"So Zoe," said Jon's mother, "what fucked-up shit happened at your fucking school today?"
"Mom, I don't wanna talk about that place," answered Zoe.
Jon didn't even notice that she didn't swear.
Jon's mother looked as if she were about to explode. "Why not!? What is wrong with you, young lady!?"
Wait, thought Jon, why isn't Mom swearing anymore?
Jon's mother gave Zoe an icy glare. "It's your English grades again, isn't it!? Using that foul language ..."
"Mom, we call it plain talk."
"Plain? It's disgusting, that's what it is. Filth. Without a single fuck! You kids just do it to offend, don't you? Leaving out all the nice words. All the shits, all the damns ..."
Mikey smirked.
Jon guessed that in the speech of this world, Mikey was a good little "asshole."
Jon's father walked in, happy to see his family. "Hey, bitch ..." He paused at the sight of his wife scolding his daughter. "Oh, fuck." He was afraid that Zoe would never grow up to be a nice "slut."
Jon was afraid to open his mouth. He felt uncomfortable about swearing around his folks. But if he talked "normally" - "plainly"? - they might be offended. So he just focused on his food. Fucking good, he thought. Soon he'd be able to talk like that. But he wanted to listen some more to get a better feel for the new norm.
