ed.Butthesurprisewouldntgoaway."Yes,thereis,"Isaidcasually."Youwanttoseeit?"

    "Yes,ifImight."

    AndsoIapaniedNoboruWataomyfour-and-a-halfmatroom,withthetangeriillsittingorickotatsu.

    "Ah,thetimemae,"hesaid.Ithoughthehadasenseofhumorkindoflikemine.

    ButNoboruWatanabedidntlaugh.Rollingbackthekotatsufutonwithagravedemeanor,heturheknobs,checkedthegraduations,andtuggedgentlyatthefs,onebyone.

    "Thisisanamazingpiece,sir,"hesaidwithasigh."Incredible.Itsa1971modelNationalHoka-Hoka.Ofcourseyouthinksotoo,sir?"

    "Yeah,sure,"Irepliedagreeably.Ohelegswasalittlewobbly,butwarmthiswarmth.

    SinoboruWatanabehadofferedtositforabraimemae,Itoldhim"Goahead."NorboruWataouttohisLightAceparkedinfrontofthehousearievedabrandrickotatsu(ortimemae)fromthetrunk,broughtitintomyroom,andexgeditfortheNational"Hoka-Hoka"(ortimemae),whichheheldtightlyinhisarmsasheboreitaway.

    "Thanksagain,"NoboruWatanabesaidashewavedfromthedriversseat.Iwavedbadso,returningtomyroom,Ifiingmytangerine.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Croquettes

    byHarukiMurakami

    TtranslatedbyChristopherAllison

    Iwaswathomeonedaywhenagirlcamecalling.Sheretty,maybe18or19,andwreenwoolsweater.Standingnervouslyatthedoor,shefumbledwiththeclaspofherpurse.

    "Umm,year-endbonus,sir,"shesaidinasoftvoice.

    "Ah