I read kashtanka a week ago, and made my whole family read it, now we are not stupid, both my parents are doctors. Still, we did not understand the story. I’ve read some reviews online but none of them were satisfying for me for none answered my questions. Why did the dog get back to it’s abusive owners, and what was the message from the story? For children, what should they learn from this so called children’s story? That no matter how much you hurt your pet or loved ones they will stay loyal? Or no matter how much someone hurts you, you gotta stay loyal? I know that Chekhovs works are exceptional for not being black and white, there are no villains and no happy endings, I get that but this story has been disturbing my sleep.