We met by chance. The feeling that we've known each other for a thousand years immediately brought our souls closer. I was overjoyed when she invited me to dinner, especially as times were hard and hunger had been gnawing at my stomach for days. You only really know a woman when you visit her kitchen, and that's what I did. The turkey skins lay open like empty sacks next to the cooked vegetables. They waited patiently for fresh meat for stuffing. The cleaver blade touched me just before the alarm sounded.
Yuka Brevi
Oh, my God, we're stuck. A little fat bloke sang my finger is on the button, my finger is on the button twice, drank three bottles of rice soju and that was it. All the billions have cleared out and the faithful want in. It's lucky it's not all earthlings, cos there's no sinners and those waiting for aliens. Plus, the scythe lady's here working overtime. She wants technical unemployment under the old law, the new one doesn't favour her. I say we form a coalition with you know who.
Eduard Baranovski
The two sit at the table and look at the box under their noses. Noses tingling, neurons burning, fingers numb. They know whoever pushes the red button loses, so they keep up appearances. I'm calm, I'm calm, I'm calm, is the mantra echoing in their heads. Gabriel comes up and snorts with laughter, awkward, you try to push the other guy to make the first move but don't get up from the table. He butts his head and pushes the button. Everything sinks into darkness. A voice is heard from above, now let it be all ocean, maybe the dolphins stand a better chance.
(Translated by Teodora Anghelachi / 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.