peeny wally

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November 19, 2002

from “33 Moments of Happiness” by Ingo Schulze

10.

Ivan Toporyshkin, the father, orders for all the guests at the table. Suddenly the waiter says, “That really doesn’t taste very good.”
Everyone at the table looks up at him.
“It doesn’t taste very good,” the waiter repeats, and exchanges glances with all the guests, including Ivan Toporyshkin, the father.
Pointing once again to the dish designated number 3012, Ivan Toporyshkin, the father, says, “I want it!”
“It doesn’t taste good, though,” the waiter says for the third time, and jots down number 3012 and goes to the kitchen.
Now all the guests, including Ivan Toporyshkin, the father, start laughing. They laugh so hard that their faces touch the napkins folded at each setting and the manager has to be called.
“It doesn’t taste good!” Ivan Toporyshkin, the father, splutters, and every face is in its napkin again.
“What impudence,” the manager says. Finally, however, the whole story comes out, the waiter is called and fired. A waitress arrives with the meal, including dish number 3012.
“Number 3012 doesn’t taste good,” Ivan Toporyshkin, the father, says, laying knife and fork back on the table and reaching for his napkin. The manager is called and the waiter is rehired.
Every time I hear stories like this one, I gather renewed courage.

Posted by pogo at November 19, 2002 9:13 AM