“Where up north are you from?” the flowing South Carolina voice asked.

Karen heard it – kind of – as her mind wasn’t fully functioning at this early pre 6:30AM hour. Her autopilot kept her moving.

“Excuse me,” the voice said again, this time a hand tapping her on the shoulder.

“What part North of the Mason Dixon Line do you hail?” the chipper voice asked again.

Karen shook off her fog and turned around.

“Now what makes y’all think that ahm from up nor’ath?” she asked smirking in her best ‘make believe I’m a southerner’ accent.

“Well for one thing that really sick attempt to sound southern” she replied in her best ‘make believe I’m an condescending northerner’ accent.

Karen laughed with her breakfast line cohort remembering the stereotypical jokes her friends kidded her with all summer after telling them she was going to school down south.

“Hi. I’m Sandra Bickman”, the girl said. “From Conway , South Carolina .”

Karen stuck out her hand. “Karen Hayes. Lancaster , Ohio . Nice to meet you Sandy.”

“Likewise. It’s Sandra.”

“Sorry”

“No Problem.”

Karen sat down with Sandra. She met many new people in the dorm but none of them were a sick as her to scheduled classes at this gaud awful time of the morning. She welcomed the company on this first day of classes. More than that she appreciated the befriending of this new girl. Karen could never act so unassuming.

“What’s your major?” Karen asked.

“Communications. Journalism.”

“Business, Marketing” Karen replied.

“They’re a little related, aren’t they? Sandra asked with rising intonation.

“I guess” as she started to hurry a bit to finish eating.

“So Karen, what brings you south to Virginia for school?”

“My 1997 Mustang” she replied then hoping her off the cuff remark sounded OK.

“What brings you north from South Carolina ?”

“Greyhound Vista Cruiser” Sandra said, making Karen laugh.

“It’s only been a few minutes “, Karen thought,” but I think I’m going to like her. She’s a sick puppy.” 

“So how did you know I from up north? Is it that obvious?”

“Nope! It’s the coffee.”

Karen looked at her totally confused.

“You can always tell a northerner because they all drink coffee,” Sandra explained. “All real southerners drink Pepsi at breakfast.”

Karen smiled completely dumbfounded. She finished eating and rushed off to find her class with her mini-cultural lesson and her new friend fresh in her mind.

End