I would like to ask that girl whether she knows what the word "vegetarian" means or whether she simply thinks it is a bad word with which her school friends distinguished her from themselves.
I was on the tram when five girls around 7 or 8 years old came in and stand in the middle of the wagon, where everyone could see and hear them. For a while they talked about school, then one of them suddenly indicated a butcher shop we were passing by. "That is the best one in town, my mum says". Another girl said "Yes, my mum says so too". And a third girl added "Mine as well". The fourth girl joined "My mum too". And the fifth girl echoed "My mum too". But then the other four girls turned to her and two of them said at the same time:
"No, yours not".
Silence.
"Why mine not?"
"Because your parents are vegetarian".
"So what?".
"They don't go to butchers".
Silence.
I was on the tram when five girls around 7 or 8 years old came in and stand in the middle of the wagon, where everyone could see and hear them. For a while they talked about school, then one of them suddenly indicated a butcher shop we were passing by. "That is the best one in town, my mum says". Another girl said "Yes, my mum says so too". And a third girl added "Mine as well". The fourth girl joined "My mum too". And the fifth girl echoed "My mum too". But then the other four girls turned to her and two of them said at the same time:
"No, yours not".
Silence.
"Why mine not?"
"Because your parents are vegetarian".
"So what?".
"They don't go to butchers".
Silence.