I was tired. And jetlagged. But I was desperately trying to stay awake.
I’d only arrived in New Zealand the day before, and Noel and I were going to the supermarket to pick up some groceries.
Getting out the car, Noel said to me, “Is there anything you want from the supermarket?”
The sun was too bright, so I squinted back as I shut my door. “Sure. I wouldn’t mind some Carefree.”
He looked at me strangely. “What?”
“Carefree. You know, to chew on.”
His expression turned even more puzzled. “Uh…”
I thought something was super-weird with his reaction, so I fished around in my jeans pocket until I found the pack. Out came the pack of chewing gum.
I showed him the pack, and he started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“In New Zealand, Carefree are panty-liners!”
Beam Me Up, Scotty 