Having shocked your friend (not too unpleasantly), abide your time, and he will want to be shocked again.

So I was not at all surprised to hear her ask: "Have you travelled far ?" "I should say so!" I replied.

"I've been on a very long journey.

I've seen many strange sights and met many wonderful people." "You may have been in California, then.

I have a daughter in California." "No," said I, "I was never in California." "You've been a long time from home, you say ?" "A very long time from home." "How long ?" "Three weeks." "Three weeks! And how far did you say you had travelled ?" "At the farthest point, I should say sixty miles from home." "But how can you say that in travelling only sixty miles and being gone three weeks that you have seen so many strange places and people ?" "Why," I exclaimed, "haven't you seen anything strange around here ?'" "Why, no--" glancing quickly around her.
"Well, I'm strange, am I not ?" "Well--" "And you're strange." She looked at me with the utmost amazement.