There I was, in Hays at my fave Chinese restaurant. Getting something I KNEW I shouldn't .... but I was all the way in Hays. And there was China Garden. AND the number IS programmed into my phone. So why waste it?
BUT I was making an effort to be good, so I ordered something little (mini crab rangoon!) instead of the big heaping serving of egg fried rice I really wanted.
There I was, at the register and I saw the dreaded words "no credit card for charge under $6."
Uh-oh. I don't carry cash.
So I'm trying to explain this to the lady, and come up with other items I can order to get up to $6. Then I remember THE EMERGENCY $20. You all have an "emergency $10 or $20" stashed in your wallet, right?
Well, I said "I think I have an emergency $20" and the lady (who spoke VERY broken English) looked at me and I could see she was trying to work out how $20 could be an emergency or some such white person nonsense. I think I finally explained I keep a little something stashed away in a not-so-obvious place so in case of an emergency, I have a little money.
Because, really, being in Hays where your favorite Chinese restaurant and them not taking a CC for a purchase under $6 IS an emergency.
I have some good friends who are originally from Burma, and every once in awhile, I'll pass along a catch phrase to them, but we live far away now, so it made me smile to introduce one of my insane phrases or habits to an unsuspecting foreigner.
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