When the steam cars still ran from Bellows Falls to Boston it was that two very proper New England ladies would appear on the platform awaiting the train each Friday at 8:07 am.
This for over 40 years but they, never having been introduced, had also never spoken.
And one day:
"Excuse me", said the one with the rolled up umbrella.
“I’ve seen you here every Friday morning but never felt it right to intrude."
“Today, however, is my 75th birthday and I feel, on this one occasion, entitled to ask t question that I’ve had for all of those years.”
The lady with the cloth shopping bag nodded assent.
Umbrella lady (they both wore black) continued: “I go to Boston each Friday to have lunch with my daughter and have puzzled as to why you make the same journeyl.”
Lady with bag: “I am, you see, a Catholic so each Friday I go to Boston to get scrod”
Prolonged silence.
Then: “Thank you!”
"In all of my 75 years I had not previously heard the past tense of that word!”
They never spoke again.
There was no need.
Did I mention that Bellows Falls is in Vermont?
This for over 40 years but they, never having been introduced, had also never spoken.
And one day:
"Excuse me", said the one with the rolled up umbrella.
“I’ve seen you here every Friday morning but never felt it right to intrude."
“Today, however, is my 75th birthday and I feel, on this one occasion, entitled to ask t question that I’ve had for all of those years.”
The lady with the cloth shopping bag nodded assent.
Umbrella lady (they both wore black) continued: “I go to Boston each Friday to have lunch with my daughter and have puzzled as to why you make the same journeyl.”
Lady with bag: “I am, you see, a Catholic so each Friday I go to Boston to get scrod”
Prolonged silence.
Then: “Thank you!”
"In all of my 75 years I had not previously heard the past tense of that word!”
They never spoke again.
There was no need.
Did I mention that Bellows Falls is in Vermont?
