Trafika Europe 11 - Swiss Delights

AN INSTINCTIVE FEELING OF INNOCENCE (EXCERPTS) BY DANA GRIGORCEA TRANSLATED BY ALTA PRICE

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A metallic shimmer brought on by the impending storm flattens the city’s depth, turning it into a painted backdrop like the ones at the Diamandi photo studio, where my glamorous grandmother had a scandalous portrait taken as Bucharest’s first woman in a short skirt. She’s shown on the armof my grandfather who, complete with walking stick and gangster hat, impatiently steps out into the haze of time. Now, in the approaching weather, Bucharest looks like a nostalgic backdrop before which no pose would appear out of place—quite the contrary, I’d say. I sit on the marble steps of the National Savings and Investment Bank and smoke my absolute last cigarette before quitting for good—very consciously ignoring the fact that the pack will have two cigarettes left, which will compel me to exert the discipline indispensable to my profession and duly complete whatever I’ve started. But I’m not granted the peace and quiet for a last cigarette. “I beg your pardon, Madame Director,

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