Self-Review – I Trade This For My Life

Let’s Look at I Trade This For My Life

If I recall correctly, the original title for I Trade This For My Life was Message Me If You Want a Samovar. But then I realized I liked that one better for the name of a section of Babel 2.0.

In addition, I didn’t want the absurdity of the Samovar title to detract from the more serious tone of the piece.

I wrote this story during the first quarter of 2021.

Background

This short story did not have an original prompt word. At least, I do not think it did.

My main idea for this one was the whole Anna Anderson bit. The idea of anyone having survived the shooting of the Russian royal family is, well, preposterous on its face.

But the story persisted, probably because it was catnip for editors of tabloids searching for a juicy story.

For the imposter’s part (her real name was evidently Franziska Schanzkowska), she was convincing to some. But for others, she was likely a useful idiot. At least, that’s what they may have thought.

And so, during her life, she received some information on the royal court. This was from people who were, most likely, hoping to get in on the rumored missing fortune of the Tsars.

As a result, Schanzkowska was able to sound convincing to a lot of other people. And so, the rumors persisted. Schanzkowska seems to have crashed on a lot of famous people’s couches.

But not everyone believed this almost real-life Talented Mr. Ripley.

Plot for I Trade This For My Life

Since the real Anna Anderson was inevitably shown to be a fraud, this story either serves as pure fiction or as a bit of how she fooled so many people for so long.

Characters

The characters are Anna Anderson (who was allegedly Anastasia Romanov) and whoever she is talking to.

Memorable Quotes

They say it’s a revolution, but I know it’s really just an angry mob. They pounded on doors, broke through windows, and grabbed anyone and everything they could.

My father. My mother. And my sickly little brother. My sisters. All gone.

Rating

The story has a K rating.

Takeaways for I Trade This For My Life

What I’ve got right now isn’t much of a story at all. Rather, it’s a lot more like a fragment. Could I really do something with it? I suppose I could. But then again, the fiction might end up nowhere near as fascinating and strange as the fact!

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Want More of my Short Stories and Novellas?

If this story resonates with you, then I hope you will check out some of my other blog posts about my shorter works.

And finally, for a complete list of my shorter works, please be sure to check out the Hub Page—Short Stories.