In the late 1960's, Marash Girl and Haig (just off the bus from New York City) took a day trip to Plum Island, a beautiful beach on Massachusetts' North Shore. Hungry and thirsty after a long walk along the beach, they found a diner at the beginning of the road leading to the southern tip of the island, (the road that now leads to the federally owned stretch of the beach). Happy to find a place to quench their thirst, they took two seats at the counter and ordered 2 tuna fish sandwiches (Marash Girl's favorite at the time) and 2 Cokes. As the young people awaited their meal, they heard the folks behind the counter talking in Armenian -- talking about Marash Girl and her friend in a running commentary that was far from flattering. Little did they realize that Marash Girl with her long light hair and long skirt and Haig's long droopy moustache and "hippy" attire did not keep the two "tourists" from understanding the language of their people. It was all that Haig and Marash Girl could do to keep from laughing. Finally, having finished their meal, paying the bill, the two turned to the folks behind the counter and said, in perfect Armenian, "Thank you so much for the meal and the compliments!"
The moral of the story?
Order steak, red wine, with a French accent?
ReplyDeleteAsk them, if in fact, they were Assyrians masquerading as Armenians?
Tipped the two interlopers a 25 cents for the cooling comic relief they provided on a hot summer day oh so very far from Broadway.
Be thankful, that, but for the grace of god, there go I.