HarukiMurakami
TranslatedbyJayRubin
[1] OnebeautifulAprilmorning, onanarrowsidestreetinTokyo’sfashionableHarajukuneighborhood, Iwalkedpastthe100% perfectgirl.
[2] Tellyouthetruth, she’’’tyoung, either — mustbenearthirty, notevenclosetoa “girl”, , Iknowfromfiftyyardsaway: She’sthe100% , there’sarumblinginmychest, andmymouthisasdryasadesert.
[3] Maybeyouhaveyourownparticularfavoritetypeofgirl — onewithslimankles, say, orbigeyes, orgracefulfingers, oryou’, ’llcatchmyselfstaringatthegirlatthenexttabletominebecauseIliketheshapeofhernose.
[4] Butnoonecaninsistthathis100% , Ican’trecalltheshapeofhers — ’sweird.
[5] “YesterdayonthestreetIpassedthe100% girl,” Itellsomeone.
[6] “Yeah?” hesays.“Good-looking?”
[7] “Notreally.”
[8] “Yourfavoritetype, then?”
[9] “Idon’’tseemtorememberanythingabouther — theshapeofhereyesorthesizeofherbreasts.”
[10] “Strange.”
[11] “.”
[12] “Soanyhow,” hesays, alreadybored, “whatdidyoudo? Talktoher? Followher?”[13] “.”
[14] She’swalkingeasttowest, ’sareallyniceAprilmorning.
[15] : justaskheraboutherself, tellheraboutmyself, and — whatI’dreallyliketodo — , likeanantiqueclockbuildwhenpeacefilledtheworld.
[16] Aftertalking, we’dhavelunchsomewhere, maybeseeaWoodyAllenmovie, , wemightendupinbed.
[17] Potentialityknocksonthedoorofmyheart.
[18] Nowthedistancebetweenushasnarrowedtofifteenyards.
[19] HowcanIapproachher? WhatshouldIsay?
[20] “Goodmorning, ?”
[21] Ridiculous.I’dsoundlikeaninsurancesalesman.
