“The more he watched, the more he clung to his hopes for summer camp, for reindeer herding, for escaping far north… where he could join the Evenki people, and place reindeer herding at the center of life.”
Excerpt from “A Glass of Fresh, Clean Water from Lake Baikal,” winner of Short Story Contest 2020-21 with Twist and Twain Literary Magazine.
Contest Judges: It is a sad, heart-rending tale of a remote, reindeer-herding people in Siberia, near Lake Baikal, who had a pure life in the wilds until the coming of alcohol. The last scene, where a drunken mother takes one last drink of pure lake water and lies down in the snow to die, is unforgettable. Especially when her young son lies down beside her. It is outstandingly original in both voice and story, with a lasting impact after reading. The story was both darkly funny and moving. Very clever. Right from the beginning, this story had dynamism and flair that captured the interest of the panelists. They admired how the writer was able to do so much in such few words, painting a picture of a way of life and the ways that external, negative influences can undermine generations of tradition.
Note: this short story is also printed in the winter inspired anthology by Quillkeepers Press 2021, entitled Snowdrifts.
