Scene: A cozy café in Hamburg. Rain taps gently against the window as Lena and Sophie sip their cappuccinos.
Sophie: (wide-eyed, whispering)
Lena. You won’t believe what happened this morning.
Lena:
If this is about the barista forgetting your extra cinnamon again, I absolutely will.
Sophie:
No! It’s serious. A black cat crossed my path on the way here. From right to left, Lena. RIGHT to LEFT. That’s bad luck! You know what that means.
Lena: (sighs with a smile)
That the cat was in a hurry and didn’t check Google Maps?
Sophie:
I’m not joking! And guess what? Five minutes later, I dropped my phone, and the screen cracked. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Lena:
Or maybe you were just texting your cousin about the cat and not watching where you were going?
Sophie: (huffing)
You’re impossible. Don’t you Germans have any respect for the old ways?
Lena:
I’m German and a physicist, remember? So no, I don’t think the trajectory of a feline influences quantum entropy in your iPhone display.
Sophie:
Ugh, science talk. Listen, when I was a kid, I saw a black cat cross my grandma’s garden path—right to left. That same week, her washing machine exploded and flooded the basement.
Lena:
Sophie, your grandma’s washing machine was from the 70s and probably held together with duct tape and hope.
Sophie:
Still! That cat had a vibe.
Lena: (laughing)
Okay, I’ll admit—cats can have a vibe. But if black cats had supernatural powers, don’t you think insurance companies would be charging higher premiums for people who live near them?
Sophie: (snorting with laughter)
You’d probably develop an algorithm to calculate Cat-Crossing Risk Factors.
Lena:
I have considered it. But honestly, the belief about cats crossing from different directions doesn’t even hold up across cultures. In Japan, black cats are considered lucky. So which is it?
Sophie:
Well, maybe Japanese black cats have better manners.
Lena: (grinning)
You’re selectively applying logic. It’s classic confirmation bias. You only remember the bad things that happen after you see a black cat, not all the boring, normal days that follow one crossing your path.
Sophie:
Okay, Ms. Brainiac, how do you explain all the weird coincidences?
Lena:
Our brains are wired to find patterns. It’s part of our evolutionary survival instinct. But sometimes, we see meaning where there is none. It’s called apophenia—like seeing faces in clouds or thinking a cat caused your Wi-Fi to crash.
Sophie:
…So you’re saying I should just ignore the signs?
Lena:
Not ignore. But maybe reinterpret. Next time a black cat crosses your path, assume it means “pause and take a breath.” Reflect. Maybe the universe is just giving you a tiny moment to slow down.
Sophie: (pauses, thoughtful)
That actually sounds kind of… poetic.
Lena:
See? Rationality doesn’t have to be boring.
Sophie:
Alright, fine. Next time a black cat crosses right to left, I’ll take a breath instead of cursing my destiny. But if I get food poisoning again like last month, I’m blaming you.
Lena:
Deal. But only if the cat cooked your schnitzel.
[They both burst out laughing as a black cat casually strolls past the café window—left to right.]
Sophie: (gasps)
Wait. Left to right! That’s GOOD luck!
Lena: (winking)
Quick, make a wish. And order me another cinnamon cappuccino. Luck’s on your side.
Science Vs Superstition 
Tell Us What You Think