By 11 o'clock, during lunch break, Zoica almost choked on noodle soup. By the sudden furrowed brow, you'd know he'd forgotten something. He threw away the soup, hastily put on his coat and, gave a comin' back soon over the counter, went out into the street screaming hysterically for a taxi. The cripple demanded a penny. He shoved him, "Get lost, scum! You good-for-nothing thief!" He stepped on the old woman's parsley, spread on a newspaper, and got into the cab. At home, he ran up the stairs in a hurry. The cat meowed in the hall. My sweet boy, I forgot the milk, kitty. Forgive me, please.
Caterina Tudorache
Dormouse Titi looked at his wife, who was snoring at the wall. What was I thinking. In the shoebox, 12 little dormouse slept peacefully. They're not to blame. As long as they don't inherit her laziness and stupidity. Titi sighed. Who'd have thought I'd settle into this quiet life without. Oh. If only I'd had the courage then. What feathers. What a flight. What beauty. What a look of lust and hope that vulture gave me then. If I wanted to, in a second, she'd be at my heels. I was young and gorgeous. He sighed, scratched his belly and fell asleep.
Silvia Ștefan
The less you speak, the less you are wrong. He repeated this while kissing the back of my neck. Darling, I can't concentrate, let's do it another time. He came to my face and sat sternly on top of the bed. I copied him and we stared at each other speechlessly. I broke the silence with a formal smile, taking his hands into mine. I love you, but we stop here. I tell you what hurts and you press the wound. I'm sorry I missed the contract on the boat. I dreamed of being here with you, but my life is overseas. And no, I'm not silent. It wouldn't be me.
(Translated by Adrian-George Ilinca / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year II / Corrected by Silvia Petrescu, coordinator of the translations)
Versiunea în română a acestui text se poate citi aici, în rubrica Ficțiuni Reale.