Random Encounter Monday: No. 2 – The Pharmacist.

“May I help you, sir?” The pharmacist had seen me looking lost around the narrow aisles of our local Boots.

I was there looking for a specific protein powder. I explained this to the Pharmacist. She looked puzzled.

“Protein powder?”

I nodded vigorously. I told her that it was chocolate flavoured and made by an Australian company.

“Australia?” she asked, her confused frown getting deeper.

“Yes,” I said, “the place with the kangaroos.” I did a little kangaroo hop to show her what I meant.

She looked scared. I realised I was losing grip on the situation and needed to refocus.

“That doesn’t matter” I said, “I need protein powder”. I then mimed drinking and then flexed my right bicep and showed it getting bigger with my flat left hand. She reached out nervously and touched my tightened muscle.

“Very good, very strong”, she said with wide-eyed, forced emphasis – I could tell she was wondering how to call security without agitating my clearly demented state.

“No” I said, “protein powder – after work outs.”

As if a switch had been flicked, realisation dawned on her.

“You want pro-teeeeeeeen pow-deeeeeer!” she said.

She laughed in embarrassment, so did I, so did the three other customers. Communal embarrassed laughter is a very Thai trait.

Two morals.

One – I am an ass.

Two – pronounce things with a Thai-English accent.