One of us is from Mars

I rarely see my dance mates outside of their dance classes. Now that I am imminently leaving them, I decided to join them for coffee.

For whatever reason, I told them the following documentary I saw on TV some time back:

The date was October 15, 2003. The first Chinese astronaut was to be shot into space in a capsule. On D-Day, there he was, in space suit and all, at his send off attended by all the very important people involved with the Chinese space programme. It was a grand ceremony as befitting the occasion. Among the well-wishers were the astronaut's wife, in her whatever uniform, and their son who looked about 8 years old.

The historical moment neared. The wife said her goodbye to beloved husband by sticking out her right hand for a farewell handshake. The astronaut husband shook her hand, then turned to their son and stuck out his hand. Son shook father's hand.

There was no show of any emotion (excitement, anxiety, something, anything).

Eleven hours later, in the control room, the same very important space programme people and wife and son were waiting expectantly for a tele-conference with the man in his capsule in space. The man came on the screen. Some static, and then audio connection was made.

First words out of her mouth: "Ni hao mah?"
He: "Hai hao. Ni ne?"
She: "Wo men do hao. Ni fan xin"

Again, no show of any emotion to indicate the two people are anything to each other!

The coffee group turned thoughtfully silent. Then one uncle opened his mouth and said, "I don't get it. What are you saying is wrong?"

Stunned, I looked around the table. The others clearly shared his perplexity.

Despair gripped me in the gut like a vise at the same time that crystal clarity seized my brain: one of us is from Mars, and it isn't any of them.

afterthought : what planet are my readers from?

footnote: for historical accuracy, read the segment on China's first piloted space flight here.