Short Story Month: Michelle Reale's "What Passes for Normal"

Just read "What Passes for Normal" by Michelle Reale at SmokeLong Quarterly. Wow--I'm still taking it in. The language is careful and tender without being sentimental, brutal without being heartless. Her words are so vivid and sparse; heart-breaking observations from a child's point of view that ring true and sound deep. I could list examples here, but I'd rather you take a look at this flash piece (just over 1,000 words) yourself. Bravo, Michelle. This is haunting stuff I won't forget.