The Bell Rings

Elena Fermuș
The nuns could have educated me, but they'd rather I blended with the other children, so I would feel normal for once. But I knew that I wasn't normal. An unfortunate fire had disfigured my child features. I was a little monster, or at least that's how I've always felt ever since I heard the first school bell ringing, and all through my school years. Without friends and without dreams, I wouldn't have deared to want a different life. That's how I grew up, with the palms of my hands almost glued to my face, constantly trying to hide it from all the gazes around. When the last school bell rang, I returned to the convent. Only God could ever love me.
 
 Lucian Pătru
The wind barely blew, just enough so as not to miss a day's work, but he didn't mind such details, he had simply laid down on the sand and took a nap. It was as though he could feel that rock over there crawling to him and slipping underneath him, that was just how much it lured him in, but he was too lazy to go all the way there, so he just laid here instead. He could feel how the sun seemed to grab him by the scruff of his neck and give him a good back scratch, which energized him. He was really indulging himself. All of a sudden, a shadow stole his sunlight. From underneath a straw hat, a man stared at him, leaning in gently. He immediately hissed and started rattling its tail. En garde.

Oana Brumă
The principal had finished with the commendations for the previous year and the greetings for the year to come. The priest finished with the blessing service. I'm so nervous I could throw up. I hate autumn and beginnings make me anxious. Once again I must be careful not to call her mommy, but Mrs., from 8 to 12. I must learn twice as much as the others, prove that I deserve those As, be on my best behaviour and receive more stick strikes over my palms. Because God forbid any parent had anything to object. I've kept on proving myself ever since and now I care about what they have to say about me.  

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