...for the vicar
Tony was in fine form during the sermon, meditating eloquently on the act of giving. As he pondered good and bad motives for the exchange of gifts I'm sure that my stem of chrysanthemums bent itself into a question mark. My challenge, from the pulpit, was to offer the gift with love. I was talking to Ben and Carol while the vicar shook a line of hands but then I lurched forward, bloom in hand, and said "Oh, Tony - happy Epiphany!" He started cartwheeling a sort of bewildered acceptance until he asked "where did these appear from?" At that beautiful moment I was able to look him in the eye and say "I brought them for you." I felt love pass between us; because, in a way, I was treating him like my father. If he's like the other clergymen I know he'll have a strong sense of why he thoroughly warrants a flower. So my first English recipients are very English indeed: the tea man and the vicar!