JOHN FOWLES

The Collector - fragments
 

My father was killed driving. I was two. That was in 1937. He was drunk, but Aunt Annie always said it was my mother that drove him to drink. They never told me what really happened, but she went off soon after and left me with Aunt Annie, she only wanted an easy time. My cousin Mabel once told me (when we were kids, in a quarrel) she was a woman of the streets who went off with a foreigner. I was stupid, I went straight and asked Aunt Annie and if there was any covering-up to do, of course she did it. I don't care now, if she is still alive, I don't want to meet her, I've got no interest. Aunt Annie's always said good riddance in so many words, and I agree.
 

Alina Olimpia Gaci (Miron)

John Fowles
 

Tatal meu a fost omorat in timp ce conducea. Aveam doi ani. Asta a fost in 1937. El era beat, insa matusa Annie intotdeauna spunea ca mama a fost cea care l-am impins spre bautura. Niciodata nu mi-au zis ce s-a intamplat cu adevarat insa, curand dupa aceea, s-a dus si ea, lasandu-ma cu matusa Annie, voia numai sa se distreze. Verisoara mea, Mabel, mi-a spus odata (cand eram copii, intr-o cearta) ca era una din femeile acelea,rau-famate, si ca a fugit cu un strain. Eram prost, m-am dus glont la matusa Annie si am intrebat-o, si daca era ceva de tainuit, bineinteles ca a facut-o. Nu imi mai pasa acum daca inca traieste, nu vreau sa o intalnesc, ma lasa rece. Matusa Annie a tot zis cale alba si noroc in atatea feluri, si sunt de acord.