One of the richest men in America
You hear so many bizarre conversations and comments on the bus anyway that writing about them would get tiresome, but I had to put this this one down for the record.
Some guy behind me starts talking to the stranger next to him by asking him what size his feet are. He has to repeat this a few times before the other man understands. Then he explains "I have these shoes I don't like, and I'd be willing to sell them for $20." We are on a bus that starts its journey from a large shopping mall, so I suspect he has five-fingered these wonderful, brand-new shoes that he "doesn't like" and wants to sell so cheaply. The mark isn't interested, but the conversation continues. We learn that the second man is originally from Ethiopia. This gets the shoe salesman going about how sick he is of America. "I just need to find me a country where I can...." he trails off, not being sure what it is he wants from this other country. I suppose he was just trying to convince the Ethiopian that he wasn't an Ugly American. Of course, since this guy came from Ethiopia to America, I kind of doubt that he would think America was such a terrible place.
We roll along past a typical cluster of ethnic restaurants. The shoe guy continues. "I see all these Mexican and Chinese restaurants. I wonder...If I went to another country and opened an American restaurant... what would people there think? You know: hamburgers, french fries, pizza." Indeed, all American originals! The Ethiopian is way ahead of the guy and points out the popularity of McDonalds, Burger King, KFC etc. worldwide. They talk for a while about McDonalds which leads to: "Did you know that one guy owns all of McDonalds?" The Ethiopian replies, "Really?" "Yep! Ronald McDonald. He's one of the richest men in America." The Ethiopian asks "Is he still alive?" "Yeah, but I think his wife died a few years ago. Then he gave like $400 million to charities."
The founder of McDonalds, Ray Croc, has been dead for over twenty years. The shoe fellow probably vaguely remembered Croc's last wife/widow dying a few years back. Or perhaps he was really thinking of that other fast-food tycoon, Jack, of Jack in the Box. Now he is still alive.
Some guy behind me starts talking to the stranger next to him by asking him what size his feet are. He has to repeat this a few times before the other man understands. Then he explains "I have these shoes I don't like, and I'd be willing to sell them for $20." We are on a bus that starts its journey from a large shopping mall, so I suspect he has five-fingered these wonderful, brand-new shoes that he "doesn't like" and wants to sell so cheaply. The mark isn't interested, but the conversation continues. We learn that the second man is originally from Ethiopia. This gets the shoe salesman going about how sick he is of America. "I just need to find me a country where I can...." he trails off, not being sure what it is he wants from this other country. I suppose he was just trying to convince the Ethiopian that he wasn't an Ugly American. Of course, since this guy came from Ethiopia to America, I kind of doubt that he would think America was such a terrible place.
We roll along past a typical cluster of ethnic restaurants. The shoe guy continues. "I see all these Mexican and Chinese restaurants. I wonder...If I went to another country and opened an American restaurant... what would people there think? You know: hamburgers, french fries, pizza." Indeed, all American originals! The Ethiopian is way ahead of the guy and points out the popularity of McDonalds, Burger King, KFC etc. worldwide. They talk for a while about McDonalds which leads to: "Did you know that one guy owns all of McDonalds?" The Ethiopian replies, "Really?" "Yep! Ronald McDonald. He's one of the richest men in America." The Ethiopian asks "Is he still alive?" "Yeah, but I think his wife died a few years ago. Then he gave like $400 million to charities."
The founder of McDonalds, Ray Croc, has been dead for over twenty years. The shoe fellow probably vaguely remembered Croc's last wife/widow dying a few years back. Or perhaps he was really thinking of that other fast-food tycoon, Jack, of Jack in the Box. Now he is still alive.