\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Troienele se ridicau namil\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een tinda cre\u015ftinului. V\u00e2ntul spulbera fulgii de z\u0103pad\u0103 \u00een v\u00e2rteje \u015fi stoluri, repezite \u00een lungul uli\u0163elor, sparte la r\u0103sp\u00e2ntii \u015fi \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftiate f\u0103r\u0103 c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i \u00een largul maidanelor de la Ol\u0103nita. P\u00e2rtia nu se mai cuno\u015ftea. Z\u0103pada \u00ee\u0163i trecea de glezne \u015fi mai bine.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fumul c\u0103minelor, z\u0103p\u0103cit de b\u0103taia criv\u0103\u0163ului, se zv\u00e2rcolea pe loc \u015fi, ca \u015fi cum ar fi fost sorbit de vetre, se pr\u0103bu\u015fea \u00eend\u0103r\u0103t pe g\u00e2tul co\u015furilor. Mahalaua \u00een\u0163epenise \u00eengropat\u0103 \u00een troiene.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu se pomenea nici gur\u0103 de om, nici l\u0103trat de c\u00e2ine. A\u015fa An Nou, a\u015fa S\u00e2n-Vasile, s\u0103-l h\u0103r\u0103zeasc\u0103 Domnul vr\u0103jma\u015filor no\u015ftri, c\u0103 \u015fi de-ai avea tuf\u0103 \u00een b\u0103t\u0103tur\u0103, ui\u0163i \u015fi de topor, te dai c\u00e2t mai afund \u00een plapum\u0103, \u00ee\u0163i r\u0103storni toate \u0163oalele \u00een spinare, \u015fi tot ghea\u0163\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2i din t\u0103lpi p\u00e2n\u0103 la cre\u015ftet.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Taraful l\u0103utarilor, al lui Sotir Ciupitul, \u0163ambalagiul Ol\u0103nitei, \u00eempodobise din preziu\u0103 un cap de porc cu tibet conabiu \u015fi albastru, cu busuioc \u015fi cu cercei ro\u015fii \u00een am\u00e2ndou\u0103 urechile, \u015fi mi-i v\u00e2r\u00e2se, \u00een din\u0163ii r\u00e2nji\u0163i, un trandafir umplut cu toc\u0103tur\u0103 rumen\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To\u0163i a\u015fteptau s\u0103 vad\u0103 ast\u0103 grozav\u0103 “Vasilc\u0103”, \u015fi nimeni n-o mai vedea, de\u015fi trecuser\u0103 ca la trei ceasuri de c\u00e2nd se luminase de ziu\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nu se pomenea nici de sorcov\u0103ial\u0103, dup\u0103 cum s-ar fi cuvenit de la mo\u015fi, de la str\u0103mo\u015fi. \u0162i se prindea pleoap\u0103 de pleoap\u0103, nar\u0103 de nar\u0103, falc\u0103 de falc\u0103, degera oul \u00een g\u0103in\u0103 de ger ce se pornise.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 N-am putea duce l-alde biata B\u0103la\u015fa ceva curmeie de vi\u0163\u0103 \u015fi vreascuri ujujite? zicea mama Arghiri\u0163a fetei-mari ce \u00eenv\u00e2rtea m\u0103m\u0103liga \u00eentre genunchi \u015fi se \u015ftergea la ochi din pricina fumului. Biata B\u0103la\u015fa! o fi amor\u0163it cu copil cu tot! S\u0103rac\u0103 lipit\u0103, bolnav\u0103 c\u0103 nu se mai poate t\u00e2r\u00ee, v\u0103duv\u0103, cu copilul gol pu\u015fc\u0103, pe a\u015fa c\u0103\u0163ea de vreme, nu \u015ftiu, z\u0103u, de \u015fi-o mai \u00eennoda zilele\u2026 Scoal\u0103, Irino mam\u0103, pune pe tine cojoaca ta \u015fi dulama mea \u015fi du-te de vezi, \u00eei abure\u015fte co\u015ful a fum?