North Carolina Transplant
A recent transplant to the mountains of North Carolina writes:
The folks around these parts have a peculiarity that drives me nutty. You ask them an "either/or" question, and their answer is-- "That'll be fine!"
I asked a lady the other night who was coming through my register at Wal-Mart, "Ma'am, would you like your milk in a bag or not?"
"That'll be fine," was her reply.
I looked quizzically at her, and asked, "Does that mean 'yes' or 'no'?"
"I said that that'll be fine," was her answer. Since I was holding it up in my hand, out of a bag, I decided to assume that "that" in this case meant "that naked jug of milk that you're holding in your hand, not in a bag."
This feeling was further reinforced by a slight nod of the head towards the jug just as she said the word "that'll." I set the jug in the buggy without putting it in a sack.
"I said I wanted it in a bag," she complained. "You want me to shout it or write it down for you?
"That'll be fine!" I replied.
Originally published June 24, 2005.
