Six and One
by Ambrose Bierce · from Fantastic Fables
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, a group of friends had important work to do. They worked very late into the night. They felt very tired. They wanted to rest. They wanted to play a game. They played a card game. They used small chips for the game. It was a simple game.
Six people played the card game. Mr. Grumbles was one of them. Mr. Clever was the one person. The six people lost their chips. They lost all their play chips. Mr. Clever won many chips. He won all the chips. The six people had no chips left. Mr. Clever had all the chips. He was very happy.
The next day came. The sun came up. The group met again. They met for their important work. They had many things to do. Everyone sat down. They were ready to start.
Mr. Grumbles stood up. He was one of the six people. He lost all his chips last night. He wanted to talk. He talked to the leader. The leader was the person in charge.
Mr. Grumbles spoke to the leader. "Leader," he said. "I am worried. I am worried about last night. The card game was not good. I want to talk about it. It made me very sad. It was not fair. I must speak now."
"We lost many times," Mr. Grumbles said. "We lost our chips. We lost when Mr. Clever dealt the cards. He dealt the cards to us. We always lost then. It happened many times. We had bad luck. He had good luck. This was not right. It made me think."
Mr. Grumbles looked very serious. He said he knew something. "Mr. Clever changed the cards!" he said. "He changed them. He cheated with the cards. He did not play fair. This is what I think. It is true. He made us lose. It is not fair." It is not nice to blame others when you lose.
Original Story
Six and One
The Committee on Gerrymander worked late, drawing intricate lines on a map of the State, and being weary sought repose in a game of poker. At the close of the game the six Republican members were bankrupt and the single Democrat had all the money. On the next day, when the Committee was called to order for business, one of the luckless six mounted his legs, and said:
“Mr. Chairman, before we bend to our noble task of purifying politics, in the interest of good government I wish to say a word of the untoward events of last evening. If my memory serves me the disasters which overtook the Majority of this honourable body always befell when it was the Minority’s deal. It is my solemn conviction, Mr. Chairman, and to its affirmation I pledge my life, my fortune, and my sacred honour, that that wicked and unscrupulous Minority redistricted the cards!”
Story DNA
Moral
Those who seek to manipulate systems for their own gain will often accuse others of the very same tactics when they lose.
Plot Summary
A committee working on gerrymandering plays a game of poker, where the six Republican members lose all their money to the single Democrat. The next day, one of the Republican members, feigning indignation, dramatically accuses the Democrat of having 'redistricted the cards' to cheat, implying that the Democrat manipulated the game just as the committee manipulates electoral districts.
Themes
Emotional Arc
frustration to indignation (feigned)
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ambrose Bierce was known for his cynical and satirical writing, often targeting political corruption and human folly in post-Civil War America. Gerrymandering was a common political tactic.
Plot Beats (7)
- The Committee on Gerrymander works late, then plays poker.
- During the poker game, the six Republican members lose all their money to the single Democrat.
- The next day, the Committee is called to order for business.
- One of the bankrupt Republican members stands to address the Chairman.
- He expresses concern about the 'untoward events' of the previous evening.
- He claims that the Majority's disasters always occurred when it was the Minority's deal.
- He solemnly declares his conviction that the 'wicked and unscrupulous Minority redistricted the cards'.
Characters
The Republican Member (Speaker) ★ protagonist
A man of average height and build, likely showing signs of late-night work and the stress of losing money. His posture might be slightly slumped from fatigue but attempts to project authority when speaking.
Attire: A dark, formal suit typical of American politicians or businessmen of the late 19th century, likely made of wool. This would include a tailored jacket, waistcoat, trousers, a starched white shirt, and a conservative tie. The suit might show slight rumpling from being worn all night.
Wants: To expose perceived cheating, to regain a sense of fairness or justice (or at least to voice his grievance), and to subtly discredit the opposing party.
Flaw: Paranoia, poor sportsmanship, inability to accept defeat gracefully, prone to conspiracy theories.
Does not undergo a significant arc within this short anecdote, but his character is revealed through his reaction to losing.
Indignant, suspicious, formal, dramatic, self-righteous.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult male politician standing, facing forward, full body visible head to toe. He has a clean-shaven face with a stern, indignant expression, dark brown hair neatly parted and slightly thinning. He wears a dark grey wool three-piece suit, a crisp white collared shirt, and a dark red silk tie. His posture is upright but slightly stiff, one hand gesturing subtly. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Single Democrat ⚔ antagonist
Likely appears composed and perhaps a bit smug, contrasting with the disheveled Republicans. His posture would be relaxed, confident, and perhaps slightly superior.
Attire: A well-tailored, dark suit, similar in style to the Republicans but perhaps appearing fresher or less rumpled, suggesting he slept better. He might wear a slightly more flamboyant tie or a subtle accessory that hints at his success.
Wants: To win the poker game, to outsmart his political opponents, to enjoy his success.
Flaw: Potentially overconfident, might be perceived as unscrupulous by others.
Does not undergo an arc; serves as the catalyst for the Republican's complaint.
Clever, cunning, perhaps a bit mischievous, composed, victorious, silent.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult male politician sitting comfortably, facing forward, full body visible head to toe. He has a calm, slightly amused expression, a neatly trimmed dark mustache, and dark hair parted to the side. He wears a dark blue wool suit, a light grey waistcoat, a white collared shirt, and a patterned silk tie. He holds a stack of poker chips in one hand, resting on a table. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Committee Meeting Room
A formal, somewhat stuffy room where the Committee on Gerrymander works, likely filled with maps and legislative documents. The atmosphere shifts from focused work to a more relaxed, yet competitive, poker game.
Mood: Initially serious and industrious, then tense and competitive during the poker game, finally accusatory and dramatic.
The committee members work on gerrymandering, play a game of poker where the Democrat wins all the money, and the Republican member makes an accusation of cheating.
Image Prompt & Upload
A long, polished mahogany table dominates a formal, wood-paneled room, strewn with large, detailed maps of a fictional state, marked with intricate, hand-drawn lines in red and blue ink. Empty whiskey glasses and scattered playing cards lie amidst the maps, catching the dim, late-night light filtering from a brass-shaded desk lamp. Heavy velvet drapes are drawn over tall windows, and a faint haze of cigar smoke lingers in the air. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
