Praise then darkness, and creation unfinished

Yes, it's cool(er) again today, after yesterday's high in the 90s (mid-30s C), but on my way home this evening, after smelling the honeysuckle, I passed a stranger on the street who was remarking in surprise and delight "it's cherries!" Not in the store, on the tree at the corner next to the convent. That's an old tree, but it's only been bearing in the last few years, since the ornamental cherries recently planted across the street have started flowering and cross-pollinating it. One year the convent had some men come in and pick all the cherries; I hope they ate them or did something else useful, rather than just throwing them away. (It seemed that they didn't want to risk anyone climbing after fruit and falling out of the tree.)

A minute later, I was across the street and in the park, and a woman walking in the other direction approached a small group of men with "Señores? Maíz?" They didn't answer her, but I repeated "Maíz?" She turned to me, switched to English without being asked, and asked if I wanted butter and cheese. I said yes, then a moment later corrected myself to just butter; by then there was some grated cheese on part of the ear as well. I walked happily home through the park, eating the summer's first corn on the cob; a few raindrops landed on me, but not enough to dampen my enthusiasm, much less ruin the snack.