Ace, a furniture dealer, wanted to expand the line of
furniture in his store. Although he had never traveled outside the USA, he
decided to go to Paris to get some ideas. After arriving in the French
city he met with some manufacturers and selected a line that he thought
would sell well back home.
To celebrate the new acquisition he visited a small bistro and had a glass
of wine. The small place was quite crowded, and he noticed that the other
chair at his table was the only vacant seat in the house. Before long, a
very beautiful young Parisian girl came to his table, asked him something
in French (which he did not understand), and motioned toward the chair. He
invited her to sit down.
He tried to speak to her in English, but she did not speak his language,
so after a couple of minutes of trying to communicate, he took a napkin,
drew a picture of a wine glass and showed it to her. She nodded, and he ordered a glass of wine for her. After sitting together at the table for a while, hetook another napkin and drew a picture of a plate with food on it, and she
nodded. They left the bistro and found a quiet cafe that featured a small
group playing romantic music. They ordered dinner, after which he took
another napkin and drew a picture of a couple dancing. She nodded, and they got up to dance. They danced until the cafe closed and the band was packing up.
Back at their table the young lady took a napkin and drew a picture of a
four-poster bed. To this day, Ace has no idea how she figured out he was
in the furniture business.
Dangit, I thought I heard my name used in vain. Again.
Not only am I surprised she knew, but that I knew. And, after taking 5 years of French, from 4th through 8th grade. You're right, though; I don't know it at all.
Ace; I would've tried to sell the extra end table and the armoire, too. Normally I'd just go with a dresser, but I think anyone French would want an armoire.
I just like to say "armoire"....