/untitle
ii
Monica Znider Little
you pass
bouts
mad
suffering a
it
pouring
s
hit at an\' time.
and
rain,
The Japanese usualK' iorgive ^gatjin (foreigner) when your sopping umbrella beats them against a wall,
way
You're on your
to the store
because you ran out
ot
for
most faux pas committed in and
the understanding smiles
shampoo
\our students were disobedient, distracted, and downright panty-hose off
RhPEATEDI^Y). SLEEP, but
alone, you're
yours keeps nailing e\er\one
GONE.
happ\' nods are
killing \'ou.
when you're
The\'re more likely
that stupid umbrella ol
the head.
in
ignorance, but
strip these
shock can
ot culture
migraine,
no.
(Wbo INATlNTED to
morning. Your head
and
all
you want
these things? The\- should be shot. In the
snuggle under your duvet on three
\ou ha\e
this
e\il,
la\'ers of
bra\e the torrential downpours
do
is
is
HEAD.
futon (Stupid things are so
ol the
to
THIN.) and
newlv begun typhoon season
to get
SHAMPOO. lort\-
back
tears.
so Irustrated that
To top
minutes wandering around a store about the
size olyour closet back home. You can't lind the shampoo because you can't READ anything, and you're one more emplo\ee yells "Irriu<haimiu<eL\" at \ou. you are liable to rip her head off.
Alter about %'ou're lighting
it
off the sound system
it all
is
belting out the older \ersion ot "American Pie."
and
\'ou're lUst
longing for America, Walmart. and English at this point.
So you grab what you think might resemble shampoo, count out entirely too much change, and home and searching ever\' shop you pass lor something American, something \x\ English, something FAMILIAR. No luck until you pass a coffee shop. (Coffee. Familiar. Warm. Reassuring. You duck into the store and seaich the menu (which is in
bolt.
You're walking
ENGLISH!
Praise the
LORD!)
Then you begin
for
something soothing.
to teel stupid. .After
all.
you're a missionarv
in
Japan. For a
YEAR. You
can't
be rampaging the country lor an American pleasure every time you get frustrated at the grocery- store, especially because that's
bound
to
happen on a daily
basis.
"FLXE," you think, and order the strangest
thing on the menu. "Coltee Jeli3'',"you say contidentK' to the smiley girl behind the counter. CofUt; whall! I
itu'l
It
HAT
to
be a
di<)
order?
She takes your money and places single-sei"\e liquid creamer, but
invention,
you must concede.
substance with what looks
"Oh small shop,
dear,"
you
the tray
whipped cream on top. "/ uv;,- e.\pt\iiiu) a DRISK.
is
what appears
its actualK' liquid sugar. .\
In the middle of the tray sits a small, glass
think.
sit
You rush through
On
bowl half
full ol
a
genius
brown
like
down ne.xt to one and bow your head.
You
a tray in front ot you.
trom prior experience you know
a
THING
ot the
t\\
ent\-
ifhiit
i.<
THIS?"
chain-smoking Japanese customers that crowd the
torm prayer, essentially turning
it
into one. long v\ord -
"Dear Lord,
and help-it-nourish-and-strengthen-my-body-/Vmen." Quite honestly, you're just a little bitter at God right now for sending sou here. You dip your spoon into the qui\ering brown mass, battling anticipation and revulsion. please bless this
.
.
.
.
.
.
