An elderly woman walked up to the checkout counter at the grocery store and said to the young clerk, “I’d like to buy half a head of lettuce.”
The young man looked at her, a bit confused, and replied, “I’m sorry, ma’am, we only sell whole heads of lettuce.”
She smiled patiently.
“I’m 82, dear. I don’t eat much, and half of it always goes bad. Could you ask your manager if there’s something he can do?”
With a sigh, the clerk headed toward the back of the store. As he entered the manager’s office, he muttered, “Hey, there’s this cranky old lady who wants to buy half a head of lettuce …”
But mid-sentence, he turned and realized the woman had followed him, standing right behind him.
Without missing a beat, he added, “… and this lovely lady would like the other half. So, it all works out!”
The manager smiled, nodded, and made the arrangements. The woman left the store pleased.
Later, the manager turned to the clerk and said, “That was quick thinking. Where are you from, son?”
The young man grinned, “I’m from Nova Scotia, but I left because it’s just full of hockey players and … well, ladies of the night.”
The manager’s face dropped.
“My wife is from Nova Scotia.”
Without missing a beat, the clerk flashed a smile and said, “No kidding? What team does she play for?”