The Schoolmaster and Other Stories

Fyodor Lukitch Sysoev, the longtime master of a factory‑run school, is busy polishing his new black suit and wrestling with a stubborn shirt for the annual dinner that celebrates his pupils’ exam successes. Though the teachers, managers and inspectors revel in the festivities, Sysoev remains irritated, fretting over minor slips in the children’s performances and the inspector’s demanding dictation. His wife, exhausted by his endless complaints, watches him shuffle through the final preparations, aware that his nerves are as frayed as his cuffs.

A sudden coughing fit forces Sysoev to pause on the steps of the manager’s house, where the inspector and colleagues rush to his side, urging him to attend despite his obvious weakness. Inside, the banquet hall glows with German oleographs, geranium scent, and the bustling hospitality of Adolf Bruni, whose cheerful claps and full glasses set a warm, convivial tone. As Sysoev steps through the doorway, the contrast between the room’s jovial atmosphere and his internal unease hints at the delicate balance between duty, pride, and the simple desire for a moment’s peace.