Foreign Language

Foreign Language

by Gloria Corrigan
(Philadelphia)

At a holiday gathering in my home I was having a small private conversation with my (immigrant, 90yr old) stepfather, explaining something to him that he didn't understand.

I used his native language because

1) it was the easiest way to ensure he could understand my explanation and

2) it is the language he and I always speak with each other.

My sister and her daughter were offended that we were not speaking English and loudly called out "are you saying something that you dont want everyone else to understand?"

Which is more rude? My speaking a foreign language to my step-father or her "calling us out" for doing so?

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