A Trifle from Life (Chekhov)
Short summary
St. Petersburg, late 19th century. Nikolay Ilyitch Belyaev visited his mistress Olga Ivanovna but found only her eight-year-old son Alyosha at home.
While waiting, Belyaev chatted with the boy, who revealed that he and his sister secretly met their father at a restaurant twice weekly, arranged by their nanny Pelagea. The father spoke fondly of their mother but blamed Belyaev for ruining her life.
When Olga returned, Belyaev, feeling insulted by the father's accusations, betrayed Alyosha's confidence and revealed the secret meetings.
'Nikolay Ilyitch,' he said in a loud whisper. 'Sh-sh!' Olga Ivanovna looked in surprise at Alyosha, then at Belyaev, then at Alyosha again. 'Just ask him,' Belyaev went on. 'Your Pelagea, like a regular fool, takes them about to restaurants'
Alyosha was horrified by this betrayal after Belyaev had promised on his word of honor to keep the secret. The boy trembled and cried, experiencing for the first time the harsh reality of adult deception, a world far different from the simple pleasures he had known before.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
Belyaevs visit and meeting with Alyosha
Nikolay Ilyitch Belyaev went to visit Olga Ivanovna Irnin one evening. Not finding her at home, he decided to wait in the drawing room, where he encountered her eight-year-old son, Alyosha.
Belyaev, having nothing better to do, began watching Alyosha's face. He had never before during the whole of his intimacy with Olga Ivanovna paid any attention to the boy, and had completely ignored his existence.
The boy was playing on the sofa, imitating acrobatic moves he had seen at the circus. As Belyaev observed Alyosha, he realized the boy's face reminded him of Olga during the early days of their romance. This prompted him to engage with the child, calling him over for a closer look.
Alyoshas revelation about secret meetings with his father
Alyosha approached Belyaev, and they began to converse. The boy examined Belyaev's beard and watch chain, comparing it to his father's. When Belyaev asked if Alyosha saw his father, the boy initially denied it but then became flustered. Sensing the child was hiding something, Belyaev pressed him to tell the truth, promising not to tell anyone.
After securing Belyaev's promise of secrecy, Alyosha revealed that he and his sister Sonia secretly met their father at the Apfel Restaurant twice a week. Their nanny Pelagea would take them for walks before dinner and arrange these clandestine meetings. Alyosha described how his father would treat them to coffee and pies, and how they had to be careful to still eat dinner afterward so their mother wouldn't suspect anything.
Alyosha enthusiastically shared details about these meetings, explaining that his father had promised to take the children to live with him when they were grown up. While Sonia didn't want to go, Alyosha was willing, though he would miss his mother. The boy also mentioned that his father had promised to buy him a horse someday.
'You are unhappy children,' he says. It's strange to hear him, really. 'You are unhappy,' he says, 'I am unhappy, and mother's unhappy. You must pray to God,' he says; 'for yourselves and for her.'
The fathers opinion of Belyaev
Belyaev, growing increasingly curious, asked Alyosha if his father ever mentioned him. The boy hesitated, asking if Belyaev would be offended by what he might say. When Belyaev assured him he wouldn't be, Alyosha revealed that his father blamed Belyaev for making his mother unhappy and ruining her life.
This revelation disturbed Belyaev, who stood up and began pacing the drawing room. He was indignant at being blamed for ruining Olga's life when, in his view, her ex-husband was entirely at fault. He muttered sarcastically about being thrust into the situation "like a chicken in the broth" and now being held responsible for it.
Olgas return and Belyaevs betrayal of Alyoshas trust
At that moment, Olga Ivanovna returned home with her daughter Sonia. Belyaev, still agitated by what he had learned, immediately confronted Olga about the secret meetings her children were having with their father. He sarcastically remarked that according to her ex-husband, he was a scoundrel who had ruined her and the children, while the ex-husband portrayed himself as a victim.
Alyosha was horrified by this betrayal. He had trusted Belyaev with his secret, and Belyaev had promised on his word of honor not to tell anyone. The boy turned pale, his face contorted with terror as he whispered to Belyaev to be quiet.
'I say, you promised on your word of honour!' said Alyosha, trembling all over. Belyaev dismissed him with a wave of his hand, and went on walking up and down. He was absorbed in his grievance and was oblivious of the boy's presence
Olga, confused by the revelation, asked Alyosha if he indeed saw his father. The boy, too shocked to respond, stared at Belyaev with horror. Olga announced she would question Pelagea about the matter and left the room.
Alyoshas first encounter with adult deception
Left alone with Belyaev, Alyosha reminded him of his broken promise. Belyaev dismissed the boy with a wave of his hand, continuing to pace the room, completely absorbed in his own grievance and oblivious to the child's distress. For Belyaev, a grown-up with serious concerns, the feelings of a child were inconsequential.
Alyosha retreated to a corner where he sat with his sister Sonia, trembling, stammering, and crying as he told her what had happened. This betrayal represented a profound moment in the boy's life - his first harsh encounter with adult deception.
It was the first time in his life that he had been brought into such coarse contact with lying; till then he had not known that there are in the world, besides sweet pears, pies, and expensive watches, a great many things for which the language of children has no expression.