People We Meet on Vacation

On vacation,

you can be anyone you want.

You can do anything you want.

You can spend an entire day at the beach.

Nothing but the warm sun on your face and clear skies above.

Or being on vacation

transports you into another version of yourself.

Because on vacation, you strike up conversations with fellow travelers.

…his parents' place.

You're more outgoing, more confident.

Sorry.

No, you know what it is? On vacation, you're free.

Free to nourish your soul.

Free to follow your heart.

And maybe you'll get swept off your feet by a handsome stranger.

Uh...

Or maybe you just get some much-needed alone time.

Because being alone on vacation is great.

There's no commitments.

No expectations.

Anything could happen.

You're free, remember?

Free to slip in that fancy shower.

Free to lie dead for days

because you put the "do not disturb" sign up.

Your corpse gradually decomposing

until a cleaning lady comments on the putrid...

Poppy.

Swapna.

Did I just read the words

"gradually decomposing" on your screen?

No.

Well… yeah.

But I was just, um… I was just trying something new.

And this isn't done, like, at all. It's just, um…

It's all a part of my… process.

- Your process is quite disturbing. - Fair.

But, I mean, don't you ever find travel a little

lonely?

Poppy… …need I remind you

that you take vacations for a living.

People would kill for this job.

In fact, five years ago, in there, you told me you would kill for this job.

- I know. - So then write like it!

Make me burn with jealousy

for your young, cool, carefree, jet-setting life.

And if I don't at least consider leaving my husband and children

after reading your article, then you are not doing it right, okay?

Mm-hm.

Okay.

Yes, I am back in America safe and sound.

Poppy! We had no idea you were back.

I'm sorry I didn't call.

I know.

How are the plants?

How are my plants?

Mom, it's a massacre.

There should be tribunals about what I've done to houseplants.

Do you have any recipes that use one shriveled lime, hot sauce,

mustard, and no other ingredients?

What? No.

Oh.

Tell me, how was the trip?

Uh, hey, I gotta go. Yeah, I gotta go. I love you.

Hey, David, what's going on?

What's going on? Well, I'm getting married in Barcelona.

Yeah, I heard that. Congratulations.

Yeah, why haven't you RSVP'd?

I sent you an invite, like, months ago.

Shit.

Um, yeah, I'm so sorry.

I, um... Well, I was in Prague.

And then Kyoto, and, um…

I gotta get back in the whole…

The mail situation because, you know...

But it's fine because I found it.

Wow.

Ooh, pretty!

Shit, it's this weekend?

I'm sorry, David. I don't think I can go.

You have more airline points than God. Just book it.

No, it's not about that.

I'm supposed to be in Santorini for this hotel opening.

Boo!

Also, I don't really think Sarah and Alex would want me to be there.

Wait, he didn't tell you? They broke up.

- Uh… - I knew things were weird.

I didn't think they were that weird.

Me neither.

You were best friends. You'll figure it out.

We've got an open bar.

- Who is that? - It's Poppy.

- Hi, Poppy! - Nam says hi.

Hi, Nam.

Poppy, please, you're good at a wedding.

You make my family fun somehow, okay?

I need you here. Whatever happened between you and Alex, get over it.

Okay? And get your ass to Barcelona.

I don't… David, it's…

Hello? David?

David?

Alex?

Hi!

Hey, hey!

Hi!

I'm Poppy. And you're Alex, duh.

Whoa, do you go to Boston College?

I'm just messing with you. I love the school spirit.

Go… Eagles? Is it the Eagles? I swear to God, I go here too.

Thank you so much again for the ride. You're much better than the bus.

Also, I cannot believe there's another person here from Linfield, Ohio,

and we have never met before.

I know you went to West Linfield and I went to East Linfield,

but still, crazy.

I mean, two ships passing in the night, right?

Thank God Bonnie suggested we carpool.

You're an hour late.

Didn't you say 8:00-ish?

Well, it's 9:00.

And I wouldn't say "ish."

Sorry, that's my bad.

I had to get breakfast. I get weird if I don't eat.

Uh…

What are you doing?

You blocked my whole field of vision, so you know...

- Ooh! Gnarly! Are you okay? - Yeah.

That was a good one.

It's funny because I thought you were firing me from our road trip.

No, I just really wanna get on the road.

It's a long drive. I'd like to get ahead of the traffic.

Dude, I'm sure we'll be fine.

So tell me everything. Like, just from the top.

Were you born in Linfield?

Natural? C-section?

Okay, I know you're mad at me, but when you taste this breakfast burrito,

you'll agree it was worth it.

- I got you one too. - I'm good. I don't wanna make a mess.

No, seriously, I can hold it here, and then you can take a bite.

I'm good. Really.

All right. Your loss, honestly. It's the best...

I have an idea. Maybe we just don't talk for a little bit.

Mm!

It needs hot sauce.

Can you just not...

This Tapatío really takes it over the top.

Oh!

That is spicy!

Might've overdid it.

This will take the edge off.

- I'm sorry, can you be careful with that? - Dude, I got it.

Mm…

Oh!

Shit.

If you could be anywhere in the world now, where would you go?

- Right now? - Mm-hm.

Linfield, Ohio. We're gonna be four hours late.

You know what they say.

Four hours late to Linfield is four hours well spent.

What? Who says that?

- What's wrong with Linfield? - Um…

Everything.

- Linfield was a great place to grow up. - Ooh, hard disagree.

My turn. I'd be in Paris.

Having, oh, like, a little cortado.

And a cigarette at a café.

- You smoke? - No.

Paris me would smoke.

Okay, your turn. And don't say Linfield.

Back in Boston, I guess.

That is so boring. Japan's my number two.

Okay.

Canada.

So just to recap, your top three destinations are

where we are going, where we just left,

and the more polite version of the US?

Hm.

- You wanna, like, play some music? - Yeah! Oh.

Wait, I'd be honored.

- Jesus. Oh, sorry. I got it. - Just be careful with that. Great.

Hey, baby

You got to remember

I'm forever your girl

Baby, forever

And ever and ever

You know I am…

You hate this song. How is it possible you hate this song?

It's just the saxophone.

What do you have against saxophone?

Name a single song that has been improved by the appearance of a saxophone. One.

I can name literally hundreds.

- Right. - And that's just the Kenny G catalog.

- You've gotta be kidding. - What else do you hate?

- Come on. - Flip-flops.

- Flip-flops?! - Yeah.

- Okay. - Christmas music.

- What? - Reality TV.

Holding hands.

I literally love all of those.

Yeah. I bet you love everything.

Yeah.