I really need to tell you something; try to listen for just a moment. Okay, okay, I understand that you have things to do-something always comes up when I try to talk to you. I know, my love, I understand you perfectly. How could I not? But now I've come up with a brilliant idea, one that could even save our relationship. Ugh, how much bad luck can I have? Her phone just died, and this time I really had the solution. I can already see her making up that excuse about her battery being dead again.
Andra Toropoc
Fatso, as they used to call me, can only be goalkeeper, they'd say to my face, yet they'd push me aside because I wasn't good enough. I wanted to be a defender, and they laughed at me and called me Fruit cake. I liked pulling my football socks up to my thighs, and the boys called me a sissy in garters. They beat me up badly, and I cried until I felt better. Then I turned to music; I felt good, singing and giving people energy from my opposing poles. Now I wear a beard and a dress, and the audience cheers when I set the stage on fire; they don't criticize my chromosomal error.
Adina Drag
I arrived safely, Mom. Don't worry. They're treating me well, I swear. He immediately chased away the lying thought that buzzed around like a fly, but thet hought returned even stronger. You'll get used to it, kid. He lifted his gaze to the man in front of him, who was speaking very quietly. The uniform seemed too big for him now. Or maybe it always had been; either way, he didn't care. He got up from the table and went outside. He thought that the sky didn't make sense. He closed his eyes and let his body melt against one of the walls of his new home.
(Translated by Miruna Dumitru / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year I / 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.