Unfiltered Story #363495

My last name is “Comeaux,” pronounced like “como.” I live in South Texas where a majority of the population speak at least some Spanish. “Como?” is a common Spanish idiomatic question meaning, “Say that again?” or “What?”

When I was pregnant and went to a prenatal check-up, the nurse was taking my information. She asked my first name, which is a traditional and common name. Then she asked for my last name.

“Comeaux,” I said.
“What is your last name?” she asked again.
“Comeaux,” I repeated.
She asked again very slowly and patiently, “What is your last name? Your surname?”
“Comeaux,” I said again, getting confused.
She, equally confused, started to ask me again in Spanish. (I’m very pale and very clearly not Latina.) It clicks.
“Oh! I’m sorry,” I said, “my last name IS Comeaux – C-O-M-E-A-U-X.”
“Oh! I’m sorry!” she said, blushing.
I just laughed, “Don’t apologize – that was too funny! It’s like the South Texas version of ‘Who’s on First?’ Abbott and Costello would be proud.”

(She didn’t know who Abbott and Costello were – the poor nurse just stayed embarassed.)