A walk to remember
We’re taking an after dinner walk. We’ve grown attached to these walks on the Plateau, and I suddenly realize that we won’t do that anymore and that the new neighborhood we’re soon moving into is very, very francophone, so I decide to speak more French with B.
B: So, you still want to stop by the d�panneur?
M: Non, �a ne vaut pas la peine. Il est trop tard.
B: Huh?
M: Oh, here’s a good one for you to learn: Ne pas valoir la peine. �a ne vaut pas la peine.
B: �a ne vaut pas…
M: la peine.
B: vaut pas lapin?
M: pas lapin, la peine.
B: Huh?
M: Think about it this way: it’s not worth the pain. Pain as in peine.
B: pay-en.
M: C’est �a! Remember this one, okay? You always forget what I teach you. Do you think that you’ll remember this one?
B: Je sais p�. Peut-�tre �a vaut pas lapin.
After I strangle him a bit, we keep walking and I realize that soon these late night walks will be taking place in very very quiet streets.
M: �a va �tre bizarre de marcher la nuit en banlieue, mais �a va quand m�me �tre agr�able.
B: Je ne sais pas. Les blanches-poubelles vont nous batter avec une baton.
M: Quoi?
B: You know, les blanches-poubelles!
M: What on earth is a blanche-poubelle?
B: You know, white-trash people!
We’ve got a long way to go but as long as we’re laughing while we’re getting there…
