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PIZZA and COMPREHENSION “Perry’s Pepper Pizza Parlor!” Perry said. “May I help you?”
“Yes, I’d like to order a large pepper pepperoni pizza with hot
peppers and green peppers,” said the lady on the other end of the phone.
“Is that all, ma’am?” asked Perry.
“Yes, but please put the hot peppers on half the pizza and the green
peppers on both halves.”
“Also, I’d like the pepperoni on the hot pepper part but not on the green pepper part.”
“But didn’t you say you wanted the green peppers on both parts?”
“That’s right,” the lady replied.
“That’s not possible!” Perry pronounced.
“Why can’t I have green peppers on the whole pizza?”
“I mean the pepperoni part.”
“I don’t see why pepperoni placement is so difficult,” the lady said.
“But if that’s too much trouble, just put the pepperoni on the whole pizza!” she added impatiently.
Perry sighed. “That will be twelve dollars and fourteen cents.”
“Can you deliver my pizza?”
“Sure can. What’s your address?”
“There’s no number, but I live on Forestview Road.”
“Can you help me a little more than that?” Perry asked, trying to be as pleasant as possible.
“I live in a white trailer with a pickup truck in the driveway,” responded the lady.
Perry wanted to scream, “So does everyone else in this county!”
but he restrained himself. “Can you give me a little more help than that?” he asked calmly.
“Yes, there is no blue picket fence in front of our home,” said the lady.
“Are there blue picket fences in front of all the other homes on your road?”
“No, silly, but we used to have one a few years ago.
Just look for the home that doesn’t have one there anymore.”
Perry began to dream about early retirement. “I’m kind of confused,” he said in a shaky voice.
“No offense, sir,” the lady said, “but you do have a listening comprehension problem.” |
