Relax. It’s just bread.

EAST LOS ANGELES — This was the plan that could not fail. My sister lives in East LA, which, despite being in the United States, is one of the world’s biggest Mexican cities.

So what better “hey I haven’t seen you in a while” present could there be than a jersey from the Guadalajara soccer club Chivas (goats)?

Did I mention that the word ”BIMBO” screams across the chest?

Half of her friends and neighbors would think it hilarious, and half would think it a perfectly normal. That’s because in Mexico, Bimbo is basically Wonderbread or Hostess. The word carries not the slightest hint of insult in Spanish. When I explain to Mexicans the significance in English, the reactions have ranged from chuckles to disbelief. 

Bimbo (pronounced BEEM-bow) joins other hilarious sounding brands marketed in Mexico, such as Fud (pronounced FOOD), a meat products brand; Lala, a kind of milk; and Bing, a popular ice-cream joint.

But this story didn’t have quite the happy ending I wanted. The sister, always a shy type, tried it on but said she would never wear it around. Still, we got about an hour of conversational entertainment out of it and she said that was enough of a present. So instead, I will be treating her to fish tacos at this little joint at the corner of Cesar Chavez and Interstate 5. Believe me, you’ve never tasted better.

And while I eat, I will be wearing my new Bimbo shirt. What goes around comes around.