My Deal Me In short story reading challenge turned up clubs, which means Chekhov.

For once, I read a Chekhov story about children that didn’t make me want to poke my eyes out. He can write the saddest, ghastliest stories about children! But not this one.

Children is a slice-o’-life about five children, sitting up and playing loto while they wait for the parents to come home from a party. One is playing for the kopeks. Another wants to win for the vanity of it. A third just loves to play the game. One doesn’t care about the game, but he lives for the possibility that there will be an argument and — best-case scenario — blows. The servant doesn’t care about any of those things, but loves numbers, and the game involves numbers.

All the little things happen that are big things to children. Everything could be English Classed to be a symbol for something else. Rich soil for the tilling. Eventually, they all go to sleep on Mama’s bed, including the servant boy. Dear God, Chekhov, a happy ending! You’re slipping, my lad.

Loved this story very much.

If YOU need a short story to read, I have free ones here on my Free Reads page. I also have four collections for 99 cents each linked from my Short Stories page.

A WRITING PROMPT FROM ME TO YOU: Write about a game in which each player has a different motive for playing/winning/losing.

MA