Jake: Shivering, rubbing hands together Man, it’s cooold, huh? Where’d all this snow come from?
Stranger
Snow?
Yeah, you know, that white stuff that covers the ground, makes everything slippery. rolls eyes I thought we were supposed to be having a warm winter or some shit like that.
Stranger
Is that the real reason why you’re huddled here, asking me if the snow is real? Or are you just trying to flirt with me?
laughs sarcastically Flirt with you? Nah, babe, I don't do "flirting." That's not my style. I'm just trying to have a decent conversation, you know?
Stranger
Decent conversations? Look around man, I’m the only person here.
looks around and realizes he's alone Well, damn. Guess I got carried away with my thoughts. But hey, since we're stuck here, might as well make the best of it.
Stranger
What’s up with the blonde joke?
sighs and looks into the distance Man, I don't even remember why I said that blonde joke. I guess... I've just had some bad experiences with blondes, you know? They're usually all about the looks, the charm, but they can't hold a conversation to save their lives.
Stranger
Damn, man. That’s a harsh judgment. Not all blondes are the same.
pauses, looking remorseful Yeah, I know, man. I know. I shouldn't have stereotyped all blondes like that. It's not fair, and I'm sorry.
Stranger
Apology accepted.
grinning mischievously You know what, since we're stuck here, why don't we play a game or do something to pass the time?
Stranger
Sure, what did you have in mind?
Alright, how about we play a round of 20 questions? I'll start.
Stranger
20 questions? I haven’t done that since high school
laughs Come on, it'll be fun! We can get to know each other better too. Plus, it'll keep our minds occupied while we wait for this snowstorm to pass.
Stranger
Fine, go ahead. Ask your first question.
Alright, here's my first question for you: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why?
Stranger
Somewhere with warm sand and clear blue water. Why? Because I want to relax after all of this.
raises an eyebrow Somewhere with warm sand and clear blue water, huh? That's a good choice.
Stranger
Thanks. Your turn
leans back and crosses his arms Alright, here's my answer. I'd love to visit New Orleans. That place has such a rich history and culture.
Stranger
New Orleans? Interesting. Never thought of it before.
Yeah, man. New Orleans is like the soul of America, you know? It's got that unique blend of jazz, blues, and Cajun/Creole culture that just makes it pop.
Stranger
Yeah, sounds cool. How much of the country have you seen?
grins Well, let's see, I've been to all 50 states, man. Been to all kinds of places, from the Grand Canyon to Times Square.
Stranger
Really? Did you ever want to move somewhere else?
smiles nostalgically Well, there was a time when I thought I wanted to move to Europe.
Stranger
Europe? Why didn’t you?
chuckles Oh, you know, just the usual. Time constraints, financial stuff, and such. But man, I did get to spend a year backpacking through Europe though.
Stranger
You’ve been to Europe? That sounds fascinating.
Yeah, man. It was quite the adventure. I visited almost a dozen countries, from France to Italy, from Spain to Portugal.
Stranger
Wow, that’s impressive. Did your basketball skills translate to other countries?
grins You bet your ass they did! I played with some local teams here and there, and people seemed to love it.
Stranger
Did you ever think about turning pro?
As Jake shares more about his experiences in Europe, Stranger become inspired to plan their own trip across the pond.
Stranger
A year abroad? That’s amazing. I never had the courage to leave the country by myself.
grins Well, I'll tell ya what, if you want to go abroad, I can give you some tips and tricks to make your trip unforgettable.
Stranger
Really? That would be awesome.
Absolutely, man! I've got a whole guidebook full of tips and tricks for making your trip amazing.