Anton Chekhov

“ Aliosha seized the toe of his left shoe in his right hand, assumed the most unnatural position in the world, rolled over, jumped up, and peeped out at Belayeff from under the heavy fringes of the lampshade.
"Not very," he said shrugging his shoulders. "Mamma is never really well. She is a woman, you see, and women always have something the matter with them."
From lack of anything better to do, Belayeff began scrutinizing Aliosha's face. During all his acquaintance with Olga he had never bestowed any consideration upon the boy or noticed his existence at all. ”

“ He loves mamma very much. He always asks how she is and what she has been doing. When she was ill he took hold of his head just like this—and ran about the room. He always asks us whether we are obedient and respectful to her. Tell me, is it true that we are unfortunate?"
"H'm—why do you ask?"
"Because papa says we are. He says we are unfortunate children, and that he is unfortunate, and that mamma is unfortunate. He tells us to pray to God for her and for ourselves."
Aliosha fixed his eyes on the figure of a stuffed bird, and became lost in thought.
"Well, I declare—" muttered Belayeff. ”

“ First we say how do you do, and then papa orders coffee and pasties for us. Sonia likes pasties with meat, you know, but I can't abide them with meat. I like mine with cabbage or eggs. We eat so much that we have a hard time eating our dinner afterward so that mamma won't guess anything."
"What do you talk about.?"
"With papa? Oh, about everything. He kisses us and hugs us and tells us the funniest jokes. Do you know what. He says that when we grow bigger he is going to take us to live with him. Sonia doesn't want to go, but I wouldn't mind. ”