The Orphanage Chapter 28- a story told in drabbles

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

link to chapter 27: http://section7mfu.livejournal.com/49492.html
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Many Russians considered giving sharp objects as gifts to be taboo. Natasha was not thinking of that when she gave the knife to Illya.

He was not superstitious but if he were, it was too late to give coin; the supposed taboo could have been avoided by giving money, making it a trade instead of a gift.  This symbolic gesture could circumvent  disaster if he believed in such an anathema.

The knife proved to be a boon and not a curse after Illya used it to defend himself against Lyov. It would be treasured, along with his memories of Natasha.

Comments

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Many Russians considered giving sharp objects as gifts to be taboo

Not just Russians, here in the UK as well.

A sharp object must be paid for or it cuts the friendship.
A purse or wallet must never be given empty, it must always contain a coin to bring prosperity.


I like this sequence of drabbles.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that about the knife in the UK, but we have the same tradition about the purse/wallet here. Thanks for reading and commenting and glad you like the story!

[svetlanacat4.livejournal.com]

Same in France! If you get knife, scissors as a gift, you have to give a coin. In my area, you've to give a pierced coin (don't ask... all hat I remember is my grand pa piercing a coin for me because my aunt had given me a nice sewing kit... with scissors...

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Amazing how these beliefs are shared! I'll have to look into the one about sharp objects here in the US. The only thing I remember being taught as a child was to hand things to a person while holding the sharp end, never pointing it at the other person. Whether that was just a safety thing or a superstition, I don't know.

Will have to look into the piercing of the coin. That's very interesting!

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

I was taught passing pointy things blunt end first (it covers knitting needles and screw drivers as well) as a safety precaution.

While you're looking at superstitions did you know that having your ears pierced protects your eyesight. I don't have pierced ears and have worn glasses since my teens so it must be true. :~P

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Well I have double pierced ears and am near and farsighted, so guess that superstition is questionable. Hmmm wonder where that came one came from, equating eyesight with ear piercing.

I just remembered I have a book about superstitions called "Knock on Wood." will have to peruse that for some other tidbits.

[svetlanacat4.livejournal.com]

It seems to be the old 5 centimes coin which disappeared in 1940 in France. It was called "sou" and the 5 centimes (sous) coin was pierced. I think it meant that the "money" given for the gift was quite token...

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

Love your pictures for this story.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks, it was challenge to find them.

[spotsycool.livejournal.com]

Didn't know about those superstitions in either Russia, U.K., France or the U.S. lol I don't get around much apparently. ;)
Although, I have heard the one about pierced ears being good for your eyes... that one didn't work for me, though. I've got a double piercing and am nearsighted. :L

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

hey good news, I've started on you Muskateer story. :D

[spotsycool.livejournal.com]

Really? That's awesome! I can't wait till it's finished. :D

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

It'll be a little bit before it's done, just wanted to tell you it wasn't forgotten. Think I've got a good handle on which to do it. Will let you know when it's ready to post.

[spotsycool.livejournal.com]

I await in anticipation. :D
Ooh, this is going to be FUN! Thanks in advance! :)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Yes fun is the operative word! heheheee

Newsletter for Monday, April 30

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User kanders07 referenced to your post from Newsletter for Monday, April 30 (http://mfu-weekly.livejournal.com/138246.html) saying: [...] by Fiction: New Gen: The Orphanage Chapter 28 [...]

Re: Newsletter for Monday, April 30

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[avery11.livejournal.com]

It took me a long time to work up the courage to read your story. Many of the pics were quite somber, and I guess I envisioned a horrible, graphic saga of suffering children. Violence against children really pushes my buttons, so I tend not to read those types of stories. However, I finally took a chance, and was relieved to find that things were not as graphic as I had feared. (breathes huge sigh of relief)

The readers' comments have been very interesting--I've never heard of any of those traditions--wallets and coins and sharp objects. How fascinating that they extend cross-culturally.

My apologies for not getting to your story sooner. :)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Yes I know I have a reputation for darker stories, but this one I skirted about the worst of what could have happened to him. I had briefly covered some of this in my story "Beginnings" and this filled in some of the details here. A little violence, but more of an initiation into a seedy world of thievery, gambling, drinking smoking and so forth.

Natasha was his ray of light who was the one who put him on the right path. Though the bad habits he learned in the orphanage became handy as a spy later on in life. He succeeds thanks to her TLC and friendship.

No apologies necessary, and glad to started to read. Yes the cross cultural comments were very cool and quite enlightening.

Theres a few more chapters to go in this drabbke story.

Thanks for catching up and commenting! :D