Review: Good short story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 31, 2013
Vestal McIntyre's short story "Almost Tall" is a very well-written and intriguing look at one summer in the life of Dinah from Ohio who goes to New York to stay with her uncle while attending a ballet camp.  Her uncle really doesn't want to be bothered with her, so his gay partner, Eddie, reluctantly agrees to watch out for 14-year-old Dinah.  Eddie drives her to ballet classes and picks her up, and finds that he has to have her tag along to places that he must go.  One is a designer's studio where Dinah is asked to model some very beautiful dresses, but the designer compliments her on her figure and how good the clothes look on her but at the same time tells Dinah that she really isn't that pretty in the face. Dinah is quiet and shy and doesn't say anything, but she takes it all to heart.I could understand the way Dinah felt, because she was disappointed by everyone around her.  Some things didn't work out and Dinah was strong enough to stand up to a couple of friends and say no to drinking and drugs.  She had a hard time with the gay men in the beautiful apartment in New York where they lived.The story is a little bit of coming-of-age and a story about what a young girl like Dinah does with her feelings when she doesn't express them or lets them be known.  Luis is the only character who makes time for her and who seems to understand her.It would be nice to read more about Dinah to see what happens with her ballet and her next summer with Richard and Eddie.