Fiction - Page 3

Hédi Szabó

The sunshine was lighting up the whole coffee shop. Delightful weather like this brings an awesome mood to everyone. This morning, our coffee shop was completely full of people who just wanted to enjoy what a lovely time we were having. Everyone was sitting outside the cafe bar. We had a busy morning. Just brew and brew the dark caffeine-full drink, we haven’t got a calm three minutes. But of course this is what we love the most. For a minute I just thought about how I’m living the life that I’ve always imagined for myself. I was deep in my thoughts when suddenly I realized somebody had come up to the counter. For a moment I felt a bit embarrassed, because I didn’t know how long she had been waiting for me. With a smile, I asked what she wanted to drink. She told me she wanted to order a drink which was suitable for “trout fishing in America.” At first, I thought I had heard it incorrectly. But she repeated it. I started to panic a little because I started to overthink it. Is this a phrase that I don’t know? Is she kidding me? Is she just bad at English? Everyone could have easily said about me that I was really confused. So fortunately, she quickly explained it to me. Trout fishing in America is a feeling you get when you are happy for no reason. Nothing special has happened to you, you just have the feeling your life is good the way it is. You can literally smile because you are satisfied with things around you at the moment you are in.  After that guest, my life changed, to put it bluntly. Every time I feel unreasonably happy, I say I’m feeling “trout fishing in America.” I wish for everyone to feel “trout fishing in America” more often.

Note from the editor: This is one of twelve pieces in the Spring 2022 issue of Folyosó that play with the concept of Richard Brautigan’s Trout Fishing in America.

Mirtill Ondok

Today I walked to the store to get the newest trout fishing in America. It was a must, everyone had it. The way the material shone as the sunshine met the glittery pattern was breathtaking. I thought it’d look so good on me. As I walked into the store, there was silence. I found it weird because trout fishing in America was only sold in this store and everyone was trying to buy it. I took a turn to the right, and there it was; a labyrinth with a sign that said “trout fishing in America” with an arrow that pointed right into the labyrinth. As I passed the entrance of the labyrinth I was in a galaxy-themed room, and to get to the other side of the room, I had to jump on planets. They were far away from each other, so as I jumped on Neptune, I had to slow down a bit because I was exhausted. I finally made it to the next room, which was a field full of animals. I tried to pass by but couldn’t; it was too crowded. A cow came to me and handed me a pack of food. I threw the food so far away that every animal in the room disappeared, as they were running in the same direction as the nutriment. The field became empty and I could easily cross it. At the end of it, there was no sunshine and no planets, but most importantly no trout fishing in America. I found myself on the street again. I realized it was just a dream, but when I woke up to the sound of my alarm, it was painful. It was painful because I really wanted that trout fishing in America. I went downstairs and my mum gave me a pretty box with a big bow on it. I opened the gift and there was a card that said “Happy birthday!” and under the card hid my trout fishing in America, just as I had imagined.  

Note from the editor: This is one of twelve pieces in the Spring 2022 issue of Folyosó that play with the concept of Richard Brautigan’s Trout Fishing in America.

Emese Kassai

It was a normal, almost boring day at school. The weather was cloudy and rainy, which gave a spleenful feeling to the students.

If I remember correctly, it started in biology class. The girl sitting next to me was texting someone when she put her hand before her mouth in surprise. And I, being the curious teenager I am, peeked at her phone, and almost exclaimed! She and I looked at each other, then we started whispering, distributing the information. Soon the whole classroom was buzzing. After the bell rang, everyone ran to tell their friends the news. That way, almost the whole school, and even most of the city, knew it by the afternoon. I could hear every people whispering:

Trout fishing in America??! With HIM?

What does that even mean?

Ah, you know…Trout fishing…in America…You know..

Who is He?

Why is this relevant?

It must have been a nice trout fishing in America…

Who told you this?

Who is She?

When did this happen?

I would love to go trout fishing in America too….

REALLY? They didn’t even invite me?

