eplenty:justaskheraboutherself,tellheraboutmyself,and-whatIdreallyliketodo-explaiheplexitiesoffatethathaveledtoourpassingeachotheronasidestreetinHarajukuoifulAprilmin1981.Thiswassomethingsuretobecrammedfullofwarmsecrets,likeanantiqueclockbuildwhenpeacefilledtheworld.

    Aftertalking,wedhavelunewhere,maybeseeaWoodyAllenmovie,stopbyahotelbarforcocktails.Withanykindofluck,wemightendupinbed.

    Potentialityknothedoorofmyheart.

    Nowthedistaweenushasnarrowedtofifteenyards.

    Hoproachher?WhatshouldIsay?

    "Go,miss.Doyouthinkyoucouldsparehalfanhourforalittleversation?"

    Ridiculous.Idsoundlikeaninsurancesalesman.

    "Pardowouldyouhappentoknowifthereisanall-nightersintheneighborhood?"

    No,thisisjustasridiculous.Imnotcarryinganylaundry,forohing.Whosgoingtobuyalinelikethat?

    Maybethesimpletruthwoulddo."Go.Youarethe100%perfectgirlforme."

    No,shewouldntbelieveit.Orevenifshedid,shemightnotwanttotalktome.Sorry,shecouldsay,Imightbethe100%perfectgirlforyou,butyourenotthe100%boyforme.Itcouldhappen.AndifIfoundmyselfinthatsituation,Idprobablygotopieces.Idneverrecoverfromtheshock.Imthirty-two,andthatswhatgrowingolderisallabout.

    Wepassinfrontofaflowershop.Asmall,warmairmasstouchesmyskin.Theasphaltisdamp,andIcatchthestofroses.Itbringmyselftospeaktoher.Shewearsawhitesweater,andinherrighthandsheholdsacrispwhiteenvelopelagonlyastamp.So:Sheswrittensomebodyaletter,maybespentthewholenightwriting,tojudgefromthesleepylo