Numbers by Ivan Bunin. Short summary

5 seconds

The uncle promises to show his nephew how to write numbers, but he postpones it until tomorrow. The offended toddler pranks in retaliation. The adult realizes the child’s helplessness in fighting for the dream and keeps the promise.

1 minute

The author’s nephew, a big prankster, comes out of his room with a sad face. This happens after every quarrel with his uncle. After a particularly serious transgression, Zhenya timidly says good night and shuffles his foot. The uncle is no longer angry, and the baby reminds him of his promise to buy books, colored pencils, and to teach him to write numbers.

The author is too lazy to go to town. He promises pencils tomorrow. The tomboy retaliates by making noise and knocking over chairs all day. At dinner, Zhenya also makes mischief. My mother cannot calm him down. My uncle cannot stand it: slaps the boy and sends him out of the room. Behind the door, the obstinate boy screams in pain and resentment, but the adults decide not to give up.

The boy calms down. One by one, the family peeks into the nursery: the little boy is playing with a crying face. His mother and grandmother coax him to ask for forgiveness. The author compares the nephew’s childhood dream with his own and realizes that the child is powerless in this struggle for happiness. The uncle sits the baby down at the table to write numbers. Zhenya is happy.