Boy Scouts, Bouquets, & Pie (Pah...パイ...Pi...)

Ok, one more, and then Daddy has to get to work. No, no, Daddy has to make Kanji flashcards before homestay tomorrow. Ok, one more. So, Sunday, i went again to 南山協会 (looks so much more attractive than Nanzan Kyoukai, doesn't it?) I sat in service, straining to understand, reading along in Eigo. (I can speak Eigo, Anglais, English, not to mention Pig Latin). Anywho, afterwards, i was walking out and I bumped into this old lady (actually i think she bumped into me on purpose so she could start a conversation) After a perfunctory "My you are tall aren't you?" (in japanese) She "noticed" that i was a gaijin and started asking me things. She said her name was, and i quote, "Madame Yamada" I can't express how appropriate this was. Not Mrs. Yamada. On any other woman, it would have been pretentious. Her husband had been the vice president of some well off company and she had lived in New York for many years. Eventually she broached a subject which had been on her mind for i don't know how long, perhaps the subject that caused her to "bump" into me (but i will of course, assume the best) "You look young and strong. I am 84 years old! Could you help me carry some bags??" Of course, Madame. For you, anything. and did i mention you don't look a day over 50? It turned out to be an entire car trunk full of bags, things she was donating to the parish charity something or other. Eventually, (i couldn't get my hands to stop shaking afterwards.) i got to set them down in a some storeroom in the parish center. At this point, i was surrounded by older japanese women crooning "親切人ね!" "What a kind person" and other such things. Next, Yamada-san got me some coffee and a piece of cake, which i didn't realize weren't free until it was too late, and sat me down between a young pregnant couple and a english teacher, who i later learned teaches at a Dominican school for girls. Then she had to leave, お爺さん was waiting. Everyone was so nice to me. The english Teacher told me there is an English mass at the same time as the Japanese one! All this time! I learned the young couple was from 日進市 my suburb, and they offered to give me rides to church any time. Just let this be a lesson to you; you never know when a good turn will become a piece of cake, a cup of good coffee, and a bouquet of plastic flowers. (Oh, i forgot to tell you, Yamada-san gave me a bouqet of plastic flowers.)