Lederhosen

    ByMURAKAMIHaruki

    TranslatedbyAlfreadBirnbaum

    "Motherdumpedmyfather,"afriendofmywifeswassayingoneday,"allbecauseofapairofshorts."

    Ivegottoask."Apairofshorts?"

    "Iknowitsoundsstrange,"shesays,"becauseitisastraory."

    Alargewoman,herheightandbuildarealmostthesameasmine.Shetutorselectrican,butmostofherfreetimeshedividesbetweenswimmingandskiingandtennis,soshestrimandalwaystanned.Youmightcallherasportsfanatiedaysoff,sheputsinamrunbeforeheadingtothelocalpooltodolaps;thenattwoorthreeiernoonitstennis,followedbyaerobiow,Ilikemysports,butImnowherenearherleague.

    Idoosuggestshesaggressiveorobsessiveaboutthings.Quitethetrary,shesreallyratherretiring;shedneverdreamofputtiionalpressureonanyone.Onlyshesdriven;herbody--andverylikelythespiritattachedtothatbody--cravesvigorousactivity,relentlessasaet.

    Whichmayhavesomethingtodowithwhyshesunmarried.Oh,sheshadaffairs--thewomanmaybealittleonthelargeside,butsheisbeautiful--shesbeenproposedto,eveotakethepluiably,whesgottentotheweddingstage,someproblemhaseupahingfallsthrough.

    Likemywifesays,"Shesjustunlucky."

    "Well,Iguess,"Isympathize.

    Imnotintotalagreementwiththewifeonthis.True,luckmayruleoverpartsofapersonslifeandluckmaycastpatchesofshadowacrossthegroundofourbeing,butwheretheresawill--muchlessawillstrongenoughtoswimthirtylapsorruykilometers--theresawaytooverostanytrouble.No,herheartwasonmarryin