A Short Play About the Language of Underwear

[CC & Mom have returned to the hotel room from dinner in San Jose, CA.]

Mom: People who like cold weather must love it here.

CC: Yeah. A lot of people love it here.

Mom: Even though it's cold outside, people are wearing thongs.

CC: Mom, these days, thongs refer to underwear. I think you probably want to say flip-flops.

Mom: Flip-flops?

CC: Flip-flops.

Mom: That's a made up American word!

CC: Yes, it is, but it will get you into less trouble

Mom: So thongs are t-strings.

CC, cracking up: G-strings.

Mom: But they look like a T! Why do they call them g-strings?

CC, almost unintelligible because of the laughter: I don't know. But they're different from thongs.

Mom: How are they different?

CC: G-strings have a skinny piece of cloth, like a string. Thongs have a little more material.

Mom: Ohhhh. Ok. Flip-flops, thongs, and g-strings.

CC: Yes.

Mom: I've seen people wear the thongs at the gym to make sure their butts look good. I can understand that.