IanG

This is a good introduction, it raises a big question while plunging us into a difficult situation for the narrator.

When it comes to the rift between mother and daughter, you could describe other differences besides dress sense. Do they disagree over religion or politics? Has mother betrayed father? Perhaps these issues will become apparent later on.

You caught a plausible situation in a few paragraphs.

The 'Cathartics' jibe is witty and the pedantic narrator rings true. I would never get published by someone like that, but neither would most writers.

I hope its good news for you.

Cowardly prey is perhaps imposing human standards on animals. If you're under attack from something much better armed then flight is a sensible response. Even so, I agree with the sentiments you express here. Keep it up.

This is an interesting, well written piece. Thanks for sharing it.

The opening is poetic and the dialogue is plausible. Well done. Perhaps you could've spread the descriptions more evenly through the story but that's a minor quibble. Congratulations on your 50,000 hits.

I'd say you're off to a good start. I'd have cut 'forever' from the description of the fireflies. All you need is 'reminder' and their flashes don't last forever. Even so, you made me wonder what the boy was doing out there when he should've been indoors, and your other descriptions are good. its worth carrying on with it.