Setting: A cozy café in Seville, Spain. It’s late afternoon, and two long-time friends — Lucía, a cheerful and superstitious graphic designer, and Carlos, a science-loving teacher — are sitting at a corner table with coffee and churros.
Lucía: (pauses mid-sentence, suddenly taps the wooden table)
“¡Toco madera! I just said my boss hasn’t yelled at anyone this week — better not jinx it!”
Carlos: (raises an eyebrow)
“Seriously, Lucía? You think touching this poor, innocent table is going to ward off your boss’s wrath?”
Lucía: (grinning)
“It worked last time! I mentioned we hadn’t had any power cuts during the summer, touched wood, and boom — no blackouts for the whole week.”
Carlos: (chuckles)
“Or maybe the electrical grid just… worked like it was supposed to?”
Lucía: “Come on, Carlos. You scientists are always trying to ruin the magic. Haven’t you ever felt like some things are just… beyond logic?”
Carlos: “I mean, sure, weird coincidences happen. Like that time I sneezed and a bird pooped on my shoulder. But I didn’t go around saying I had a cursed sneeze.”
Lucía: (laughs)
“Well, maybe you should’ve touched wood after sneezing!”
Carlos: “Right, because wood has magical anti-poop powers now?”
Lucía: “Not magical. It’s tradition! My abuela always said wood absorbs the bad vibes. There’s even that old belief that spirits live in trees, and touching wood was like asking them for protection.”
Carlos: “Exactly — old beliefs. Like how people used to think the Earth was flat. Just because it’s ancient doesn’t make it accurate.”
Lucía: (defensive but playful)
“But it gives me peace of mind. Is that so bad? Plus, it doesn’t hurt anyone.”
Carlos: “True, I’m not saying you’re hurting anyone — unless that table has feelings. But believing that a tap on wood controls fate? That’s giving up your power, don’t you think?”
Lucía: “Nope! It’s taking control, in my own way. Like carrying an umbrella when you think it might rain — you don’t know if it will, but you’re prepared.”
Carlos: “That’s not the same. Weather forecasts are based on data. You don’t see meteorologists saying, ‘Cloudy with a 40% chance of bad luck unless you touch wood.’”
Lucía: (mock-serious)
“I’d watch that forecast. ‘Today’s horoscope: Mercury’s in retrograde and your coworker’s being shady. Toca madera twice.’”
Carlos: (laughing)
“Okay, that would be kind of amazing. But seriously, don’t you think it’s better to focus on what you can actually control? Like, instead of fearing a jinx, maybe prep for your boss’s moods or talk to HR?”
Lucía: “Sure, I do that too. But if a little knock on a table makes me feel better — why not? It’s like… emotional insurance.”
Carlos: “Fair point. As long as you’re not avoiding action just because you think the table’s got your back.”
Lucía: “Deal. I’ll do the real work and touch wood. You stick to logic, and I’ll keep the spirits happy.”
Carlos: “As long as those spirits don’t expect me to knock on pine planks every time I say something optimistic.”
Lucía: “They’re very forgiving. Especially if you buy me another churro.”
Carlos: “Now that’s a tradition I can get behind.”
They clink coffee cups, still disagreeing — but with a shared laugh that makes both science and superstition feel like part of the same warm world.
Science Vs Superstition 
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