family

Alexander Chekhov's sons

the pups

also: цуцыки, the pups, Tsutsyki, Captains Cook, капитанам Кукам

Anton's affectionate-derisive collective nickname ("цуцыки"/"pups") for his brother Alexander's young sons from his first marriage to Anna Ivanovna Khrushchova-Sokolnikova, who died in 1888 -- including Anton "Kokosha" and Nikolai "Nikolka". Invoked collectively (not naming an individual boy) whenever Chekhov discusses Alexander's prospective remarriage and the stepmother question, as in this letter's warning that a second wife would be a "substitute mother" to them, not a real one.

Reading notes

To Al. P. Chekhov, 28 August 1888. Sumy. §6 to the pups
"The pups" (цуцыки, "tsutsyki") is Chekhov's affectionate-derisive collective nickname for Alexander's young sons from his first marriage to Anna Ivanovna Khrushchova-Sokolnikova (who died in 1888), including Anton "Kokosha" and Nikolai "Nikolka". Used generically here, not naming an individual boy; kept consistently as "the pups" throughout so the reader can track that it always means the children, never Elena Mikhailovna.
To Al. P. Chekhov, 13 October 1888. Moscow. §15 give my regards to the pups
"The pups" (цуцыки) is the same affectionate-derisive family idiom for Alexander's young sons used throughout this correspondence, kept consistently as "the pups" here.
To Al. P. Chekhov, 6 November 1888. Moscow. §14 Bow to the pups.
"The pups" (цуцыки) is Chekhov's established collective nickname for Alexander's young sons, including Nikolai "Nikolka" Alexandrovich Chekhov. Addressed and dismissed in a single clause before Chekhov turns, in the very next clause of the same sentence, to discuss a different "Nikolka" by name -- see the disambiguation note immediately below.
To Al. P. Chekhov, 11 April 1889. Moscow. §7 your Captains Cook
"Captains Cook" (капитанам Кукам, plural, punning on Captain James Cook the explorer) is Chekhov's recurring affectionate nickname for Alexander's young sons; not individually named in this letter.
To Al. P. Chekhov, 2 May 1889. Sumy. §8 the Captain Cooks
"Капитанам Кукам," Chekhov's recurring punning nickname (on the explorer Captain James Cook) for Alexander's young sons; already attested in identical form in this corpus's apparatus for.
To Al. P. Chekhov, 24–25 July 1891. Bogimovo. §7 when are you going to see to the adoption
Alexander's sons by his first wife, Anna Ivanovna Khrushchova-Sokolnikova (who died in 1888), required formal adoption or legitimization proceedings of some kind at this period; Chekhov presses his brother on the matter and promises to help by sending the birth certificate of his godson and namesake, Anton.