Well, good for them I guess….

Ah, I’m also very good at trout fishing in America … At least that’s what people tell me….

Oh my God! I have heard about it, I would like to try that too!

Oh, come on, it’s the eighth time I’ve heard it today, I DON’T CARE!

And it kept getting more interesting. Everyone had a theory about what that phrase stood for, but no one knew for sure. The information became a whole story, which was different to everyone. Even I didn’t understand it fully. To this day it remains a mystery that cannot be solved.

Note from the editor: This is one of twelve pieces in the Spring 2022 issue of Folyosó that play with the concept of Richard Brautigan’s Trout Fishing in America.

Janka Jónás

When American scientists were studying the ancient Greek Olympic games, they found a new game they didn’t know. They called it “Trout fishing ín America.” They found a description of the rules. What is more, they found a painting that showed people playing Trout fishing in America. Trout fishing in America is a race that took place one a year in springtime when it rained a lot and there were a lot of naked snails in the fields. The sportsmen had to carry a big jar, in which they collected as many snails as they could. While they were looking for them, they had to hop on one foot. In the Trout fishing in America, they had one hour to collect the snails, and the winner was the man who collected the most. The purpose of the Trout fishing in America was to clean the fields, because the snails ate their plants. Nowadays the Trout fishing in America has become a popular sport throughout the whole World, because people want to get rid of snails, because they are very harmful… ~NEWS~ We have just heard that the Trout fishing in America will take a place at the next Olympic Games.

Note from the editor: This is one of twelve pieces in the Spring 2022 issue of Folyosó that play with the concept of Richard Brautigan’s Trout Fishing in America.

Zalán Galics

One day I was out with my friends in the park, and we had a great time together. We were talking, laughing, sharing stories with each other. But I saw a bush with weird little berries on it. I asked one of my friends, Anna, if she knew what kind of fruit it was, and she said it was a trout fishing in america bush. Anna is from India, so she introduced me to the fruit. It turned out to be a traditional Indian fruit. Basically trout fishing in America is a little red berry that kinda looks like a redcurrant, so when I was about to taste it, I was expecting a sweet flavour. But it was so sour that I had to spit it out. And that was the point when the accident happened. I spit the trout fishing in America onto Anna’s white t-shirt. Everyone was shocked when they saw her t-shirt dripping with trout fishing in america, except  Anna herself. She said that it’s kinda abstract and it suits her personality well, so since that incident Anna has worn her abstract t-shirt with pride almost every day.

Note from the editor: This is one of twelve pieces in the Spring 2022 issue of Folyosó that play with the concept of Richard Brautigan’s Trout Fishing in America.

Hanna Faragó

It was a very beautiful, sunny and warm summer day. I was bored, so I decided to Trout fishing in America something. I started to think, because I had no idea what to Trout fishing in America. Than I looked out of my window and saw that the sky was very gorgeous because of the sunset, so I started to Trout fishing in America the sky. It took so long, because the sky started to change and the clouds slowly disappeared, so I had to start my Trout fishing in America over and over again. A few hours later I finished my Trout fishing in America, and I was really happy, because it turned out very beautiful. I was so proud of myself; after I finished it I showed my Trout fishing in America to my family, and they were proud of me too. But next time I’m going to Trout fishing in America something easier.

Note from the editor: This is one of twelve pieces in the Spring 2022 issue of Folyosó that play with the concept of Richard Brautigan’s Trout Fishing in America.

Emília Lilla Détár

The Trout fishing in America driver was sitting in his car. Waiting patiently for the girl who had called him. All of a sudden a young woman opened the door of the Trout fishing in America and sat in the middle seat. She was on her phone, gossiping with one of her friends. Or at least, that’s what the Trout fishing in America driver thought. It was late at night, he was tired, and all he wanted to do was go home. He had had the most annoying clients that day.

“Linda Clifford?” the Trout fishing in America driver asked. No answer. She was too busy chatting about some girl with her friend.

