Reviewed by Zalman Velvel (Stu)

This is a short short story written by a 37 year old adult about two vivid memories from childhood. One memory was eating fresh water fish, and the other, wearing a red sweater.

There was something haunting about the story. I read it the first time, and said to myself, the writing is too good for this to be only about disliking fish and the color red. I read it again, and felt something more. Then again. On the fourth time through, I struck gold.

The story is about how the honest likes and dislikes of a child are punished by unknowing adults who refuse to tolerate character differences.

The story was extremely well crafted, and lean to the bone. My only comments on craft are that for dense, simple people like myself, it takes four times through to plumb the depths of the writing. It was worth it, but I do wish it was a little easier.