The Cherry Harvester

While several brilliant Russian playwrights  have been eclipsed by political censorship, Anton Checkhow survived the Tsarist state periodic crackdowns and managed to produce
hundreds of masterly short stories and iconic plays like The Cherry Orchard, whose title, he tells me, was inspired by his regular checking of the number of cherries awarded to would-be authors like me and others by ABCTales.

Hr is a distinguished member  of the Dead Souls Literary Society and one of my many night visitors who come ty my aid when I am bereft of ideas.

I am no longer surprised by these sudden apparitions who materialise at will, sensing that their support is needed.

I remember vividly that it started long ago when I was trying, in vain, to put together a coherent story during a lull in my duty as a night security guard, and Arthur Conan Doyle came to my assistance. https://www.abctales.com/story/luigipagano/ghost-writing

This time, though, Anton's main purpose was to conduct an cherries audit. 
 
“Six hundred and fifty seven,” He said counting the ones I had accumulated, then paused.

I had the feeling that, like my old headmaster, he would add: 'must do better'.

“Not bad”, he continued, “but many of your fellow authors have more. Perhaps they don't   suffer as many writer's blocks as you do.”

I was tempted to tell him that we were all contributing, not competing with each other, but understood that he was being diplomatically pointing out that I was using writer's block as an excuse for laziness.

He looked at my last contribution, a simple poetic eight-liner aimed at kids, and asked if it was my intention to write only for children.

“No, it was a response to the Inspiration Point.” I replied.

“Don't just rely on the I.P.”, he suggested. “Step out of your comfort zone, think out of the box.”
 

A good advice but will  follow I? Can you teach an old dog mew tricks?