One day 6 invited
her friend 5
over to eat lunch.

They had not
seen each other
for many weeks
because 5 had
just returned
from a trip to Asia.

“How was your trip?”
6 asked.

“First I traveled to Japan,”
answered 5,

“I saw the cherry blossoms
and went to Mount Fuji.

But the people
didn’t seem
to want me there.

No matter where I went
everyone kept
telling me go, go, go.

So I left and went
to Thailand.”

“I hear that Bangkok
is very nice.”
said 6,
“Were the people
friendlier there?”

“Yes and No.” 5 said
after thinking
for a few seconds,

“Nobody told me to leave.
But everyone just
laughed at me.”

“Why?” 6 said
with a look of concern.

“I don’t know,” 5 sighed,
“No matter what I wore,
no matter what I did,
wherever I went
they said ha, ha, ha.”

“That’s terrible,” said 6
“I’m sorry
that your vacation
went so poorly.

But I suppose it
could have been worse.”

What do you mean?”
asked 5.

6 smiled and sipped her tea.
“Last year
I went to Germany
for a few weeks
on business,
and no one wanted
to talk about anything
but “sechs.”