On "Animal Control" by Jon Pineda (3291 words) ***

Here's a piece that does a good job of using its title to full effect. I like how "animal control" reflects not just on the narrator's job but on all the various passions that are running away in this story and all the people trying to catch them and put them back into a box. Pineda's story isn't going to warm your heart--and I don't think it's intended to. Read the story here at Blackbird.