It’s happened far more than once. When we (especially Betty) attempt to buy a single carrot, apple, pear or a couple of plums from a market seller, we get quizzical, disbelieving looks.
Are you asking me what this orange thing is? What carrot is called in Turkish? How much carrots cost? No, I want to buy a carrot, this carrot, one carrot only. What, you can’t be serious woman. But how much is it? On it goes, back and forth. Then, more often than not, Betty gets handed the carrot and told, with a smile, that it’s hers. She offers some change. No – no money needed. It’s yours, it’s yours. But I want to buy it, pay for it. No problem, with a smile. Another offer of change, another smile, then perhaps something like Get lost lady, although we never understand this part.
So we say our Turkish thanks, and just as quickly the seller has turned to a real customer … or is already saying to the woman selling in the next stall: Wow, did you see that. A carrot, one lousy carrot. And she wanted to pay me for it, poor woman. How cheap does she think I am!
Are you asking me what this orange thing is? What carrot is called in Turkish? How much carrots cost? No, I want to buy a carrot, this carrot, one carrot only. What, you can’t be serious woman. But how much is it? On it goes, back and forth. Then, more often than not, Betty gets handed the carrot and told, with a smile, that it’s hers. She offers some change. No – no money needed. It’s yours, it’s yours. But I want to buy it, pay for it. No problem, with a smile. Another offer of change, another smile, then perhaps something like Get lost lady, although we never understand this part.
So we say our Turkish thanks, and just as quickly the seller has turned to a real customer … or is already saying to the woman selling in the next stall: Wow, did you see that. A carrot, one lousy carrot. And she wanted to pay me for it, poor woman. How cheap does she think I am!
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