Cannibals

“Want a Coke?”

“I’m good.”

“All right then. Come stop by soon.”

broken bicycle that looked as though even if someone tried to ride it, it could do nothing but turn right for eternity; a black umbrella whose broken frame thrust out of the water like the mast of a ship; a tinplated bucket which,

Jinko-san the fishmonger was near sixty, and her right arm from the wrist down was gone.

She was wearing her black apron and gutting a fish.

“Heading home?”

“Yeah.”

“Today’s your birthday.”

“Yeah.”

You want me to shove that tongue down to your stomach?

You want me to shove that tongue down to your stomach?

the prosthetic hand of the fish shop owner

Remember this. I’m a coward. Instead of doing it myself, I’m gonna let my dad and mom kill themselves.”

“Is there something wrong with that?”

“Of course there’s something wrong with it.”

You won’t be able to. He’s never hit you.”

but you understand, right? 70Right, Toma? When you can’t hold it back anymore, anyone will do. Any slit will do. Hey, you still never hit that girl.”