pull of clap

It was the end of a long day of children screeching, "Teeaacchherrr!" right into our ears, and we were on our way to our traditional Thursday "dinner and Lost" get together. 

We’d pulled into the service station to buy petrol. My friend Mel, exhausted, was (trying to) tell the service man to "fill ‘er up". Obviously not easily understood. Thus began the watering down process of how we speak over here.

"Fill ‘er up."

Blank stare.

"Fill the petrol up?"

Puzzled look.

"Full tank?"

Frustrated  frown.

"Full."  (Lowest denominator.)

"Full!" Accompanied by appropriate  hand gestures. (Lowest common denominator.)

One last time. For old time’s sake…

"Full!"

Light  dawns over the land of the morning calm. The man nods and says, "Pull. Pull!"

Light dawns on the aliens, too. "Ohh..yes..I mean pull. Pull!"

The man smiles and gave us a pull.. uh.. full tank of petrol.

Pabulous.