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Irina l\u0103s\u0103 f\u0103c\u0103le\u0163ul \u00een m\u00e2na m\u0103-sei, se strecur\u0103 pe prispa din jurul pere\u0163ilor p\u00e2n\u0103 la spatele casei, apoi se \u00eentoarse \u00eentr-un suflet \u00een tind\u0103, se scutur\u0103 de om\u0103t \u015fi s\u0103ri pe vatr\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu e, mam\u0103, nu e fum, nu e nimic; geamurile \u2013 \u00eenghe\u0163ate tun, cu frunze geruite, de nu le-ai r\u0103zui nici cu custura.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Gr\u0103be\u015fte, Irin\u0103, s\u0103-i duci ceva g\u0103teje, ni\u0163ic\u0103 m\u0103m\u0103lig\u0103 \u015fi ceva fiertur\u0103; s\u0103 le aprinzi focul cum \u0103i \u015fti, s\u0103 le pui masa, c-or fi fl\u0103m\u00e2nzit; \u015fi e mai mare p\u0103catul s\u0103 \u015ftii pe femeie cu copila\u015ful \u0103la poc\u00e2ltit \u015fi degerat la o zi a\u015fa de mare!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0II<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Z\u0103pada \u00eei p\u0103trunsese \u00een tind\u0103; v\u00e2ntul \u00eei c\u00e2nta prin cr\u0103p\u0103turile u\u015fii parc-ar fi vuit \u00een duba mare; \u015fi B\u0103la\u015fa era \u00eentins\u0103 \u00een pat, \u00eenvelit\u0103 c-o plapum\u0103 veche, soioas\u0103 \u015fi ciuruit\u0103 cu g\u0103uri prin care ie\u015feau gheomotoacele de l\u00e2n\u0103 neagr\u0103. Pe picioare \u00ee\u015fi tr\u00e2ntise dou\u0103 scovergi. La s\u00e2n \u00ee\u015fi ghemuise copilul \u00eembr\u0103cat cu ni\u015fte zdren\u0163e de pantaloni, c-o scurteicu\u0163\u0103 bl\u0103nuit\u0103 \u015fi \u00eencins pe la mijloc c-o basma ro\u015fie. Chipul ei, g\u0103lbejit de boal\u0103 \u015fi de s\u0103r\u0103cie, \u00eencepuse a da \u00een v\u00e2n\u0103t; ochii, pironi\u0163i asupra copilului, pierduser\u0103 luciul vie\u0163ii ca \u015fi cum i-ai fi r\u0103zuit c-o gresie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mam\u0103, mi-e frig l\u00e2ng\u0103 tine, tu e\u015fti prea rece, \u00eeng\u00e2n\u0103 copilul d\u00e2rd\u00e2ind, las\u0103-m\u0103 s\u0103 m\u0103 dau jos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Bine, Nic\u0103, f\u0103 cum vrei, \u015fopti B\u0103la\u015fa. C\u00e2teva lacrimi \u00eei umezir\u0103 ochii ei usca\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mam\u0103, mie mi-e frig c\u00e2nd stau \u00een cas\u0103, ad\u0103ug\u0103 copilul tr\u0103g\u00e2ndu-\u015fi cizmele, mai bine ar fi s\u0103 m\u0103 duc cu sorcova. Soba nu s-a dezmor\u0163it de trei zile, \u015fi eu am meri\u015for \u015fi busuioc uscat, pot s\u0103-mi fac o sorcov\u0103, dac\u0103 nu am una de t\u00e2rg cu flori \u015fi cu beteal\u0103: \u015fi poate s\u0103 vin cu parale; am s\u0103-\u0163i cump\u0103r p\u00e2ine cald\u0103. Aici e frig, mam\u0103, vreau s\u0103 m\u0103 duc!<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei el, care \u00eenghi\u0163ea \u00een sec de foame, nu-i venea s\u0103 spun\u0103 drept \u2013 de\u015fi abia era de \u015fase ani \u2013 c\u0103ci sim\u0163ea pe m\u0103-sa bolnav\u0103 greu, \u015fi tot zadarnic ar fi fost s-o mai m\u00e2hneasc\u0103 \u015fi el cu foamea lui.