In a Teacup

"What should tea be served in?"


"A boot."

"A shoe."

"The skull of my enemy."

"A glass."

"Slippers. And nothing else."


"Selected the additional staff yet, James?"

"No, sir."

"I've seen you have applicants."

"The interviews are not going well, sir. I have been asking what tea is served in, and I expect an answer of ... sir, what is tea served in?"

"A teapot?"

"Blasphemy! No, sir! I will not have an employee who just gives guests a teapot and expects them to serve themselves. There is such a thing as occupational pride, sir."

"A teacup, then?"

"Yes, quite. A teacup. Is this too hard a question?"

"Mmm, no, it seems proper to me. Carry on."


"Teatime."

"An old English manor."

"A cardboard box. Perhaps wrapped in colorful paper and with a ribbon if it is a gift."

"A state of reverence."

"China." "Elaborate?" "Huanan province."


"Sir, I appreciate that these youngsters are showing creativity. I can appreciate ingenuity as much as the next man."

"I've seen that."

"But there are times when people do not want ingenuity. Times when they do not wish to be looking over their shoulder. Teatime is one of those."

"Perhaps you could train them? Supervise them?"

"Yes. I could. But I prefer to be polishing fine details. If I must constantly battle to get the basics done right, the fine details are right out. This hasn't even been the basics. This has been metaphysics."


"A bar."

"I prefer Coca Cola."

"A tin."

"A tuxedo."

"President Grant." "... ... Ah, I see, you've cribbed the wrong answer key, the question for that would be 'Who Is Buried In Grant's Tomb?'"

"Australia ..."


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