The Bell Rings

Cristina Daniela Dumitru-Pascal
She had been born in a brothel. She was always laughing. Even when she had to work double shifts to cover all the work hours she had missed because of school. Some of her clients tutored her. They usually forgot she had to pay for them with her body. It occurred to them most likely by the time they remembered they had daughters her age at home themselves. She graduated high school as valedictorian. She completed her bachelor's degree with honours. Her master's degree too. Now she could finally leave. She could break free. She could finally forget. The bells were ringing. It was Christmas time. We have a full house, go deal with the clients first, and then with the studying, she told the girls. At least they won't think of you as stupid. You shall carry the sin with you forever anyway.

Sanda Burță
All the clocks in the market had gone crazy that day. Some of them were behind while some stopped altogether, and some were already ahead. There were a ton of people and watches in mr. Lorand's workshop. As he could no longer hear the doorbell creak, he stepped up on a stool to set the door stopper in place. It was at that time He came in. A beard, long garments, and even a halo He had. Mr. Lorand stood up there on his stool, staring down on God Himself. All he can remember is that He had a Patek Phillipe pocket watch, and that His perpetual calendar was broken.
 
 Ana Maria Dobre-Nir
Today was my first day at the Magic School. As I entered the classroom, an old lady, who seemed to be a thousand years old, greeted me. Her hair was white as snow and her eyes were glimmering. She told me her name was Vrana, and, as we were making each other's acquaintance, her face shifted based on her emotions. Whenever she was excited, she became young and radiant, but whenever she frowned, she seemed older and quite frightening. I felt a cold shiver running down my spine, as she told me I was yet to find out the price I'd have to pay for each spell. There's no way I'll be able to sleep tonight.

(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)