Imaginary Mrs. Biddle was walking down the street one day carrying a small box with holes punched in the top. “What’s in that box?” Mrs. Riddle asked. “A cat,” Mrs. Biddle answered. “What for?” “I’ve been dreaming about mice at night, and I’m scared of mice. The cat is to catch them.” “But the mice you dream about are imaginary,” said Mrs. Riddle. Mrs. Biddle turned to her friend and whispered, “So is the cat.” Coke, please I’ve always ordered beverages one simple way: “A Coke, please.” Lately, though, this hasn’t seemed to work. Waitresses now often respond, “I’m sorry, we don’t have Coke. We have Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Mr. Pibb.” Tired of listening to the long list of soft drinks, I thought I’d make life easier. So one day I simply asked the snack bar clerk at a movie theater for a “dark, carbonated beverage.” The young man behind the counter chuckled and asked, “Sir, would you like a cylindrical plastic sucking device with that?” |