株式会社売釈人
「売娼人株式会社」は、エドガー賞を受賞したマス・アライのミステリーシリーズや全米日系人博物館から出版された伝記2冊の著者であるナオミ・ヒラハラの新作フィクションです。主人公のキャロライン・マメダは、仕事を解雇された後、結婚仲介業を始めます。舞台はロサンゼルスのリトル・トーキョー。
このシリーズのストーリー
Chapter Seven—Who’s Ex?
2009年3月13日 • 平原 直美
>> Chapter six“That guy is my best friend’s ex.” The lie about Laker2009, otherwise known as Rick Sleazeball Saiki, my former boyfriend, comes out so easily. He has just been in the office of my fledgling business, Baishakunin, Inc., a matchmaking service that is somehow supposed to keep my condo payments afloat. Only problem is, Rick is my first and only customer. Besides he has signed a contract in the presence of my public face, the elderly Oizumi-san, and my …
Chapter Six—Behind the Shoji Screen
2009年2月14日 • 平原 直美
>> Chapter fiveI pull Jake, my landlord, behind the Japanese folded screen in the back of the offices of Baishakunin, Inc. “Ah, ah—” No words emerge as I gesture towards the voices in the reception area. What do you say when your ex-boyfriend is looking for love at your fledgling dating service?“Are you choking on something?” Jake asks and I quickly put my hand on his mouth to muzzle him. His full lips feel pretty soft, but that’s not the …
Chapter Five—Full House
2009年1月9日 • 平原 直美
>> Chapter four“Cool. This going to be a soft-porn gig?” I look incredulously at Kyle Honda. If it weren’t for the tattoos and the two hoop earrings in his ear, he would look like a fresh-faced baby boy. Kyle is getting his bachelor’s degree in filmmaking in USC and is desperate to work for close to nothing to get any kind of credits on his resume. So, in other words, a perfect fit for my new company, Baishakunin, Incorporated. “What …
Chapter Four—Finding Mrs. Butterworth
2008年12月12日 • 平原 直美
>> Chapter threeIt’s been a week and I’ve gone to at least ten garage sales, two 99-cents outlets, and five thrift stores to make the headquarters of my new matchmaking service, Baishakunin, Inc., halfway presentable. My best friend Ginne Lee did her part by lending me all this Japanese stuff she had in storage—shoji screens and Japanese bowls—to make everything look authentic. The only thing missing is a face—the face of my company. I need a Japanese Mrs. Butterworth, a …
Chapter Three—Let’s Make a Deal
2008年11月14日 • 平原 直美
>> Chapter twoEver since I turned 35 (two years ago), everyone has treated me differently. During every holiday dinner, my parents and my younger brother with his wife and two kids look at me pitifully, as if my expiration date has long passed. I’m no longer part of the cool 21-34 crowd on surveys and marathon categories, I’m now part of the 35-44-year-old crowd. Even bag boys call me ma’am and offer to carry my groceries to my car—what are …
Chapter Two—Eat Your Brussel Sprouts
2008年10月10日 • 平原 直美
>> Chapter one“You actually don’t look too bad, considering,” says Ginnie as we are seated at La Grande Orange Café, the new restaurant on the bottom floor of the Pasadena condo unit I live in. Now remember—Ginnie Lee is my best friend and about the nicest person I know in the planet, so for her to say not “too bad” actually meant I was wretched-looking. I finally took a shower this afternoon, after not taking one for three days. I …
