Right Place, Right Time: ‘The Five White Mice’

Stephen Crane’s short story tells of a young man who just follows the course of nature and everything has a good result.

“Card Players,” circa 1644 to 1645, by David Teniers. This short story suggests that just a change in outlook can make all the difference. Public Domain

In his short story “The Five White Mice,” Stephen Crane contemplates how much of life seems like a gamble: We make decisions and, subsequently, hope for the best luck. Yet life’s quality, or lack thereof, depends upon where we position ourselves. The proper perspective reveals if we are, in fact, in the right place at the right time.

A young man sits at a gambling table playing seven-up with several other men in the Casa Verde bar in Mexico. After having bet for money, wine, dinner, and more, they decide to gamble for tickets for the circus. They each shake the dice, hoping for the best luck.