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It is amazing that two countries like Canada and the United States can be so geographically close together, and yet have so many differences in the way they operate every day. Below you will find a story - the same story written once in "Canadian" and once in "American". |
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CanadaBob was starting to regret that he'd agreed to live in the old house at the end of the back-forty of his dad's farm for the summer. It was at once isolated and noisy. Isolated because it was a kilometre from the concession road, in the middle of a corn field. Noisy, because the main railway line of the CN was only about 20 metres from a level crossing. All night, trains would pass, shaking the house and rattling the windows with its horn. Always the same: two long blasts a short and then a long as another freight rumbled its way towards Peterborough.The old frame house needed some work though. The eavestroughs were actually hanging down in spots, and the hot water tap in the kitchen was dripping badly. The garburator hadn't worked since Bob accidentally dropped a package of elastics in. Oh well, Bob thought, at least dad had hydro put in this year. Plus, I'll be heading to university in the fall. He still hadn't decided whether to get an apartment or live in residence again. For that matter, he hadn't even finalized his courses. "Better look at that Calendar tonight", Bob thought. Bob was working for the Ministry of Transportation for the summer, out on Highway 11 where they were widening it to four lanes. It was hard work, but the money was good. He turned his ancient grey Chrysler Dynasty into his parents' laneway. He entered through the kitchen door, his parents' green budgie screaming at him from its cage. Sometimes his mum was there, usually wearing her housecoat, but this morning she wasn't. She still made him lunch, packing it in a paper bag and leaving it in the refrigerator for him to pick up each morning. Usually a couple of peanut butter and jam sandwiches on brown bread and a can of pop, plus an apple and some packages of soda biscuits or Girl Guide cookies for snacks. She usually threw in scads of serviettes too. When he got to work, Bob's friend and next door neighbour, Kevin came up to him. "Did you hear what happened to Carver on the weekend?" Bill Carver had worked with them on the survey crew the previous summer, and had started a new job for the Defence Department. "No - what happened?" "He phoned me last night. He was driving his new Z-28, eh, hauling his hardtop camper back to Ottawa on Friday, and just past Centreville, when the OPP stopped him at a spotcheck. He'd had a few beers at lunch, eh, but he wasn't drunk. He'd had a few beers at lunch, but he wasn't drunk. He didn't blow over the limit, so he avoided being charged with impaired driving." Bob shook his head. Carver was one of his best friends. They had known each other since they were in Grade V in public school, and had graduated from high school together. He lived about five clicks away, near the Indian Reserve in Gibson, but Bob hadn't seen him since December at a Boxing Day party. "So what did you do on the weekend?", Kevin asked. "I did absolutely nothing. How about you?" "Yeah. Same here. Well, I had to help my dad bring the heifer back in - it won the red ribbon - first prize - at the fair, by the way. Anyway, I can't wait until Friday to get in my ten weeks and then collect pogey." Remember I'm flying out to Montreal for a holiday next week, eh. Speaking of money, lend me a couple of bucks willya. I'm goin' over to the corner store and get a butter tart to eat. You want anything?" "Yeah. Get me a chocolate bar or a package of Smarties." Bob dropped three loonies into Kevin's outstretched palm. "Thanks. By the way let's drive into town at lunch hour. I need to get some traveller's cheques at the American Express office, and to the drugstore for some Gravol. "Okay - where is the Amex Office?" "It's above Kern's Jewellery Store - 105 Wellington Street South - on the second floor." "Well, that'll work out great - I need to get some khaki track pants and a new pair of running shoes, and my mum wanted me to drop in at Al's Upholstery to see when he'd have her chesterfield repaired. I need a bag of homo milk and a package of back bacon, but I'll have to get that later. I need some Kraft Dinner too." "Okay - we can grab lunch at the chip wagon and still be back by at least ten to one. We'll have to stop in at the Esso and use their washroom on the way." "Yeah, either that or stop for a panzerotti at Vito's!" |
United StatesBob was starting to regret that he'd agreed to live in the old house at the end of the south forty of his dad's farm for the summer. It was at once isolated and noisy. Isolated because it was about a half-mile from the gravel county road, in the middle of a corn field. Noisy, because the main railroad line of the GTW was only about sixty feet from a grade crossing. All night, trains would pass, shaking the house and rattling the windows with its horn. Never the same each time: sometimes long blasts, sometimes short as another freight rumbled its way towards Peterboro.The old frame house needed some work, though. The gutters were actually hanging down in spots, and the hot water faucet in the kitchen was dripping badly. The disposal hadn't worked since Bob accidently dropped a package of rubber bands in. Oh well, Bob thought, at least dad had electricity put in this year. Plus, I'll be heading to college in the fall. He still hadn't decided whether to get an apartment or live in a dorm. For that matter, he hadn't even finalized his courses. "Better look at that Catalog tonight", Bob thought. Bob was working for the State Highway Department for the summer, out on Route 11 where they were widening it to four lanes. It was hard work, but the money was good. He turned his ancient gray Dodge Dynasty into his parents' driveway. He entered through the kitchen door, his parents' green parakeet screaming at him from its cage. Sometimes his mom was there, usually wearing her bathrobe, but this morning she wasn't. His mom still made him lunch, packing it in a paper sack and leaving it in the refrigerator for him to pick up each morning. Usually a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on whole wheat and a can of soda, plus an apple and some packages of soda crackers or Girl Scout cookies for snacks. She usually threw in lots of napkins too. When he got to work, Bob's friend and next door neighbor, Kevin came up to him. "Did you hear what happened to Carver on the weekend?" Bill Carver had worked with them on the survey crew the previous summer. and had started a new job for the Defense Department. "No - what happened?" "He called me last night. He was driving his new Z-28, hauling his pop-up trailer back to D.C. on Friday, and had just passed Centerville, when the troopers stopped him in a sobriety roadblock. He'd had a few beers at lunch, but he wasn't drunk. He didn't blow over the limit, so he avoided a DUI charge." Bob shook his head. Carver was one of his best friends. They had known each other since they were in the Fifth Grade in elementary school, and had graduated high school together. He lived about three miles away, near the Indian Reservation in Kimber, but Bob hadn't seen him since December, at a party the day after Christmas. "So what did you do on the weekend?", Kevin asked. "I did absolutely nothing. How about you?" "Yeah. Same here. Well, I had to help my dad bring the heifer back in - it won the blue ribbon - first prize - at the fair, by the way. Anyway, I can't wait until Friday to get in my ten weeks and then collect unemployment insurance. Remember I'm flying out to St. Louis for a vacation next week, huh. Speaking of money, loan me a couple of bucks willya. I'm goin' over to the convenience store and get a twinkie to eat. You want anything?" "Yeah. Get me a candy bar or a package of M&Ms." Bob put three one-dollar bills into Kevin's outstretched palm. "Thanks. By the way, let's drive into town at lunch hour. I need to get some traveler's checks at the American Express office, and to the drugstore for some Dramamine. "Okay - where is the Amex Office?" It's above Kern's Jewelry Store. 105 South Washington Street - on the second story." "Well, that'll work out great - I need to get some khaki sweat pants and a new pair of sneakers, and my mom wanted me to drop in at Al's Upholstery to see when he'd have her sofa repaired. I need a carton of homogenized milk and a package of Canadian bacon too, but I'll have to get that later. I need a package of macaroni and cheese dinner too." "Okay - we can grab lunch at the snack truck and still be back by at least ten of one. We'll have to stop in at the Exxon and use their restroom on the way. "Yeah, either that or stop for a calzone at Vito's" |
