Caterina Tudorache
The dormouse downs the last shot. All right, buddy, let's go home. Work's done for today. The dromedary jiggles his hump. Thirst. Me. Yeah. Clink. The dormouse rolls his eyes. Again, man? You're making me take you home again? This is the last time. The dromedary pressed a kiss to the top of his head and wished him luck. An hour later, the two of them knocked repentantly at the door. The wife of the dromedary shouted from the kitchen. What day is it today? A small voice murmured from below. Payday. The wife yelled. No, you fool. It's March 1st. Where's the mărțișor[1]? The dromedary lifted the dormouse by the tail, laughing. Here, he brought me home.
[1]"mărțișor" is a small token with a red-and-white string given on March 1st in Romania to celebrate spring, often a pin or trinket
Aurelian ȚolescuThe first day of the season scented with fresh blossoms and nature's awakening. The first day when sunlight gently uncovers the joyful expressions of those around us. It's Mărțișor Day, a time when teenagers summon the courage to approach girls, offering a mărțișor and a peck. It's the day of warm wishes, given without reason, simply for the sheer delight of a spring-filled thought. For me, it has always meant something more: the 1st of March is a family celebration, the day my brother would return home so we could honor our mother, on her birthday.
Ana Ludușan
Grandma took us by the hand, and we headed toward the forest. We stopped in a small meadow. The spring sun peered at us through the windows of a church. We pressed close to Grandma. Here, I married your grandfather; here, we mourned our sons lost in the war, and here I tell you that a piece of our souls will live on in your children's children. Never forget the humanity and divinity within you. She embraced us, and we returned home, where Mom awaited with a bowl of beignets and mărțișoare made of red and white wool. We brought her snowdrops.
(Translated by Maria Loredana Constantin / 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.