flowers , still vigorous enough to be up every morning taking a walk and doing her gardening ; one was obaasan - confined to bed , tiny and doll-like , with her black hair held up in a bun - who was always ready with advice from the years she had spent as a shrine maiden ; and the last was dr. alpert , fell 's church 's local doctor , who had iron gray hair , burnished dark brown skin , and an absolutely pragmatic attitude about everything , including magic .