Red", due to the realization that both parallel in their hurt. both parents joining makes the table pink - which is interesting due to them uniting in a Red passion. the pink color could be a result of the table's frost from earlier when there was tension and the Red passion, possibly reflecting that while both Black and White are joined together, there is still more difficulties to overcome in their relationship.

those appear to be the most obvious symbolism when it comes to the colors, however Blue meeting Gold then Green, and while meeting Green is a reference to how blue & yellow (gold in this case) makes green, i still do not understand its relevance. i see that gold symbolizes the past or a "golden era" of someone, paralleling White snow and Black ice "rediscovering" themselves. though perhaps, Blue is also "rediscovering" who he was before this tension.

even within the overall liberation of the end, there is an uncertainty to it. the parents haven't noticed Blue's change - almost implying that they've gotten together at the expense of noticing their child. which is something to think about, knowing how Blue becoming Grey almost has this negative or neutral tone in contrast to how White snow & Black ice becoming grey being a positive liberating thing for both. either Blue is now Grey as a result of just White snow and Black ice turning grey and thus affecting him - showing both parents' harm negatively affecting him (and their togetherness positively affecting him later on), and/or he is now in that shade as a result of Blue meeting Gold then Green. i do think his shade being a result of all of these things would be compelling- but regardless of what the answer leans to, him being in this state of shade is meant to hint to Blue developing into this complex person due to disturbance and hurt caused by his parents, the warmth in his grandmother's home, and what he comes across in that home.


this is all to say, even with some confusion, i was able to enjoy this story and try looking deeper into it. what a lovely, whimsical story that utilizes the symbolism of colors & shade to make a compelling short story!! love the duality of both liberation and hurt that this story weighs. keep writing!!