Do You Want to Hit the Mop?

"Do you want to hit the mop?" Don't hear that very much do you? How about, "How would you like to wash the dishes?"? No, we don't hear this very much, we usually have enough money to pay the bill, don't we? Well, we heard it one day, here is the story.....

On most days, Chris and I would journey to the party store to buy pre-packaged submarine sandwiches and a beverage for lunch, as is our custom. We had not been doing for very long, on this particular day it was raining and the floor in the party store was wet.

As we approached the counter Chris was counting out his change for the purchase when the proprietor asks, "Do you want to hit the mop?"

Chris became somewhat annoyed and offended by the inference wrapped up in the question.

"No, I don't want to hit the mop, I got the money right here, give me a second."

Well, we thought it quite odd that the clerk would have addressed us in such a manner. Until it dawned on us. He was asking if we wanted "to heat them up", the sandwiches, of course,... the sandwiches. The microwave was on the counter at the back of the store where the cashier was gesturing. Near the back room where the mop was clearly visible.

Amazing the way that an accent can change the sound, and therefore, the meaning, of some words if you are not paying close attention.

That party store is now known to us as the "hit the mop".