Once I got past sixty I was quite used to being dumb, and people not having anything to do with me. You can survive without riding trains. Father’s dead, so nobody hits me anymore. Mother’s dead too, so she doesn’t cry. So actually, if you say I’m pretty smart, it’s a bit upsetting. You see, if I’m not dumb then the Governor won’t give me a sub city anymore, and no more special bus pass. If the Governor says, You’re not dumb after all, then Nakata doesn’t know what to say. So this is fine, being dumb.”
