“Do you want the greens cut?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Do you want the greens, the tops of your carrots? You want them on
or off?”
“I want them on.”
“Okay. Some people want them off.”
“They’re for the reindeer.”
“What?”
“The carrots are for the reindeer.”
“You got reindeer?”
“No . . . but when they come to visit in a few nights, I’ll leave
carrots out for them. And in the morning they’ll be all nibbled away.
Except the greens.”
“You got kids?”
“Yes but even if I didn’t, I’d still leave out the carrots.”
“You would?”
“For the reindeer.”
(long pause)
“Okay. You need help with all this?”
“No thanks, I got it.”
“Merry Christmas. Say hi to the reindeers.”
“Thanks, I will.”
“You do that, sir.”