thehowe_v7.1

Today I stopped by the ice-cream shop. While there I talked to a girl who either has the best poker-face I've ever seen, or is the single dumbest person I've ever met. The girl in question was working at the shop, serving ice cream. When I placed my order, the following conversation took place:

Ice Cream Girl: So, you from around here?

Me: (Looks down at shirt, where 'Michigan' is printed across the chest in large block letters) Um, no, actually, I'm from Michigan.

ICG: Oh, Michigan... is that in Seattle?

Me: Uh, no. The state of Michigan.

ICG: (Looks at me quizzically) Where?

Me: You know, the state of Michigan? (holds up hand) Shaped like a mitten? Great Lakes? Michigan? In the United States?

ICG: (Looks at co-worker, ICG2) Where's Michigan?

ICG2: (Without even cracking a smile) It's in the same place that New Zealand is.

ICG: (Sounding very frustrated now) But I don't know where that is!

By this point I had my ice cream and had already payed, so I very carefully counted my change, then left. Looking at the conversation, it seems almost impossible that she could have been that ignorant. On the other hand, she sure didn't look or sound like she was joking.

Oh well. At least the ice cream was good.