“Excuse me, but could you tell me your name, because I’m waiting for Linda Clifford.” Still no answer. He started getting angry.

“Why aren’t you driving?” the girl finally spoke.

“But where?” The Trout fishing in America driver was confused.

“What do you mean, where? Take me home!”

Now he felt more confused. How was he supposed to know where this girl lived?

Okay, he thought. She was so arrogant with him, he thought he could teach her a lesson. He started to drive. The whole way she was still talking with her friend on the phone. All of sudden the Trout fishing in America driver stopped the car.

“I’m sorry, but where are we?” said the girl, as she finally hung up the phone.

“You said to drive home. I live across the street. Please leave the money on the front seat. Good night.”

Note from the editor: This is one of twelve pieces in the Spring 2022 issue of Folyosó that play with the concept of Richard Brautigan’s Trout Fishing in America.

Petra Demeter

It was a very sunny and hot day. I was on holiday in a small town. I went to explore the village. There was a lake where trout were farmed. I was really curious, because I had heard a local legend about this lake.

According to the legend, one very hot summer day, the whole lake evaporated along with all the fishes. Then the next day, the weather was overcast and suddenly it started to rain; however, not only rain fell from the clouds, but also trout. Then the people started ˝fishing˝ the trout.  So the name of this legend is trout fishing in America.

I didn’t really believe the story, I just found it funny, but suddenly the sky grew overcast and a trout fell in front of my feet.

Note from the editor: This is one of twelve pieces in the Spring 2022 issue of Folyosó that play with the concept of Richard Brautigan’s Trout Fishing in America.

Gréta Tóth

Friday, 5 March 2021 – 5 p.m.

Today was the most interesting day at university. One of my students finally interrupted my lesson with an amazing question! Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching mathematics to university students, but in the past few years I felt as if I were giving lectures in kindergarten. At first, I always believed that at some point someone was going to raise their hand and ask something crucial about the proofs or the new theorems or about a practice exercise. After months, no, years of waiting I simply lost my faith in this generation. Apart from the cliché topics like: when are they going to write the exams or is it possible to reschedule, I never heard anything worth responding to.

The last time one of my students asked me something was around 1992. I remember that whole class just as if it were yesterday: the topic was statistics with a class of future economists, about a hundred of them in the second-largest auditorium on campus. There was this one student, Adam; he got a scholarship after high school and proceeded to keep up the good work during college as well. He passed all his exams with the best grades, but when statistics came around in his fifth semester, he miserably failed the exam twice. Before retaking it for the third time, he asked me why he always got a different result in every problem during practice, and it turned out that the battery of his calculator had been running out for the past couple of weeks and certain buttons simply refused to function.

But today, during my third lecture (by the time I was tempted to just give my students a whole page of exercises to work on by themselves), someone raised their hand, and I was beyond shocked when the girl started explaining a strange puzzle that she had found online the other day. It went somehow like this:

“Suppose there are four people trying to cross a rather dodgy rope bridge in the middle of the night.

Only two of them can cross it any one time, and they only have a single flashlight between them. For this reason, one person of each pair must return to help the others get across.

But time is limited; they are being chased and need to get across within 17 minutes total. Sounds simple enough, except each person can only cross the bridge at a certain rate.

One person takes 1 minute to cross the bridge. The second takes 2 minutes, the third 5 and the last person 10 minutes.

Each pair can only cross as fast as the slowest member of the pair. How can they all cross the bridge in time?”

I decided that it might interest other students as well, so we went through the text together multiple times and started debating and trying to crack this brain-teasing riddle. Eventually, the lecture ended and no one could come up with a solution, so it made me even more curious. On my way home, I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and I was eager to get home and set myself to work. I will update as soon as I finally solve this mystery; this sounds like an amazing way to spend my otherwise lonely weekend!

Saturday, 6 March 2021 – 6 a.m.

