Growing Things

by S.J. Blasko

A young girl finds her way in an underground station where the trains come when you need them... not when you want. A short story.

10 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2022

About the author

SJ Blasko is a poet and fantasy writer from Massachusetts, USA. As an LGBTQ Christian, much of their work revolves around the intersection of faith, love, and identity. They have a deep appreciation for "weird" fiction, and love getting lost in worlds that are not our own.

Reviews

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those beautiful stories that you can’t stop thinking about after you’ve read it.

[Mariella Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only before read this author's poetry, but when this cover popped up in my suggested reads, I immediately sat down to read it. A short read, after all. Short, but meaningful. Poignant without trying to be.

A short story populated by a young girl and an older gentleman and a train that comes specifically always, only for you to take you to the place you need to go, to be to face and learn from your fears. There were so many quotable sections from "I don't know if I'm afraid of turning out like them or turning into them" to "there's nothing more terrifying than letting your starving heart be loved, and that's why [traveling companions] are the heaviest weight to carry."

This story speaks about fears in a familiar and gentle way; it's a story that I would hand out to my traveling companions. Beautiful in every way. I hope, in the near future, to see more.

"Growing Things" is a lost treasure.

[R.C.Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicate and lovely. This story is a welcome pause to consider what we carry and how we carry them. Perhaps you'll carry your weight differently after reading.

[MJ Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Shhhhhhh yes this is my book I'm rereading for the millionth time and giving 5 stars but consider she deserves the hype. take care of yourself, my friends. keep putting it back <3)

[Cat Bowser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curious and clever, with beautiful prose

I’m a little divided on this story but I definitely recommend it. The prose alone is so well done. There’s poetry to it but it doesn’t come across as out of place or unfitting.

The theme is pretty straight forward and certainly makes itself well known by the end. It’s a nice way of exploring the concept of living.

But I can’t say I wasn’t confused. The story itself had me wondering what was happening and why it was happening. It wasn’t clear through the plot itself which is a bit frustrating. That said though, I would reread it and maybe there’s the point. Sone stories need to be read several times to truly get across their meaning.

This one is at least worth one read. Maybe you’ll discover something new about yourself.

[Kate Lawhon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful short story full of hope and growth

Growing Things is a beautiful ode to life, growing, and not letting fear hold you back. MJ Anthony's writing style is wistful yet yearning like the breeze mentioned. I can't wait to read more from them!

[Mary Cokenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

On life's many journeys, fear can be so heavy that it stops us in our tracks. With the help of one person, that fear might be so overcome, that moving onward becomes less difficult.