Maxine has been in a lengthy though inconclusive discussion with one of the strayed Korean bus passengers about the number 18 in the name of this noraebang. “Bad number,” leers the Korean. “Sip pal. Means ‘sell pussy.’” “Yes, but if you’re Jewish,” Maxine unperturbed, “it’s good luck. Bar mitzvah money, for instance, you should always give it in multiples of 18.” “Sell pussy? for bar mitzvah?” “No, no, in gematria, kind of . . . Jewish code? 18 computes to chai or life.” “Same thing with pussy!”
