På en kølig efterårsdag i hjertet af København, havde Lars travlt med at pakke en stor pose fisk til en fest.

On a cool autumn day in the heart of Copenhagen, Lars was busy packing a big bag of fish for a party.

Dette var ikke en almindelig fest.

This was not an ordinary party.

Denne gang var det en vegansk potluck.

This time, it was a vegan potluck.

Lars vidste det ikke.

Lars didn't know.

Sofie, hans veninde, havde inviteret ham til at deltage.

Sophie, his friend, had invited him to join.

"Bringe noget lækkert at spise", havde hun sagt.

"Bring something delicious to eat," she had said.

For Lars, betød det typisk fisk.

For Lars, that typically meant fish.

Han havde altid boet på havnen og havde derfor en stor kærlighed for det.

He had always lived by the harbor and had a great love for it.

Haven, hvor festen blev afholdt, bugnede med mange farvestrålende grøntsager og frugter.

The garden where the party was being held was overflowing with colorful vegetables and fruits.

Røde æbler, grønne salater, orange gulerødder.

Red apples, green salads, orange carrots.

Farverne dansede i landskabet.

The colors danced in the landscape.

Alle grinede, delte mad og historier og sang sange.

Everyone laughed, shared food and stories, and sang songs.

De følte sig godt tilpas, glad og sund.

They felt comfortable, happy, and healthy.

Lars ankom sammen med en pose fuld af fisk.

Lars arrived with a bag full of fish.

Han var altid klar på en fest.

He was always up for a party.

Men denne gang var det lidt anderledes.

But this time, it was a bit different.

Han bemærkede, at der var noget galt.

He noticed something was wrong.

Folkene omkring ham skævede til hans pose og snakkede lavt.

The people around him glanced at his bag and whispered.

Han så rundt.

He looked around.

Han så ingen fisk.

He saw no fish.

Han så ingen kød.

He saw no meat.

Kun grøntsager.

Only vegetables.

Nu forstod han grunden til chokket.

Now he understood the reason for the shock.

Sofie kom løbende hen til ham.

Sophie ran up to him.

Hun rakte ham en kartoffelsalat.

She handed him a potato salad.

"Lars, dit fjols!

"Lars, you fool!

Vi er til en vegansk potluck", sagde hun og lo.

We're at a vegan potluck," she said and laughed.

DET var en overraskelse for Lars.

That was a surprise for Lars.

Sveden begyndte at pible frem på hans pande.

Sweat started to appear on his forehead.

Han følte sig dårlig.

He felt sick.

Men han smilede til Sofie.

But he smiled at Sophie.

"Lad os finde en løsning", sagde Sofie.

"Let's find a solution," Sophie said.

"Der er masser af mad.

"There's plenty of food.

Vi kan også bruge din fisk en anden dag, ikke?

We can use your fish another day, right?"

"Lars nikkede.

Lars nodded.

Han var lettet.

He felt relieved.

Ingen fjendtlige blikke.

No hostile looks.

Ingen vrede ord.

No angry words.

Kun smilende ansigter, aplaus og latter.

Only smiling faces, applause, and laughter.

De elskede hans fisk, men i dag, de elskede ham mere for hans sære aften.

They loved his fish, but today, they loved him more for his peculiar evening.

Efter en lang aften med ny mad, nye venner og nye oplevelser, kom Lars hjem alene.

After a long evening of new food, new friends, and new experiences, Lars came home alone.

Han låste op til hans lille hus ved havnen.

He unlocked his small house by the harbor.

Han kiggede på den uåbnede pose fisk.

He looked at the unopened bag of fish.

Han grinede.

He laughed.

"Næste gang", sagde han til sig selv, "spørger jeg først.

"Next time," he said to himself, "I'll ask first."

"Og så, på en stille og kølig aften i København, lærte Lars en vigtig lektie.

And so, on a calm and cool evening in Copenhagen, Lars learned an important lesson.

At sætte sig i andres sted, spørge og lytte, kan gøre en fest mere festlig, en aften mere mindeværdig.

Putting oneself in others' shoes, asking and listening, can make a party more festive, an evening more memorable.

Og en ven rød i hovedet.

And a friend quite embarrassed.