Tuesday, 19 March 2024

A “Geta, Geta” Laughable Happening

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A “Geta, Geta” Laughable Happening

20_big.gifWhen I just arrived in the US as a foreign student, I went out to buy daily necessities. My student life in a dormitory would start the next day, so I walked to Kmart from my host family’s home.

I put things that I needed into my basket and went to a cashier. She rang up the items and put my purchases—a pillow, slippers, hangers, etc.—into a huge black plastic bag.

I carried the bag over my shoulder and walked for twenty minutes, making a geta (Japanese wooden sandals) sound. When I was waiting for a green light, a car stopped close to me. An elegant elderly lady got out of the car and walked toward me. And, she talked to me, “^%&$%&^@#*%.” Then she put something in my hand and went back to her car. I stared blankly at my palm…. Guess what? It was a twenty-dollar bill. Trying to understand what just happened, I missed two green lights.

A Poor Foreigner