Cказки Призраков. Tales of Ghosts. Премия им. Эдгара По / Edgar Poe Award (Билингва: Rus/Eng)

Bookfondoff, meanwhile another Writers’ Union appeared in social networks!

And that time… an Intergalactic one!

Wow! I rejoiced! «Hang on, Maya! Now you just have to die of envy!»

I was told its website where I got acquainted with the conditions for admission to the Union and with the list of competitions for the coming decade. So every year was run by its own Intergalactic Commission, issuing awards named after one of the planets of the Solar System, nearby Constellations, satellites and not only.

During the night, I prepared a selection of my poems, the «Unrecognized Genius» came first, of course, and sent it to the Intergalactic Commission for consideration. At the same time, I applied to join the Union.

Imagine my surprise when I received the reply revealing that my poems were not subject even for a prize nomination, and I had been refused admission to the Union!

«Oh, no! I won’t leave it like that!» I decided, and instead of continuing our correspondence, I went straight to their office.

The secretary politely listened to my demand for a face-to-face meeting with the most important person in the Intergalactic Union and escorted me to the meeting room.

A few minutes later, the door swung open, and…

«Mr. Bookfondoff! You?!» I was surprised.

«Hello!» Mr. Bookfondoff said calmly. «What brings you here?»

I handed him a printout of my works, beginning with my masterpiece, the «Unrecognized Genius», and said that I had been refused not only the Sun Prize, but also the nomination itself, as well as the admission to the Intergalactic Union.

«By what right? To deal with me! That way!» I exclaimed in conclusion. «Have you ever read my poetry?»

«Of course,» Mr. Bookfondoff replied suddenly. «I have read your book. Back when you invited me to get acquainted with your lyrics at the Central House of Writers.»

«AND?!» I was expecting admiration.

«You are a common graphomaniac.»

«Are you out of your mind?» I shouted, jumping up from the table.

Mr. Bookfondoff took a printout of the «Unrecognized Genius» to read it aloud in full.

«…„I am Eugenius, unrecognized genius, rejected by all. Be calm! My turn is about to come! And my Sun will rise to fit! And I, in love, will shine you with it!“ I’m sorry, but…»

«HOW MUCH?!» I yelled.