The Paper Door and Other Stories by Naoya Shiga

Author:Naoya Shiga [Shiga, Naoya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: North Point Press
Published: 1987-04-09T17:00:00+00:00

The Shopboy’s God

Senkichi was an apprentice at a scales shop in Kanda.

The autumnal, mild, clear sunlight, underneath the faded blue shop curtain, quietly shone into the shop. There were no customers. The senior clerk, sitting behind the latticework of the counter, was languidly smoking a cigarette. He began to talk to the junior clerk who was reading a newspaper by the brazier.

“Ko-san. Won’t be long now. You’ll be able to have some of that fat tuna you like.”

“Yeah.”

“How about it? Shall we go this evening, after closing shop?”

“Fine with me.”

“It’s only fifteen minutes by the Outer Moat trolley.”

“That’s right.”

“Reason I mention it is, you can’t eat the stuff around here.”

“That’s for sure.”

The shopboy Senkichi sat respectfully in his place, a short distance from the junior clerk, his hands under his apron. “Ah, they’re talking about sushi,” he thought as he listened. There was a branch shop in Kyobashi. Now and then he was sent there on an errand, so that he knew precisely where that sushi shop was. How he longed to become a clerk soon! Then, making that kind of knowledgeable remark, he could step inside such a shop any time he liked!

“By the way, Yohei’s son has opened a shop near the Matsuya. Did you know that, Ko-san?”

“No, I didn’t. Where’s the Matsuya?”

“I’m not sure myself, but I think it’s the one near the new bridge.”

“Oh? Is the sushi good there?”

“So they say.”

“What’s it called? ‘Yohei’s’ too?”

“Uh, what was it, now? Something. I heard the name, but I’ve forgotten.”

Senkichi, listening, thought: So there are shops as famous as that. Then, he thought: But when they say “good,” just how do they mean “good”? Carefully, so as not to make any noise, he swallowed the saliva that had gathered in his mouth.

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