Third Coast, Spring 2006

A few months back I read the Spring 2006 issue of Third Coast, which I've been remiss in not mentioning until now. Two short stories really stood out, and fortunately both are available online.

The first, Roger Hart's "Fireflies" (the first chapter of a novel-in progress, and the winner of the 2006 Third Coast Fiction Award) is a fine nostalgia piece about a teenaged boy dealing with grief, trying to make a romantic connection and accidentally befriending a very unlikely companion. If my summation makes the story sound like yet another coming-of-age tale, rest assured that it's far better than that.

The second story, Jean Hanson's "The Caribe Club" is a touching story about a dying mother and her young son. Hanson expertly explores the dilemma that a terminally ill parent faces between being fully involved in a young child's life, in order to savor what little time the two have left together, and keeping a distance to ease the child's ultimate hurt. The protagonist Caitlin chooses the latter, and passes away firm in her belief that the outside life she directed young Jig toward is one she would have approved of. Sadly, because of the distance she imposed and their ensuing lack of communication, his outside life is much different than what she believed it to be. Gushing out her feelings for him in a letter meant to be read after her death, rather than having a heart-to-heart talk, also fails to have the effect she desired.

In nonfiction, Chad Hanson's essay "Working Class Glass" (not online) is a fond tribute to the fiberglass fly-fishing rod, that redheaded stepchild of the sport that is shunned by both the old-fashioned traditionalists who use bamboo rods and the modern, macho types who use graphite rods.

Let's face it, old glass rods are the Volkswagen vans of the fly fishing world. They're not Ferraris or Land Rovers. They're not fast or responsive, but in upscale cars and trucks, the vehicle is the focus of the drive. You pay more attention to the car than you pay to the world outside. In a Volkswagen van, it's the scenery that matters. Likewise, with a fiberglass rod in hand it's all about the water, the fish, your friends, and the sun sinking under the horizon, casting memorable shadows on the day.

Hanson realizes that the best thing about fishing isn't catching fish, but enjoying the overall experience. Nice lesson.