I discovered a real gem tonight, so don't shout. We'll all go get it after I take a nap. I'm exhausted. She watches thoughtfully as the asshole naps and dozes off. She'd dump him now but she still loves him so dark-haired, sleek step and stylised moustache. She sighs heavily, gazing sweetly at the six sleeping babies. For their sake, she decides to postpone again the moment of their parting. Before dawn, eight cats in a quietly organized Indian string drag two sausages and a ham up from the attic down the fire escape.
Marinela Trifan
Girl, tighten your elbow and move over. I'm moving, what are you pushing me like that, I might fall off the block. Just kidding, girl. Make jokes downstairs, I get altitude sickness down here. Girl, let's not take off our bras or we'll meet Tibi's cousin who's going up to the aerials. He says he wants to catch the Russians. Yes, and I say that, rather than sunbathing with stripes, we'd rather pay the tax at the pool and not come up here. I agree because Tibi's a lifeguard, but I'm against it, girl, 'cause I like the way his cousin smells like tar.
Andra Toropoc
Dolly worked at Apaca and loved Mr. Cat, the fireman. They would meet in the morning on the steps where the factory was practicing their fire escape. Here they kissed passionately, sometimes played the accordion and dreamed, he of another job, she of a ring and a honeymoon. But the only moon was her celestial star, for Cat quit and left her. Poor Dolly, she still eats her breakfast at Apaca and often climbs to the top of the stairs attached to the building and hums her accordion to the beautifully winding Dâmbovița.
(Translated by Alina-Dorina Nicolae / 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.