Reviewed by Gary

Here is an aptly named story by Claudia Duwe. It reads like an intimate letter to a friend telling of an incident with another friend. The use of the 'colour grey' to describe the narrators dull and listless work life is very thought provoking. It is also something which nearly everyone can relate to. Claudia tells with startling clarity of an encounter with a co-worker which is so slight yet fraught with meaning. Yet a year goes by and neither the narrator or any of the other workers gets close with this individual as to even inquire as to his name or where he goes after work or even about where he lives. We all can recall someone in our life who has touched us subtly yet meaningfully and we never really understood it until it was too late. Regret at these times can stop the flow of human warmth, part of the valuable learning experience we all go through. What better tribute to a person who has done so much by doing so little than to pass on the spark of humanity, the miracle of caring. The ending is so pregant with meaning that I had to read it over and then read the story from the beginning again. The drab surroundings to the story couch in very real terms the preciousness of human contact. Even in the most seemingly mindless situations. The story is a must read and says a lot in relatively short space.

Story by © Claudia Duwe

Reviewed by © Gary

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