‘Ohdear!Thebigmonkeydiditagain,’theofficeworkersaidtome.‘Whatisthegoverwaitingfor?’

    ‘Yes,indeed,’Ireplied.

    Itwouldbedifficultforus,ifitlastsforeverlikethis.

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    Donutization

    HarukiMurakami

    TranslatedbyChristopherAllison

    AtthetimewhenmygirlfriendwithwhomIhadbeengoingoutforthreeyears,andtowhomIwasengaged,donutized,andourrelationshipsubsequentlyfellapart--Imean,whoamongusreallygetalongwithadonutizedgirlfriend?--Istarteddrinkinginbarsnearlyeverynight,andhadgrownthinanddrawnlikeHumphreyBogartin"TheTreasureofSierraMadre."

    "Look,BigBrother:dumpher,ifonlyformysake.Ifyougoohis,youthelpbutfallapart,"mysisteradvised."Iknowwhatyourefeeling,butdonutizedpeopleurntonormal.Youhavenochoicebuttobreakupwithher."

    Shewasabsolutelyright.Justasshesaid,onceapersonisdonutized,theystaydonutizedforever.Icalledthefreakonthephoneandsaidgoodbye."Ihatebreakingup,butintheend,Iguessitsjustfate.Illneverfetyou...bleah,bleah,bleah"

    "Youstilldo?"thedonutizedgirlfriendsaid."Theterofourhumaenothing.Thereisnothing,likeazero.Whydontyoutakealong,hardlookatthisvoid?Whydoyouinsistonlookingonlyatthethingsimmediatelyaroundyou?"

    Why?ThatwasthequestionIwaoaskher.Whydodonutizedpeopleonlythinkinsuarrow-minded,parochialways?

    Butanyway,thatshowIbrokeupwithmygirlfriend.Thatwastwo.Then,lastspring,mylittlesiste