Looking down at his watch, Neville Beeby realized that it was time for hisappointment with Robin jefferson. Quickly he descended one floor and soon found the appropriate office. He knocked on the door and walked into the office, whichlooked somewhat like one of the futuristic models he had seen at this year's officeproducts show at Olympia. His jaw dropped in awe, not realizing thatvreal fashion.
"May i help you? " inquired the receptionist.
"Neville Beeby here to see Robin jefferson. I have an appointment scheduled at half."
"Ms. Jefferson is running a little late this morning. She should be available to meetwith you in about ten minutes. Please be seated. There are magazines and today'sWall Street Journal on the table in the corner. Make yourself at home. I'll tell heryou are here." Instantly, the receptionist vanished down a hallway.
Neville Beeby sat down in one of the red leather chairs next to the table and picked upa magazine to read. He glanced up and admired the original artwork hanging on thewalls. He thought to himself,
"A coffee would be lovely now. I wonder if Americans are so civilised as to offer the customary cup to their guests? Surely they must be;after all, they seem to do almost everything right."
Several minutes later the smartly dressed receptionist returned but without theanticipated cup of coffee and biscuit. "It shouldn't be too much longer," said thrtrceptionist.
"Excellent. I'm really looking forward to that cup of coffee," replied Mr. Beeby enthusiastically.
"What cup of coffee? I don't understand ready."
"Oh-yes, the cup of coffee," the puzzled receptionist replied. "You would like acup of coffee. Would you like one with or without cream?"
"If it isn't too much bother, i would actually prefer milk, please. Thank you, thankyou very much indeed."
Trying to act as if nothing were out of the ordinary, the receptionist excused herselfand quickly exited the waiting area through the front door. Mr. Beeby resumed reading the magazine he had temporarily put aside. Several minutes later thereceptionist returned, carrying a large cup of coffeefrom McDonald's.
"Here you are , your coffee just as you requested it."
"Er-l-er-there must be some misunderstanding here. Sorry. It was not myintention that you leave the office and buy me a cup of coffee. I thought that whenyou went down the hallway a few minutes ago, you found that the office coffee wasnot quite ready but that it would be ready soon. I am dreadfully sorry that linadvertently imposed on you. It is clearly my fault, my misunderstanding. I'm usedto being offered a coffee in every office i visit. I do apologize for assuming that itwould be the same here. Let me pay you for the coffee. I insist that i pay for it." a deeply embarrassed Neville Beeby responded.
"It's not a problem. It is part of my job to fulfill all reasonable requests fromcompany guests. Providing coffed is doable. Otherwise, i wouldn't be veryaccommodating, would i ? Enjoy your cup of coffee. It's on the company account, Mr.Beeby."
"Thank you, thank you very much. You Americans are so understanding-sohelpful. I guess this just reinforces Oscar Wilde's quip that Britons and Americansare separated by a common language-English. Obviously, the language and other differences between us are much greater than i thought they were. I've learned avaluable lesson from this miscommunication and from several others so far this trip."
"I think i hear Ms. jefferson's previous appointment leaving. I can hear voices down the hallway. It won't be long before you can see Ms.Jefferson. This has beenenlightening for me, too, Mr. Beeby. I really ought to learn much more about yourway of doing things."