Earl Grey or Harriet Busybosom?

There is a little wire stand in the break room here at work that holds tea. It contains four cardboard boxes that dispense individual tea packets, free to anyone. The four types of tea it offers are "English Teatime, a savory black tea in the English tradition," "Orange & Spice Herb Tea, a blend of (somewhat redundantly) Oranges and Spice," and "Raspberry Dream, no subtitle."

I don't really have any particular opinion about the tea, and never gave it much notice, not being much of a tea drinker. This morning, however, as I was washing the mug I use for my water IV, there was a little sign taped above the rack that couldn't escape my notice. This is what it said:

"Please, sir or madam, I would be immensely overjoyed if one could provide us with more English Teattime."

So, at first glance, no big deal. Phrased a little oddly, possibly by someone with English as a second language, but very understandable and quite polite. I assume the writer just wanted the support staff to refill the black tea packets, which were indeed empty.

However, it is possible the writer was asking for something completely different. There is, in fact, a world of difference between English Teatime and English Teattime.

Lamentably, the sign is now gone after only a few hours, and the tea box has been refilled. So unless there is an upsurge in the cockney courtesan population in the next few days, I can assume our sign-maker's request has already been met.

Comments

[anonymous]

Ha! That completely made my day.

[stubby larue]

So good, I hope it was all true. Keep us posted on the courtesan population.

[Petunia Claire]

very interesting.

[clairedelune]

what's the fourth type of tea? i think you only put three down.