The narrator recounts a disastrous trip to Paris and Rome with their mother, who is turning 65, and two companions, including a 79-year-old woman named Daisy. In Paris, they are scammed by Chinese nationals who try to sell them purses from a laminated menu, claiming they need to buy the purses to help the Chinese people because they are banned from buying them themselves. The group is convinced to participate in a sting operation with Louis Vuitton security to catch the scammers. However, things go awry, and they end up not getting the purses and being lectured by the security team. The narrator's mother becomes paranoid and wants to leave Paris, so they change their plans and go to Rome. There, they encounter a street vendor selling knockoff Louis Vuitton bags, and the narrator's mother wants to buy one for her birthday. The narrator ends up negotiating the price and buying the bag for $40, despite it being a fake.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The narrator's mom was turning 65 and wanted to travel to Paris and Rome.
2. The narrator's dad wouldn't go on the trip due to a grudge against the Italians and French.
3. The narrator's sister-in-law was initially invited on the trip but canceled, and a 79-year-old neighbor named Daisy was invited instead.
4. Daisy had never left Kansas or Missouri before.
5. In Paris, the group met two Asian people who handed them a laminated menu with Louis Vuitton purses on it.
6. The Asian people claimed to be Chinese nationals and told the group they needed to buy the purses because the Chinese mafia couldn't buy them due to restrictions.
7. The group was skeptical, but the narrator's mom and sister wanted to go along with the scam.
8. The group went to the Louis Vuitton store and bought a purse for $2,500 using the Asian people's money.
9. Security guards arrived and took the group to a conference room, where they explained that the Asian people were part of a Chinese mafia operation.
10. The security guards asked the group to return the money to the Asian people and help identify them.
11. The narrator's mom and sister agreed to help, but the narrator was hesitant.
12. The group returned the money to the Asian people, who became angry when they realized they had been scammed.
13. The narrator's mom was shaken by the experience and became paranoid about the Chinese mafia.
14. The group decided to change their plans and leave Paris for Rome.
15. In Rome, the narrator's mom wanted to buy a knockoff Louis Vuitton bag from a street vendor.