Sir, sir. Why are you in a hurry? I wanted to make the joke with your laces are opened because I was bored waiting for the streetcar. When he came back, I had the feeling that the time stopped. A pair of emerald eyes under the wild hair. I immediately started to shake. I-I think your zipper opened. Y-Your zipper opened. I wanted to say the button. What is your name? Silvi, I told him, making my freckle look better in the tips of my fingers. He whispered in my ear: You are too young, Silvi. And he was gone, Ana. I have fallen madly in love.
Caterina Tudorache
Your Highness, Ion came from Hung. Where is this? Between Hanger and Buttons. What are these? Villages, Emperor. Who's that fool who came up with these stupid names? You, Your Highness. Let him enter. Your Highness, help us. In the summer he burned all the grain, we don't have water anymore. Our animals are starving. The emperor burped and pulled a piece of Nile crocodile out of his teeth. He arranged his hat made of squirrel's fur from Sahara and looked with pity. I want to help you. I don't like the Hung either. From tomorrow you will be called Unbuttoned.
Elena Fermuș
It's more than relaxation. A generous tub with hot water and plentiful foam. Every little piece of me is happy, and worries go away. Imagination is in the mood to play. I have no escape, so I start to play. It takes me out in the summer night as I am. Just with the foam on my body. She's making me a dress out of lily petals. Fireflies serve as buttons. A man approaches. Blow into them. They light up and fly away. The dress is unbuttoning. He blows again. The lily petals dance in the air with the fireflies. I'm trembling. The water's cooled.
(Translated by Iuliana Mocanu / 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.