The Word That Cannot Travel

Mina reads a small book about a fish.

The fish lives in a cold river.

In English, the fish is a "smelt".

In her language, it is "smelt" too, but the word also means "to melt".

So the fish and the melting ice share one name.

Mina smiles.

She writes a note for her friend in Canada.

"The ice smelts in spring." Her friend reads it and thinks of a small silver fish swimming in the water.

The two friends laugh on the phone.

Some words travel well, and some do not.

Mina keeps the little book near her bed.