The woman pulled into a full -service gas station in Arlington (remember this is fiction).

The attendant began filling her tank with gas and checked her engine fluids. They struck up a conversation while he worked.

“I’ve just moved to Arlington, MA. What are the people like around here?” she asked.

“Well, what are the people like where you are from?”

“Oh, they’re very nice and pleasant.”

“That’s the way you’ll find them around here also.”

“Oh, that is so good to know. Thank you, sir.”

She left and ten minutes later another woman came in with the same routine.

“I’ve just moved to Arlington, MA., and I was wondering what the people are like,” she asked as the attendant was cleaning her windshield.

“Well, what are they like from where you moved from?”

“Oh, I’m afraid they’re not very nice. They’re rude and obnoxious.”

“I’m afraid you will find that they are that way around here too.”

“Oh, that’s what I was afraid of?”