This is the story of what happened to me one sunny afternoon in Paris. I was in France on business, but my return flight was cancelled due to an air traffic controllers' strike. My wife was also away on business and I was in no hurry to get home, so I checked in to a hotel and decided to see the sights.
By early afternoon I had had enough. It was unbearably hot, the streets were crowded with tourists and I was losing what little sympathy I might have had for the air traffic controllers. I sat down outside a busy café and ordered a beer. I was sweating profusely, and when the beer arrived I demolished half of it in one gulp. That made me feel a great deal better, and I found I myself settling down to watch the crowds pass by. As I was sitting there a young Japanese couple, laden with shopping bags, stopped by my table. The man (boy, really) was in his early twenties, about 5'5", with bronzed skin and died blond hair. The girl was shorter, extremely pretty with shoulder-length hair and a lovely smile.
"Excuse me," the girl asked, "may we sit here?"
I could hardly refuse, and, to be honest, I was glad of the company. "I am Taniko," she said, "and this is Eizo."
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Brian."
I stood up and we shook hands. They arranged their bags around the table and we all sat down. Taniko ordered coffee for them both and we chatted for a while. Taniko's English was impeccable; Eizo's slightly less so. They were an extremely likeable pair, and I found myself warming to them. When the waiter brought their coffees I ordered another beer.
As we chatted, I felt something brush against my leg under the table and I realised Taniko was playing footsie with me! I looked at her in surprise and she smiled. Both of them giggled in that endearing way Japanese people have.
