This week we’re talking about strange questions.
These are questions you don’t know how to answer.
Yesterday, I said “Is it cold enough for you?” was a strange question.
If someone asks you that, you can answer with any comment about the weather.
“I heard it should warm up next week.”
Or, “I know! Maybe we should move to Florida.”
Or, “Must be global warming.”
Today, a reader asks, “How do I answer ’What can I do for you?’”
Here’s a story which I hope will make this strange question not so strange.
STEREOTYPE SHORT STORY
You live in New York.
You’re Sicilian.
You own a successful pizza parlor.
But now you’ve got some competition across the street.
So you go see Big Tony.
His office is in the basement of the bowling alley.
You tell his secretary who you are and she opens the door to his office.
Big Tony kisses you on both cheeks, asks about your mother, then tells you to have a seat.
“What can I do for you?” asks Big Tony.
“It’s Guido,” you tell him. “He’s stealing all my pizza profits. I want you to whack him.”
Big Tony replies, “Consider it done. And maybe, one day in the future, if I need a pizza delivered in ten minutes or less, you’ll be there for me.”
Cheers,
Mr. Vig
