Before we start, I just want to thank everyone who has been leaving feedback- I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! I see that I'm getting a lot of hits on my stories, and a lot of readers are adding me to their favourites, which I also appreciate. But feedback lets me know what you like, and that means a lot to me creatively. So, without further ado...
Karen
"I'm Steve"
"NIce to meet you" Karen said politely. "So, where are you from?"
"Brooklyn, originally. A long time ago. But I seem to live in Manhattan now."
"Do you like it?"
"Not really."
"Oh, bummer."
There was an awkward pause.
"Are you Japanese?"
Karen smiled slightly, "No, I'm American. My family came from Korea several generations ago. But I'm Jersey, born and bred.
Steve nodded. "I used to uh... work with a Japanese-American guy. HIs name was Morita. He was a good man."
"That's nice" Karen said.
"I tried Japanese food or the first time a few weeks ago. Some of the people I work with were going out for it. I didn't eat any of that raw fish, but the noodles were good. I wasn't great with the chopsticks, though." he admitted.
Karen smiled bemusedly and nodded politely.
"Can you use chopsticks?" Steve asked, trying to revive the conversation.
"I can, yes. But noodles are tricky, that's for sure" she said conversationally.
"Yeah... yeah I like Japanese food. Karaoke!' he said suddenly. "I got taken to karaoke, too. But I didn't sing. I didn't much care for it..." he trailed off uncomfortably.
Karen looked speculatively at him. "You realise that Japanese and Korean aren't the exact same thing, right? Different countries? Different language? Different cultural heritage?"
"I know" Steve said, blushing furiously.
"Well, then maybe we should change the subject?" Karen said casually, glancing at her watch.
Author's note: This conversation is based somewhat on something that happened to a friend of mine (except she's Japanese and was thought to be Korean.) She thought it was pretty funny at the time and said I could use it, so I hope this doesn't come across as cuturally insensitive. Obligatory legal yadayada- I don't own these characters, and I make no profit from posting my FF on here. And like I always say... feedback is LOVE!