The highlight of the playground was the brightly colored slide. The kids were gathering to climb the ladder and to slide downward with shouts of victory. The little girl was constantly pushed aside, she hadn't taken a turn. She pulled away, as if about to cry, and then, as if by a miracle, all the kids went to the swings. Left alone, she happily went down the slide until she got tired. Did you see, mommy, how beautifully I slid down? Her mother pulled her closer to smooth her frizzy hair and whispered: Samantha, when did you learn this one?
Anca Dudu
had gone bankrupt. Rabbits and pigeons were sadly munching on withered bouquets of paper flowers, former silk handkerchiefs, former thoughts. In a corner, belonging to no one, the box. Inside it the woman cut in half was sobbing. The magician, unpaid, had left angrily, slamming the door. The magic wand was gone with him. Who will glue her back-soul to body - and how? Suddenly, unexpectedly, a small unicorn, with curly hair and round wizard glasses appeared in the creaking opening of the box. Mommy? I'm so glad to find you. Let's go home.
Titela Durnea
It was the unwritten law of the family. They have been riding horses since infancy. The love of horses had been mixed with their blood for generations. Maia was a surprise: the first and the only one who showed fear when meeting Lord (a well-behaved pony, smooth as silk). In the first week, Codrin, the instructor, placed her in the saddle and guided her while the horse was walking. Maia cried a little, her shoulders slumped. In the second week she straightened her back and raised the corners of her lips. After a month she was laughing. Lord had grown huge white wings, which carried her towards the sun.
(Translated by Tania Diniță / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year II / Corrected by prof. dr. Nadina Vișan, Edited by Silvia Petrescu, coordinator of the translations)
Versiunea în română a acestui text se poate citi aici, în rubrica Ficțiuni Reale.