eeds. The stranger is described as big, bearded, and graying man, who knows something about life and people. A man with a captivating presence whose eyes are dark and full of brooding. Elisa is fascinated by his spontaneous way of life. When she tries to get him to discuss his travels, he steers back to the possibility of employment. When it is apparent that she has no work to give him, he cleverly praises her flowers. Elisa is desperately eager to share in the one thing she is actually proud of, and carefully gathers some shoots to share with another customer down the road. As she disciplines the stranger on the proper nurturing of the seedlings, her passionate involvement with the process of planting becomes an expression of all the suppressed romance in her life. The stranger senses this craving, and offers just enough encouragement to lead her into a full-scale declaration of her profound love of what planting means to her. Elisa would like this moment to continue, but the stranger reminds her that hunger overcomes inspiration. Elisa, somewhat ashamed by her openness, finds some useless old pots for him to mend. She believes that the man has given her something of value and she feels obliged to give him something in return. As the man leaves, Elisa looks away after him, whispering to herself, Thats a bright direction. Theres a glowing there. The purpose of the conversation between Elisa and the stranger is very dramatic. Elisa feels energized and appreciated, delighted by her moment to share her special skill and excited by the chance to share, at least in her imagination, a totally different kind of life. As she prepares for the evening, the effort she usually puts into scrubbing the house is redirected into her transformation to make herself as attractive as she now feels. Her husband is both surprised and pleased by her appearance, and their conversation is mixed with pleasantries and unexpected delight as they both ...