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Du-te, r\u0103spunse B\u0103la\u015fa \u00eenchiz\u00e2nd ochii. \u015etiu eu ce te m\u00e2n\u0103 pe tine, dragul mamei, \u015ftiu eu, numai Dumnezeu nu \u015ftie! S\u0103 te s\u0103rut o dat\u0103 \u00eenainte de-a pleca.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 De ce sa m\u0103 s\u0103ru\u0163i, mam\u0103, \u00eenainte de-a pleca?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Ca s\u0103-\u0163i fie cu noroc, ca s\u0103 c\u00e2\u015ftigi parale, ca s\u0103 te primeasc\u0103 cu bine la cas\u0103 de oameni.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei dup\u0103 ce-l s\u0103rut\u0103 pe frunte, pe obraji \u015fi pe ochi, copilul se uit\u0103 lung \u00een fa\u0163a ei.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mam\u0103, dar gura ta este de ghea\u0163\u0103? Alt\u0103dat\u0103, c\u00e2nd m\u0103 s\u0103rutai, m\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103lzeai, acum parc\u0103 mi-ai b\u0103tut dou\u0103 piroane de ghea\u0163\u0103 \u00een am\u00e2ndoi ochii.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei, v\u0103z\u00e2nd c\u0103 m\u0103-sa \u015fi-a luat fa\u0163a \u00een m\u00e2ini, o socoti m\u00e2hnit\u0103 de vorbele lui, se repezi la g\u00e2tul ei, o m\u00e2ng\u00e2ie u\u015for pe t\u00e2mple \u015fi-i strig\u0103 c-un glas \u00eentre r\u00e2s \u015fi pl\u00e2ns:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Vrei s\u0103 te sorcov\u0103iesc? A\u015fa cum m-ai \u00eenv\u0103\u0163at tu, mam\u0103?\u2026 “Tare ca fierul, iute ca o\u0163elul\u2026” Nu vrei?\u2026 “S\u0103 \u00eenflore\u015fti, s\u0103 m\u0103rg\u0103re\u015fti!”, “Nu zic bine?”\u2026 “Ca un m\u0103r, ca un p\u0103r!”\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B\u0103la\u015fa, dup\u0103 ce zg\u00e2rci de trei-patru ori din m\u00e2ini \u015fi din picioare, \u00ee\u015fi veni \u00een sim\u0163ire ca dintr-un somn ad\u00e2nc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nic\u0103 era la g\u00e2tul ei \u015fi \u00eencepuse a-\u015fi \u00eeng\u00e2na vorbele cu pl\u00e2nsul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Nu zic bine, mam\u0103? De ce nu m\u0103 ascul\u0163i? “Ca un fir de trandafir, tare ca piatra, iute ca s\u0103geata”\u2026 Mai s\u0103rut\u0103-m\u0103 o dat\u0103, c-am s\u0103-\u0163i aduc p\u00e2ine cald\u0103 de la Iane brutarul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00cel s\u0103rut\u0103. Parc\u0103 buzele i se \u00eenc\u0103lziser\u0103 \u00eentr-un zbucium de via\u0163\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 n\u0103dejde. Nic\u0103, dup\u0103 ce o b\u0103tu pe frunte cu m\u0103nunchiul de meri\u015for \u015fi de busuioc, plec\u0103 \u00eendes\u00e2ndu-\u015fi c\u0103ciula pe urechi.