The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant

Why did the author choose to have the narrator tell this story from a vantage point in the future, rather than creating a teenage narrator? What does this frame add to the story?

The narrator ignores most of the clues that Sheila’s personality is not compatible with his. Find at least three moments in the text where the narrator misses such a hint. Why doesn’t he pay attention? What does this say about him?

In what ways does the narrator use the river during his summer visits? What lessons does the river teach him?