labelleizzy: (bunny writer)
labelleizzy ([personal profile] labelleizzy) wrote2014-07-26 11:03 am

The Taiga in Autumn, a story about childhood.

Pavel stamps his feet into the too-large snow boots and wraps the warm muffler tightly around his neck. Even at seven, and small for his age, he knows better than to forget anything that will help conserve body heat out in the deep taiga forest.

Papa is waiting.

Pavel buttons up his coat (also too large) and checks for his mittens and hat in the coat pocket, taking a last deep breath of the warm air in the cabin as he fumbles for the door latch, hands eager and his heart in his throat.

Papa is taking him hunting.

The snow is crisp, crunching beneath his boots, the air sharp in his nose and throat, the light reddish and dim through the thick branches. Pavel is proud to finally be big enough for Papa to bring him here, to the family cabin, to learn what Chekovs for generations have come to the forest to learn.

Papa is huge and dark in the dim light of dawn, the old fashioned projectile rifle held loosely at his elbow, barrel pointed down.

"Always pointed down, my Pavel, always down and away from other people, until it is time to take aim at your target," rumbles Papa's deep voice in Pavel's memories.

Papa this morning is silent, but his white teeth flash bright in the dark bushy beard. Papa always grows his beard out strong and thick to be ready for the long Siberian winters. There is no ice in his beard yet, but it is only October, after all.

Papa tips his head, a glint in his eyes, and Pavel grins. Though Papa cannot see his mouth behind the warm thick muffler, eyes smile as brightly as mouths do.

Ivan and Stepan have hinted that today, words will not be necessary. Today, all day, he and Papa will watch, will walk, will eat in silence.

If the right moment comes, Papa will pass the rifle to Pavel, will help steady his aim, will brace his shoulder against the recoil of the antique weapon.

This is his most important birthday ever. Pavel is eager to do well, to make his Papa proud.

He and his Papa turn and walk toward the sun, into the deep forest. Chekovs together, silent, focused, and determined.





This is my entry for Week 15 of [livejournal.com profile] therealljidol. The week's prompt was "Chekov's Gun" and yes, I went there. Sue me. =)
Link to the poll for voting will be IS HERE, please feel free to explore other entries for the week at the elegant and finely-crafted link HERE.

[identity profile] waltzmatildah.livejournal.com 2014-07-27 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
You did 'go there', but you did it well! Nice work.

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-27 08:07 am (UTC)(link)
I'm grinning. Thank you.
Sometimes I've no idea what the muses will offer me, but I loved writing this.

[identity profile] roina-arwen.livejournal.com 2014-07-27 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I love this - great eye for details, and I like seeing into Pavel's childhood. :)

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-27 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay. Thank you!

[identity profile] penpusher.livejournal.com 2014-07-27 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Very charming father/son tale.

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-29 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww, thanks.
(Actually I wrote something I wish I had had myself)

[identity profile] beeker121.livejournal.com 2014-07-27 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
This is lovely. I could see the two of them clearly.

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-29 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks very much.
So did I...:)

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-29 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

[identity profile] hitchhiker.livejournal.com 2014-07-28 08:29 am (UTC)(link)
very nice :)

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-29 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you. ;-)

[identity profile] eternal-ot.livejournal.com 2014-07-28 10:53 am (UTC)(link)
Ah! But I enjoyed it..:)..Short and Sweet..A nice read!

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-29 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks so much. I am loving what my brains pull together from the prompts.

[identity profile] kehlen-crow.livejournal.com 2014-07-29 12:53 pm (UTC)(link)
This is very neat :).

A little note: "Stefan" sounds old-fashioned to me, or maybe Polish(?), a more common Russian name is "Stepan".

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-29 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh. Thanks, that's a good point.

[identity profile] bleodswean.livejournal.com 2014-07-29 01:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I love this.

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-29 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
*grin* thanks for letting me know!
This was one of the stories that sort of wrote itself and I loved it.

[identity profile] karmasoup.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
Such a sweet moment... you can feel the boy's anticipation, and the special excitement of passing this traditional family torch.

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I've often wished my family had this sort of traditional rite of passage, so Pavel gets one.

=)

[identity profile] jem0000000.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, what a cute kid. :)

[identity profile] jem0000000.livejournal.com 2014-08-12 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
You're welcome. :)

[identity profile] halfshellvenus.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
I love the atmosphere and detail in this, and I can so easily see someone growing a beard in self-defense against the Siberian winter.

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
*grin* thanks so much. Spouse is Canadian which is the closest I have ever gotten to really cold winters. Well, NYC winters can get pretty bad, bad enough I wanted a balaclava on my face one winter. *shiver*

[identity profile] eska818.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
The narrative voice of this is really well-done.

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 06:52 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I appreciate the compliment!

<lj user="therealljidol" title="LJ Idol"> IX - 15. Recommendations. 9 hours to deadline

[identity profile] livejournal.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
User [livejournal.com profile] kehlen_crow referenced to your post from [livejournal.com profile] therealljidol IX - 15. Recommendations. 9 hours to deadline (http://kehlen-crow.livejournal.com/937624.html) saying: [...] : http://labelleizzy.livejournal.com/1333199.html [...]

Re: <lj user="therealljidol" title="LJ Idol"> IX - 15. Recommendations. 9 hours to deadline

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
thank you, [livejournal.com profile] kehlen_crow!!

[identity profile] mistearyusdiva2.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I loved this .... short and yet giving us so much details and insights..... well done really.

[identity profile] labelleizzy.livejournal.com 2014-07-31 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
oh, thank you. *hug*