But then a body's bound to be a dreamer...
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Meanwhile that weekend, Sunday was Mercy’s 22nd birthday and Fidel Castro’s 80th. In the busyness of the whole day: worship rehearsal, church, Sunday School, sandwiches at the Silverspoon’s and cards over root beer floats, youth group, etc., OLeif and Collette had rather forgotten to do anything for Mercy. And so, after dropping Molly off at her house after youth group, they dashed into Wal-Greens for Mercy’s gift: microwave popcorn, Whoppers, two old DVDs: Superman cartoons and Bonanza, and an iced coffee. And they arrived fifteen minutes late, as a result, to the Pretzel’s old house, with Diana right behind them.
It was almost like stepping back in time going inside, just like the good old philosophy days. Mr. Pretzel, Catalina, Shepherd (Malaya was at home writing a paper for school), Peter and Julia, and later two more friends from Mercy’s church: Barnaneckia (who knew Joe the Elder) and Trinity, who arrived with an ice cream cake.
Catalina talked with Diana and Collette about her plans, finishing up her masters to become a physician’s assistant. One and a half years later she planned to be on the mission field in a small village. The door had been shut on Papua New Guinea, she said, but perhaps she would be in Africa. Part of her work over the next year would be in Cameroon. She had already been exposed to tuberculosis, HIV, and who knew what else. But there was something about Catalina. She, out of anyone else Collette knew, had to be the one to be on that field.
Meanwhile, they met Mercy’s man, Stephane Lambiel, who was very courteous, quiet (likely because he had only slept for four hours the night before), and a soft handshake. Although he almost fell asleep during Rocketman, several times, he seemed to do his best to stay awake for the evening in general, and was a pleasant sort of fellow.