âSorryâŚâ she said, âmy English⌠not so good. I pay? No. You pay.â
You laughed. Your tenant really didnât understand you at all. âYou stayed here,â you said. âIâm the landlord, understand? I get the rent?â
âNo, no,â she said calmly. âYou pay. You pay me.â
She was remarkably confident. Even through the accent, she seemed to be speaking more forcefully and persuasively than you could. âIâm sorry for the miscommunicationâŚâ you stammered. âThatâs just⌠not how this works.â
âYes,â she said. âHow it work. Oh! I am⌠pretty?â You were confused. âYou think I am pretty, yes? I am ah⌠be-autiful?â she pronounced carefully.
âSo!â she said with a smile. âYou pay. Give wallet. Now!â You reached into your pocket and handed it over. This whole time, it had been you who hadnât understood, but now it all made sense.