I left church smiling, for when the priest spoke the final words of the prayer, I imagined an epic concert. The opening act, Amy Winehouse. Then, one at a time, Freddie Mercury, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Janis Joplin, James Brown once again singing sublimely with Pavarotti, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Tina Turner, David Bowie, Jim Morisson. And for the closing act, an insane rock and roll with Elvis. This is what I hope it's like, up there, in Heaven - a concert. And if it's like that, I can smile. Dad's got a ticket.
Arthur Ianoși
The poor thing didn't know what else to do. It was Licu's third time trying to reach the stars. People whispered that it was because of his old man's evil eye, for he didn't bury him with new clothes, sinful mouths, only the ground alone could stop their yapping. In vain did he anoint him with chrism before the sun went out. On a full moon, Licu saw a shooting star and thought that what was up was down as well. He watched it closely and saw it hiding in the well down the road. He wrapped the rope around his neck and threw himself into the darkness, catching up to it.
Monica Bologa
Before I go to sleep, I always say my prayers under the blanket. I only have one problem, just before saying On Earth as it is in Heaven, I fall asleep. My prayer always stays unfinished. Last night, I was with a guy. All fine and dandy, we end up in bed, then, in the fires of passion, he says to me: I'm floating in heaven. And I found myself, eyes shut, thinking: Give us this day our daily bread, etc, etc. At the end, he asked me if I finished. Oh, yeah, finally. Too bad I didn't have an orgasm.
(Translated by Diana Georgiana Rădăcineanu / 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.