Tibor Szente
I had it since the communist times. Big, red, spacious. After a month, Alin, my neighbor, also got one just like it. Around 2000, I had to change the engine; it was acting up because of that new gas with all those additives in it. After a month, Alin's had the same problem. Rings, pistons, bushings, and even the drive shaft, all went out always with a one-month difference, as if on cue. Two weeks ago, that big storm hit. The tree across the street fell right on top of my beautiful car. Now I'm waiting for another storm, in two weeks.
Iulia Stavre
The rivalry between us had reached its peak in the last year of high school. All the girls were crazy about Robert's charming smile, athletic build, success in football, and winner's attitude, the neighbor from apartment three. I breathed a sigh of relief when he left for college. He is a footballer, plays for the national team. We still meet for a beer when he visits his parents. He came tonight too, I recognize his sports car by the plate number. I get out of the car, gripping the key tightly in my hand. The screech of metal is heard on raised skin. It is dark.
Carmen-Ecaterina Ciobâcă
She was driving me crazy since she was a doeling. She would climb over the fence on our side, break grape leaves and still-green berries. Dad always scolded me for it. When I ran after her on the grazing land I couldn't catch her. She would stop every now and then, panting, and look at me with mocking eyes. Later, she walked down the lane with her tail raised, ignoring me. Then she disappeared. Today, Uncle Marin asked dad for some money. He has to leave far away to see what he can do, because their Mihaela was taken by the carabinieri for human trafficking.
(Translated by Eduard Mihai Uretu / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year II / 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.