Hi Jim,
The repetition of "as" didn't bother me as much as it maybe should have. I don't feel strongly about keeping them all or removing any, though "as dry" would probably be the one I will remove if I was to choose one.
I was also confused by "nut meat". I pictured something like meatloaf.
I'm having trouble visualising what you mean by "She patted the pine box / before it was lifted", as I assume she is inside the pine box, and the idea of her patting from the inside feels strange/not what you intended.
The ending is a bit curt to me. I quite like it, but I feel like you could develop it a bit more. I don't get a full portrait of the person from her actions, just a glimpse.
Hope the feedback helps.
Trev
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