It had been silent for several seconds and I knew I had to say something. "So we're not Italian?" It was the only question I could think of. I could tell my mom wanted more but was relieved I wasn't ... [+]
Chekhov, the Old Man, the Seagull and the Crab
Mark Budman's story, "Chekhov, the Old Man, the Seagull and the Crab," was originally published in Short Edition’s September '19 Rendez-Vous. Mark is a first generation immigrant to the US. He publishes Vestal Review magazine. His novel My Life at First Try was published by Counterpoint Press. Find out more at http://markbudman.com
Also available in
Italian
The old man is watching a seagull eviscerating a crab. The decapod crustacean probably was handsome in his youth but not any longer. Does he wish he could scream? Or is it better to be stoic and swallow your pain?The old man sits on a park bench, facing the beach. His right hand rests on a gentleman's walking stick. There is half an American silver dollar embedded in the nob. Very patriotic. Immigrants better be patriotic or else. He's not ready for a cane, let alone a walker. The old man is a writer. He tells everyone on social media that it's easier to write in Russian than in English becaus