”What’s on your mind, Gheorghita, so much so that you’ve gone off your food?” I heard my mum asking.
I let out a sigh and, without turning around, I answered:
”When I grow up I want to own a mount of gold, so that my children should never have to do what I am doing now…”
Jaws dropped with surprise. My mum said in a coarse voice:
”My dear boy, look at me!”
When I raised my eyes, I was caught unaware as my mum spat in my face all the food in her mouth:
”So be it and may the evil eye not spoil it!”
They all laughed their hearts out. I can remember their laughter even to this day.
The second time when mum spat in my face was at the end of year eight in school. As I was the youngest in the family, it was out of the question that I should leave the village. Therefore, my parents were nev