This puzzle is probably the trickiest one that I have ever seen. I almost stayed up all night trying to find a possible solution. Even the odds seem promising: as far as I was not mistaken last night, there are about 14 arrangements. I have already excluded 7, so I will probably be done by noon.

Saturday, 6 March 2021 – 1 p.m.

All the calculations are done, but I still wasn’t able to find a solution. At this point, I am considering if this puzzle is really possible or not. If so, I need to prove the opposite. Either way, I need to hurry; I’m having dinner with my mother at six.

Saturday, 6 March 2021 – 5 p.m.

Still nothing, though I feel like I’m on the verge of cracking it. Fingers crossed!

Saturday, 6 March 2021 – 6:15 p.m.

I canceled dinner with my mother. I couldn’t possibly have a normal conversation while the only thing I’m seeing is bridges and people. As far as I can remember, I am on my fourth cup of coffee today, but I need every cell in my brain to focus.

Sunday, 7 March 2021 – 4 a.m.

I am questioning everything. The puzzle? Well, that too, but mainly my job as a university professor. I am highly considering my retirement after this weekend, since this puzzle was totally made for elementary school students. Truth is, I always thought that there was a problem with this generation, but now I am convinced that it might just be me. Afterall, everyone in that class has probably solved it by now. And me? Well I am sitting in the middle of my living room, on the same spot where I have been sitting for at least six hours by now. All I did this weekend was procrastinate over a puzzle given by one of my students, while I had tons of assignments to correct. I think I should quit.

Monday, 8 March 2021 – 9 a.m.

UNBELIEVABLE!!! Today started off as a usual Monday, except that I was determined to quit everything or at least skip university for a week. I decided that the first option would be it, so I got ready to visit campus and hand in my retirement application. I was already on the bus, when a family of four wanted to get on the vehicle. They had huge suitcases and bags, and while the mother helped the children, the father loaded the packages into the already crowded bus. He moved fast, climbing the small stairs up and down, just like one would the bridge from the puzzle. And it all hit me; I did  recalculations again and again, searching for the mistake, but there wasn’t any. I got 17 minutes. During my first lecture with the same class, I presented my solution and it was in fact 17 again. Maybe a key to a puzzle like this is to take a step back and observe it before jumping to conclusions.

Erika Szántó

“…Aaand welcome back to our favorite game show, ‘Make or Break’ where you make or break your relationships and friendships, depending on what you think their social cues mean! Today’s anonymous contestant is G! Hi, G! How are you feeling today?”

“Hi, Quizmaster. Actually, I’m kind of nervous and–”

“Perfect! Now let’s start with our first scenario today.”

You are talking to one of your acquaintances about a special interest of yours. They are slightly smiling and have been staring at you for a while now. What are they thinking?

• A. They are bored and only smile for the sake of being polite.
• B. They are interested in the topic, but this isn’t the best time and place for this conversation, and don’t know how to change the topic or leave the conversation.
• C. They are giving you the death stare in order to signal you to shut up finally.
• D. They are just listening intently.

“I- I think I’m gonna go with, uhm, C? No, A. Yes, final answer A.”

“I’m sorry to inform you, but you’re WRONG! The correct answer is: D! Now they think you are a bit weird, since you stopped talking for no reason and haven’t spoken a word in minutes! Now, let’s see our second scenario with that same person.”

You and that same acquaintance attend a school competition. In the end, you are ranked 3rd, while they are ranked 4th. They come and congratulate you, but their expression is unusual. What might that mean?

• A. It is genuine, you’re just overthinking.
• B. They hate you now, just won’t say it to your face.
• C. They are sad and expect you to comfort them a bit.
• D. They are tired and just want to go home.

“This is tough… Well… Let’s go with C. Final answer C.”

“Wrong again! The correct answer is actually A! Now they think you are strange AND a prick! They will never speak to you again! In today’s episode of ‘Make or Break,’ yet another acquaintanceship was ruined permanently! Thank you for watching, and see you tomorrow!”