Synopsis

The girls were attempting to pick up some Japanese phrases, hoping to make Betty Jo’s pen pal, Nobuko Takamura, feel more comfortable during her visit. Nobuko had traveled to America to study at college and refine her English skills, with the intention of returning to Japan to teach. She was also eager to observe American ways of life. When speaking with Joe, Nobuko remarked that in Japan, it was customary for women to handle yard work. Joe, seizing the opportunity, playfully tasked her with his