Audrey Hepburn’s Neck

–by Alan Brown.

“We can sit naked together in the same tub even though we’re strangers, Toshi thinks. That’s because we’re Japanese. We understand each other. We trust each other. He is tired of Americans, of trying to know them. He feels devoured by them. Even Paul. Paul is in love with him. He knew that. He realises now that he’s always known it. But why did Paul have to spoil everything and say it aloud?”