More from the Mall

About a month ago I was shopping and stopped into Victoria's Secret. The line at the register has been absurdly long every time I've been in there lately, but I had a necessary purchase to make so I waited.

Standing in line in front of me was a mother and her 30-something daughter. Listening to them giggle over the different types of stockings it became obvious the mother was Irish. After eavesdropping longer (not that I had much choice) it sounded more like the daughter was British than Irish but some words came out one way and some another so that I honestly couldn't tell if it was her accent or my hearing. While I was trying to figure this out, a woman who was actually being rung up turned around and asked the mother where she was from. "Well, Ireland" she replied. The woman said "No, no I mean where in Ireland? You see I'm a voice coach for actors and I specialize in British and Irish accents. If I had to guess I'd say you were from County Cork." (Sorry for the stereotype here I just can't remember where she guessed.)

The mother looked startled and said "Well actually I live about 10 miles from there." And slowly as they talked about Ireland and it's beauty the voice coach drifted into a thick Irish brogue. So much so that I expected the words "Faith and Begorah!" to come out of her mouth at any moment. The daughter stood there politely and added to the conversation in bits and pieces and seemed to find the whole thing humorous until the coach turned to her and said "Now you must be from Southern London." In a bizarre Henry Higgins, what are you doing so far from Lisson Grove, sort of way.

The daughter jumped and said "Well, yes I live there." The coach replied "Southern London's the best, as you well know. My son in law is from Northern London and we just don't let him live it down." (Not being from London I didn't understand this reference. Anyone out there that can explain it to me?)

The voice coach finally finished checking out (Oh yes, she had kept pausing the cashier and holding up the line that now stretched back to the entrance of the store.) After she left the mother and the daughter laughed and looked at each other. The mother said "That's what I love about America, you meet the oddest people."