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd copilul ie\u015fi afar\u0103 din tind\u0103, \u00eel s\u0103get\u0103 criv\u0103\u0163ul, care te orbea \u015fi-\u0163i \u00eeneca r\u0103suflarea. Cerc\u0103 s\u0103 fac\u0103 un pas din prag \u015fi nu v\u0103zu \u00eenaintea ochilor. O pal\u0103 groas\u0103 de z\u0103pad\u0103 \u00eel izbi peste ochi. \u00cen acea fr\u0103m\u00e2ntare cumplit\u0103, un singur g\u00e2nd \u00eei lic\u0103ri \u00een mintea lui de copil: “Vreau s\u0103 aduc p\u00e2ine cald\u0103 mamei, p\u00e2ine cald\u0103 de la Iane brutarul!”<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei intr\u0103 \u00een z\u0103pad\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een br\u00e2u. Se opri \u00eencremenit. Auzise ceva. \u00cel striga cineva? Auzise bine numele lui. V\u00e2ntul s\u0103 fi fost? \u015ei v\u00e2ntul era rece, \u015fi glasul care-l chemase fusese cald. Ca \u015fi v\u00e2ntul se pierduse \u00een dep\u0103rtare, de\u015fi venise de aproape. “Nic\u0103!.. Nic\u0103!\u2026” Iar? \u015ei acest glas, care ie\u015fea ca de sub o copaie r\u0103sturnat\u0103, era slab, n\u0103bu\u015fit, t\u0103iat de tuse, bolborosit \u00eentr-o h\u00e2r\u00e2ial\u0103 care-l \u00eenghe\u0163\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 la m\u0103duva oaselor.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 E mama! \u015fopti copilul cl\u0103n\u0163\u0103nind, \u015fi se repezi la u\u015f\u0103. Pe c\u00e2nd se lupta s\u0103 deschid\u0103 u\u015fa cu m\u00e2na st\u00e2ng\u0103, c\u0103ci cu dreapta str\u00e2ngea c\u00e2t putea sorcova de meri\u015for, iac\u0103 \u015fi Irina a mamei Arghiri\u0163a, cu un mald\u0103r de g\u0103teje \u015fi de vi\u0163\u0103 uscat\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Mama, dad\u0103 Irin\u0103, cere ap\u0103, deschide-mi, deschide-mi! C\u00e2nd intrar\u0103 \u00een cas\u0103, biat\u0103 B\u0103la\u015fa se dusese pe lumea ailalt\u0103. Plapuma \u015fi velin\u0163ele c\u0103zuser\u0103 jos. O m\u00e2n\u0103-i odihnea pe piept, iar cealalt\u0103 \u00eencremenise \u00eenfipt\u0103 \u00een a\u015fternut. Cu ochii pe jum\u0103tate \u00eenchi\u015fi, p\u0103rea c\u0103-\u015fi caut\u0103 copilul la s\u00e2n. Gura ei c\u0103scat\u0103, o pat\u0103 neagr\u0103 ca \u00eentunericul, \u015fi, tot ca \u00eentunericul, f\u0103r\u0103 fund.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dad\u0103 Irin\u0103, vrea ap\u0103, s\u0103-i d\u0103m ap\u0103, dad\u0103 Irin\u0103! \u00eeng\u00e2n\u0103 bietul copil, c\u0103ut\u00e2nd prin odaie cana cu ap\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dada Irina, \u00een loc s\u0103-l asculte, \u00eel lu\u0103 \u00een bra\u0163e \u015fi se repezi cu el pe u\u015f\u0103 afar\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C\u00e2nd \u00eel duse l-alde Arghiri\u0163a \u015fi d\u0103du de c\u0103ldur\u0103, Nic\u0103 \u00eembr\u0103\u0163i\u015f\u0103 soba, \u00eenchise ochii \u015fi zise \u00eencetinel \u015fi dulce:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dad\u0103 Irin\u0103, s\u0103 faci \u015fi mamei foc, c\u0103 mult e bine la c\u0103ldur\u0103! Apoi, b\u0103g\u00e2nd de seam\u0103 cum \u015fopteau de tainic Irina cu mama Arghiri\u0163a, care adusese \u015f-o lum\u00e2n\u0103ric\u0103 de cear\u0103 galben\u0103, \u00eentreb\u0103 cu bini\u015forul:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Da\u2019 ce s\u0103 faci, dad\u0103 Irino, cu lum\u00e2narea?