The Mexican Tourist

It is not uncommon for someone to approach me speaking a foreign language. Typically they just apologize and go about their day. But then there are others. 


I was standing at an intersection, just waiting to cross the street, when a man approaches me speaking Spanish. He's the typical tourist, holding a Visitor's Guide while his teenage daughter looks annoyed and younger son looks fascinated by every moving thing. Having only taken a semester of Spanish in the 7th grade, I muster up "no hablo spanish." Yes, I realize I should have said Español. But I was tired and like I said, I don't speak the language.


He laughed at me and said "No Spanish? What kind of Mexican are you?"


"I'm not..."