“Drunk again! You’re a waster and you’ll end up on the street.” He remains silent and merely tries from time to time to crack a joke, but it never works with her. Better he go into the girls’ room. He gives Laura’s hair a tousle and then stays awhile on the edge of the bed in which Ileana sleeps. He starts telling her a story in which she’s the main character. She falls asleep with her mind elsewhere and in her dream she continues to hop around, wearing her dress with the flounces...

• Fata din casa vagon / The Girl from the Oblong House

• Ana Maria Sandu