Excerpt: “Tokyo Stranger,” by Tina DeBellegarde
Mr. Sasaki gets into his car, his pressed uniform sliding easily on the leather seats. The muted thump of the Mercedes door’s closing signals the start of his shift. He turns the ignition and gently the engine comes to life, quietly, almost imperceptibly, but his practiced senses can feel the hum as it idles. He tunes the radio, searching for the classical music program scheduled to begin at midnight. He pauses to admire his gloved hand on the dial. The gloves, a gift from his wife, his name stitched inside so they would never be lost at the station. Read more…