Chinese Take-out

I was in line waiting for my food at a Chinese restaurant in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. A lady who had previously placed her order went up to the counter and asked to add something to her order. The restaurant owner spoke back to her, but she didn’t understand what she said because of her accent.

“I don’t speak Hong Kong,” the black patron said.

The owner tried to repeat herself, but the patron interrupted her. “I don’t speak Hong Kong," she said as she waved her hand.

After struggling to communicate, the owner was finally able to make the patron understand what she said. After the patron received her food, she somehow managed to be polite enough to say “thank you” to the restaurant worker—twice.