So many would-be storytellers have a style that feels forced or awkward, but yours has the wonderful facility of not getting in the way of the story. I would have liked to have gotten even more of a sense or feeling of what Mariano was up to. The fact that a kid is thriving on a man’s tension? Creepy!

Amazing! I was literally laughing out loud at the way this kid stuffed his face despite his parents’ consternation. Very smooth writing. I didn’t notice it at all when it could so easily have gotten in the way. Great example of showing better than telling.

he’s a spy… hmm, what are the neighbors doing?