Outdoor bars, the mixed music of bands from every street corner, food trucks, where everything apart from tex-mex grilled steaks are foreign to me. Mixed types of cheerful people. Everyone celebrates on Cinqo de Mayo in Texas. I want to eat something, but I have no idea what the foods are called. I try to talk to the vendor, we barely hear each other. Late in the evening, I go to that place once again. The American who had served me was packing up the stall was just shouting at someone in the back. Dude, bring me the screwdriver.
Caterina Tudorache
Ma'am, it's a tough time. Sit down. Do you have somebody to call? If she dies today, we'll keep her at the morgue until Monday. You can bury her from Tuesday. I stare and I try not to cry. I have two brothers. Maria, mom's not well. I don't know if she'll make it through the night. She's calling you and Vasile. What do you mean you have guests? Vasile, mom's not well. I don't know if she'll make it through the night. Maria has guests. At least you should come. She's calling both of you. What do you mean you caught a cold? She's our mother. The doctor's looking at me. So? No one's coming. I spoke with two strangers.
Laura Stanciu
I'm afraid of knives. I ended up near ten rows of teeth just because of her. She wiped me with the napkin and put me in a place where I shouldn't be. Now's evening, but if the little one wants some ice cream, he will open the drawer and see me. There's no other way to get out this cutlery organizer. A night among brutes was what I needed? My sisters don't call out my name, our mothers don't even know about the situation I'm in. If I don't have any luck, the soonest they'll find me is at breakfast. If only I could hear I want some honey, mom.
(Translated by Cristina-Andreea Dobre / 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.