The first time I saw coconut-skating I was so sure it was a joke that I laughed out loud.

The
scowl that came back was enough to tell me that I had completely misunderstood the
situation. In the Philippines a maid tends to be all business, especially when working for
Americans.

But there she was, barefooted as usual, with half of a coconut shell under each broad foot,
systematically skating around the room. So help me, skating.

If this pehypothesis was that a certain local person was at least a part-time lunatic.

I backed out and strolled down the hall, trying to look cool and calm.

from the desk where she was typing.

why is she skating –

Mary, who had done part of her prefield orientation training in one of my workshops,

de

Her typewriter clicked on, scarcely missing a beat, until I exclaimed from the living room

hall