I believe the characters are well-developed in the story. They are part of the group, and it is clear since an early time that they are the leaders of the group. For example, the text says, “She wore enormous belts that looked like the kind weight lifters wear, except hers were cheap metallic gold or rabbit fur or covered with gigantic fake sunflowers. Often these belts would become nature lessons in and of themselves (Moore & Pitlor, p.563).”
The place of the story is also clear. By the description given by the author, we know that it is a summer camp. The description is so vivid that you can imagine the place. For example, the text says, “Camp Crescendo used to double as a high school band and field hockey camp until an arching field hockey ball landed on the clasp of a girl’s metal barrette, knifing a skull nerve, paralyzing the right side of her body. The camp closed down for a few years, and the girl’s teammates built a memorial, filling the spot on which the girl fell with hockey balls, upon which they had painted — all in nail polish — get-well tidings, flowers, and hearts. The balls were still stacked there, like a shrine of ostrich eggs embedded in the ground (Moore & Pitlor, p.568).”
The author gives a lot of details when narrating the story, for example: “By the end of our first day at Camp Crescendo, the girls in my Brownie troop had decided to kick the asses of each and every girl in Brownie Troop 909 (Moore & Pitlor, p.562).”
I believe that description in details is something that all writers would like to emulate from the author in order to do a story more interesting and dynamic.
Reference
Moore, Lorrie & Pitlor, Heidi (2015). 100 Years of the Best American Short Stories:
“Brownies” by ZZ Packer. Retrieved from: MBS Direct, Open Road Integrated
Media, Inc.less
Cantos by Ericka Koehler 