The Day I Grew Old

Siranuș Hakobian
I checked the angle of refraction, I took into account the spinning motion of Earth, the frictional force and the weight expressed in newtons. I hadn't forgotten anything and yet I hesitated to jump off the cliff into the deep blue water. What are you doing here, I heard a cracked voice behind me. A little teenage boy had found me. Oh, he said to me, you want to jump, it is such a good idea and woosh, he bounced past me. He laughed and gestured at me to jump, but I doubted Archimedes and the only certainty I had was that I got older.
 
 Daniela Toader
First step, checked. Logical schemes, checked. Punched cards, checked. I was ambling home with the two Razi siblings. I was leading them, so to say. We went up the hill, turning right next to the mirror, and left at the corner of the building. The door was locked. But Grandpa was the one blocking the gate. As wide as he was. As drunk as he was. I pulled my gymslip up to the middle of my thighs and I jumped the fence. I pulled him by his legs with great difficulty. I did it just long enough for him to open the gate. I have been dreaming ever since. In my dream the door is open and Grandpa's boots don't smell like urine.
 
 Gabriel Rusu
Super Sales Day caught me in the supermarket fighting as if I were part of the Battle of Rovine for the frying pan in the flyer. As I was victoriously arriving at the checkout, I pulled my mask under my chin and with my last heroic strength I screamed. Are you not going to open another register? Frustrated by the ignorance I found around me, I comforted my bruised ego with memories of the Golden Age. Back then, there was respect, man. After spending half a lifetime in line, it was my turn. Skeptical, I carefully counted the stickers I received for the next special offer and I left grumbling.

(Translated by Andreea Cuprian / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year I / Corrected by Silvia Petrescu, coordinator of the translations)