Deborah Hoffman (asker) Jul 23, 2010:

possibly The narrator is doing his military service in Grozny, and at times there are hints of the soldiers still being children (trying a jungle gym at the abandoned school, one of the officers refers to them as a kindergarten after one does something stupid). But here the narrator is an actual child "swearing like a sailor." Could just be the contrast.

Deborah Hoffman (asker) Jul 23, 2010:

@Mark I'm not sure, though I suspect it hints at something. The narrator mentions little details while recalling his 6 year old life that tell more than the surface. For example, he mentions playing at long division while his father worked and would call out 2 digit numbers for him to divide into 3 digit numbers...not something a 6 year old normally knows. There are other places where letters are mentioned: bunkbeds making a C, a couple in bed forming a T. God is hinted at a few times, for example there is a recruit named Монах who flunked out of seminary. Also Russian battles like Kulikovo Pole. Not sure how it all fits together yet but I suspect that the vampiric image was not coincidentally chosen.

Mikhail Kropotov Jul 23, 2010:

Let's talk about why he wrote this, of all things Does the story offer any clues? This is really filthy language...

Deborah Hoffman (asker) Jul 23, 2010:

* Thanks Natali, I see where the option is now and will use it henceforth!

Natalie Jul 23, 2010:

Marked as offensive, but the problem with such questions is that when they are marked as offensive from the very beginning, notifications are not sent, otherwise people get notifications as always.

Mark Berelekhis Jul 23, 2010:

Is it meant to be just a random emotional outburst over his father's death, no other meaning to it?

Deborah Hoffman (asker) Jul 23, 2010:

* ok now I see it, but I can't delete the question and re-post, I can only close it, which will leave the term as is. hopefully none of the moderators will kill me!

Mikhail Kropotov Jul 23, 2010:

Not sure, Deborah. I can't make this change either when I try to edit the question.

Deborah Hoffman (asker) Jul 23, 2010:

* thank you - how do I do that? I don't see the option anymore when I post the question

Mikhail Kropotov Jul 23, 2010:

This should be marked as potentially offensive ASAP.