Miss Bea, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never been
married. She was much admired for her sweetness and kindness to all.
One afternoon the pastor came to call on her and she showed him into her
quaint sitting room. She invited him to have a seat while she prepared tea.
As he sat facing her old pump organ, the young minister noticed a cut glass
bowl sitting on top of it, filled with water. In the water floated, of all
things, a condom.
When she returned with tea and scones, they began to chat. The pastor tried
to stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its strange floater, but
soon it got the better of him and he could no longer resist.
"Miss Bea," he said, "I wonder if you would tell me about this?"
pointing to
the bowl.
"Oh, yes," she replied, "isn't it wonderful? I was walking through
the park a few months ago and I found this little package on the ground.
The directions said to place it on the organ, keep it wet, and it would
prevent the spread of disease. And you know... I haven't had a cold all
winter!"
