Culture:Thirteenth floor

[2016.10.19] 發表
(明報製圖)
(Culture tips)

【明報專訊】Bill and Pat attend a special combat tactics meeting in the United States as the Smarties' representatives. They take different flights, and Pat's is delayed. Bill decides to leave Pat a memo and go without her.

「 Pat: Hello Bill, I have got the memo...Oh! 」

「 Eason: Hi there. I think this is yours! 」

「 Pat: What? Oh, that's very kind of you. 」

「 Pat: Eason, I know it's you! There is no 13th floor here. You are not going to get away this time! 」

■ Culture tips

The number thirteen is considered unlucky in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and other Western countries. The association between thirteen and bad luck is presumably related to Christianity and the Last Supper (最後的晚餐). Thirteen people took part in the Last Supper and Judas (猶大), who betrayed Jesus, is said to be the thirteenth to be seated. However, in Italy and some Asian countries like China, thirteen is a lucky number.

■ English highway﹕ association

An association is a group of people who have joined together for a particular purpose, and it may mean a connection or relationship between people or between things like ideas and organisations.

e.g. There is an association between regular exercise and good health.

■ Glossary

tactic (n) 策略

representative (n) 代表

Christianity (n) 基督教

betray (v) 出賣

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