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

«How much should I pay to you?»

«You should have realized a long time ago that I am not a businessman. Having failed with the Readers’ Union, I created the Writers’ Union to please my soul, not for a fee. You have probably read the terms of membership on the site, no money is required here, because I am interested in separating the wheat from the chaff, creating a unique association of truly talented people who are lost in the crowd of „genius“ today. I want to help them leave their mark for the memory of those who will come after us.

»

Mr. Bookfondoff put the printout on the table, sighed and left the meeting room. I don’t remember how I got home.

«What to do? What to do then?»

After all, on every corner, in all literary associations, on all kinds of pages in the social networks, I had already announced my application to the Intergalactic Union of Writers and the poems submitted to the Sun Prize contest! Fans terrorized me, asking to show them the next – already intergalactic – order or medal.

And for sure, all the pen colleagues, who had learned about the appearance of the Intergalactic, had immediately sent their own applications! What if they had been accepted?

«No, no, no!» My whole life was put on the line! And what would Maya say?! My intergalactic failure meant her ultimate victory! How many years had I spend climbing? How much effort? And money, after all! To let everything go down the drain a step away from Eternity, just because of Mr. Bookfondoff materialized out of nowhere?

«Who is he to decide the fate of my „Unrecognized Genius“?! Who is worthy of „the memory of those who will come after us“, but me?.

.»

I had to urgently take advantage of my official position. At that time, I headed the Writers’ Union of the Asphalt Pavers and the private security company «No Problems!». Already on Friday, I made a post on social networks about the sudden disappearance of Mr. Bookfondoff, and a week later I was happy to head the Intergalactic Union of Writers.

It is still open to everyone. For a fee, of course. And yes, sorry, I’ve almost forgotten: every member of the Union must learn my «Unrecognized Genius» by heart! However, as you have already seen, it’s easy enough, because brevity is the sister of talent!

Welcome!

    2021

8. Мертворождённая

«Я сделаю это за неё…» – произнесла Танюша, останавливая меня жестом. В тот день ей исполнилось двенадцать лет.