A couple of questions :

1) Is it weird that my pattern says this: Cont even until work from beg
measures 27, ending with RS facing for next row for the back, BUT then
this: Cont even until work from beg measures 24, ending with RS facing
for next row? ie, is it strange that there seems to be a 4 inch
difference between the back and the front?

2) I measured my brother (for whom I'm knitting this sweater) and it
seems the sweater at 28 inches is going to be way to big for him (he
has a short torso). Is there anyway I can fudge with the numbers so
that the finished measurement is around24 (and not 28? the pattern
doesn't give finshed measurements (only finished chest measurements).