Those who were raised Catholic and endured catechism as a child may recognize the setting. A series of primary graders are waiting, “in a long line of wee sinners—the queue looped twice round the nave and aisles of our church.” However, readers who do not have similar memories to draw upon can still empathize with the inter- and intra-personal struggles presented here vis-à-vis our protagonist, eight year old Mary Faith Dennison. In this fictional tale, Leigh Rastivo writes the story through Mary’s eyes, giving the audience the full run-down of her thoughts, worries, and obsessions. What she reveals is the breakdown of communication between adults and children—especially in areas that matter most. Sound familiar? Disconnect between fellow humans is indeed a universal theme. And a poignant one at that.
After setting the scene, we learn that, “…I was supposed to stand tall and pray in preparation, but really, I was plotting what to cop to once I reached the ‘Dark Box,’ as my older brother Mark called it.” Mary is preparing a list of sins for her confessional, the details of which comprise much of the tale. Her reflection upon each item generates many more for her list all the while giving the audience a clearer perspective of the people in Mary’s life. As she inches closer to the confessional booth, the scene shifts. Our story climaxes in a toilet stall confessional. Which, really, when it comes to building a relationship with God, is it not likely in the humblest of circumstances? Don’t answer that. Read the story.
My main criticism is that Leigh Rastivo does not seem to have much of an online presence at the time of my writing this review. It’s a shame. Rastivo’s work is worth reading, and people need to be able to find it. If you’re a writer looking to circulate your work, update your website! Leigh, I’ll be checking back to see your progress.
Wanna read this story for yourself? Find it here: L’Esprit Issue Two
Source: Rastivo, Leigh. “One Time in Hell.” L’Esprit Literary Review, is. 2, April 2023, https://lespritliteraryreview.org/2023/04/04/one-time-in-hell/
Watch for more story reviews yet to come: Pauline Shen’s Blog
Cover Photo: Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels.com
Pauline Shen 