<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 S\u0103 duc la m\u0103-ta foc, lele, \u00eei r\u0103spunse Irina.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 \u015ei eu, dup\u0103 ce m-oi \u00eenc\u0103lzi, m\u0103 duc cu sorcova, s\u0103-i aduc p\u00e2ine cald\u0103, morm\u0103i copilul, a\u0163ipit l\u00e2ng\u0103 sob\u0103, str\u00e2ng\u00e2nd necontenit \u00een m\u00e2na dreapt\u0103 m\u0103nunchiul de meri\u015for \u015fi de busuioc.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dar pe c\u00e2nd Arghiri\u0163a vorbea ceva mai tare cu fie-sa, socotind c\u0103 copilul adormise, Nic\u0103 deschise sperios ochii s\u0103i alba\u015ftri, \u00eeneca\u0163i \u00een lacrimi, s\u0103ri de l\u00e2ng\u0103 sob\u0103 \u015fi strig\u0103, neput\u00e2ndu-\u015fi st\u0103p\u00e2ni pl\u00e2nsul:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 Dad\u0103 Irin\u0103, nu vreau s-o da\u0163i popii!\u2026 De ce s-o bage \u00een groap\u0103?\u2026 Mama e a mea, nu e a popii!\u2026 Nu vreau s\u0103-i dea \u0163\u0103r\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een ochi\u2026 N-a f\u0103cut nimic\u2026 Dac\u0103 e s\u0103rac\u0103\u2026 c\u00e2nd m-oi face mare o s\u0103 fie bogat\u0103\u2026 O s\u0103-i cump\u0103r scurteic\u0103, rochie \u015fi \u015for\u0163\u2026 S\u0103 nu mi-o da\u0163i popii!\u2026 Nu s-a dus la biseric\u0103 c-a fost bolnav\u0103, dad\u0103 Irin\u0103\u2026 dumneata \u015ftii cum se ducea \u00eenainte\u2026 dumneata \u015ftii\u2026<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Abia dup\u0103 multe f\u0103g\u0103duieli se lini\u015fti, se culc\u0103 de-a curmezi\u015ful patului de l\u00e2ng\u0103 sob\u0103 \u015fi adormi oft\u00e2nd, nevoind s\u0103 m\u0103n\u00e2nce dec\u00e2t “odat\u0103 cu mama”.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A doua zi toate i-au fost de-a surda. S-a rugat, a pl\u00e2ns, a \u0163ipat, c\u0103 popa n-a voit s\u0103-l asculte. Pe m\u0103-sa au pornit-o cu picioarele \u00eenainte. Degeaba le-a zis tuturor: “L\u0103sa\u0163i-o barem p\u00e2n\u0103 s-o muia curtea bisericii!”, auzind c\u0103 p\u0103m\u00e2ntul de groap\u0103 e tare ca osul.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u015ei toat\u0103 lumea i s-a p\u0103rut rea de-atunci \u00eencolo, mai ales p\u0103rintele Tudor. \u015ei din m\u00e2na popii mult\u0103 vreme n-a luat nici prescur\u0103, nici artos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Iar mama Arghiri\u0163a, \u00een loc de-o fat\u0103, avu o fat\u0103 \u015f-un b\u0103iat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Troienele se ridicau namil\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 \u00een tinda cre\u015ftinului. V\u00e2ntul spulbera fulgii de z\u0103pad\u0103 \u00een v\u00e2rteje \u015fi stoluri, repezite \u00een lungul uli\u0163elor, sparte la r\u0103sp\u00e2ntii \u015fi \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftiate f\u0103r\u0103 c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2i \u00een … <\/p>\n