When he took the scarf from my eyes, I saw that I was in a room with thick curtains at the windows and with an old air. This is my house, he said to me excited. The old furniture, the damaged wood, a shaggy carpet, the paintings from another century, on a log a gramophone, oh my, in what movie am I, talking to myself, I think that instead of an alarm he has a cock in his garden, this guy is poorer than grandma. When he went to the bathroom, I ran away. In his yard I see three luxury cars, a huge pool, not a single cock. I came back. I think I like the vintage stuff.
Andra Toropoc
They were reading his love letters, delighted, flickering calligraphy on silky paper from coloured envelopes. Each one believed was the sole recipient of the golden flower pressed between the tabs of the missive, and thought: what a romantic man, lucky me. But at the P.S.' insistence, they were blocked, because they didn't want to lose him be telling him the truth. Do you think that I \'m too old? He was asking in blue letters. Just old-fashioned, kind of outdated but all right, one of the girls answered bravely that became history.
Marian Bircea
The suit tailored in Cary Grant's era for my grandfather who died in Russia, was worn by my father three times a year for church. On Christmas, New Year's Eve and Easter. At my parents' funeral, the costume was worn by me. I wore it three times. When the boy became an engineer, at his engagement, how old-fashioned, and at his wedding. He asked me for it. Today he has a presentation globally. He is impeccable, a gentleman. With tears in my eyes I look pitifully and I see his female colleagues glaring at him. The retro design highlights the character not the anatomy.
(Translated by Maria-Ilinca Darie / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year I / Corrected by Silvia Petrescu, coordinator of the translations)
Versiunea în română a acestui text se poate citi aici, în rubrica Ficțiuni Reale.