I live in the town of Corfa, and my name is Granny Smith. I come from Paradise and I'm Jonathan's grandmother, Rabbit Snout's and Golden's. I have many grandchildren, of all kinds, and my ancestors came over the Silk Road from China to Eastern Europe, where we did well and spread the place. Here we had some of the most priceless neighbours, from the lineage of the Pear-Fruit-of-the-Butter, who made their fortune in the Americas. We still drink cider together and share a joint of pear leaves and praise our marmalade.
Nelida Holban
When I complained to my friend that my 18-year-old daughter had never kissed a boy, she said: so what? Mind your own business. She didn't fall in love, that's why. Okay, I say, but not even once? They'll kiss, leave the girl alone. You know how my grandma used to call me? Be careful, kissing is a curse. I laughed like I did at all the heartfelt sayings of her grandmother, Smaranda, whom I had known. Well, after that, all I got was good luck. I'll go ask for the rest. It's late, she says. Now apples, pears, in baskets, what was given wouldn't be asked for again.
Monica Aldea
The time for fairy tales had passed. Prâslea[1] had set up his grocery store, but he was more on guard than selling. He arranged the baskets and put the riper apples and pears on top. He couldn't wait to see Ileana[2] eat the juicy fruit. Sibila[3] appeared out of nowhere and spilled her baskets. Then she took a bite of an apple and looked at the last tooth, stuck in the peel. She read in it like a crystal ball and prophets. Apples are picked too soon. Pears ripen on the newspaper, in the basket they mix. Ileana cheats on you with the millet beer merchant.
[1] Prâslea is a hero from Romanian mythology who appears in several fairy tales.
[2] Ileana (Ileana Cosânzeana) is a figure in Romanian mythology. She is represented as a beautiful, good-natured princess or described as a fairy with immense powers.
[3] Sibila is a character from Greek and Roman mythology. She is a prophetess who knows the future.
(Translated by Florina Șamata / 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.